NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF MIXING IN AN SMRX STATIC MIXER

The present work focuses on the flow characteristics and mixing induce d by Sulzer SMRX static mixers. It is observed both experimentally and numerically that pressure drop increases linearly with velocity for t his mixer type and that, as expected, this effect is amplified when mu ltiple mixers are placed in the flow field. It is further shown numeri cally that the slope of the pressure drop versus velocity curve increa ses for increasing internal mixer tube crossing angles. Moreover, it i s found that mixing efficiency is a strong function of the internal tu be crossing angle. Finally, analysis of the pressure drop results, par ticle patterns at the reactor outlet, streamlines, and the intensity o f segregation suggests that the optimum configuration of an SMRX mixer is one with a 90 degrees internal tube crossing angle. It also shows to what extent the use of two static mixers provide enhanced mixing co mpared to one.