A hybrid method for simulation of axial flow impeller driven mixing vessels

A hybrid method for the simulation of Reynolds-averaged turbulent flows in axial flow impeller driven mixing vessels is described. The time-mean flow in the impeller region is modelled using blade element theory, while the fl ow in the remainder of the vessel is simulated using a second-order finite- volume Reynolds-averaged numerical scheme. The two models are iteratively c oupled through boundary conditions and computation of the power dissipated in the mixing vessel. This approach is computationally cheaper than alterna tives that require the details of the flow in the impeller region to be res olved. Simulation results are compared to a detailed laser-Doppler examinat ion of the flow in a laboratory vessel, and it is shown that the average ab solute difference between simulated and measured velocities was of the orde r of 1% of the impeller tip speed. In addition the power consumption was pr edicted to two-figure accuracy. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights r eserved.