Blending of Newtonian and smear-thinning fluids in a tank stirred with a helical screw agitator

Newtonian and non-Newtonian laminar fluid flow has been simulated using Com putational Fluid Dynamics for a cylindrical vessel stirred by a helical scr ew agitator. Simulations have been performed for a vessel geometry with and without a draft tube. Simulated flow patterns in the vessel have been exam ined and compared with the experimental work of previous authors. The power number and the circulation number have been evaluated, and interpreted in a similar manner to other works. The P-O Re constant, A, has been determine d to be 295 for the geometry with the draft tube and 150 for that without t he draft tube. These results are in the same range as previously reported v alues. The Metzner and Otto constant, k, has been evaluated to be 16.23 whi ch is in excellent agreement with experimental results reported in the lite rature.