As a critical component of horizontal stirred mills,the classifier plays a key role in precisely controlling the particle size distribution and energy efficiency.Adjusting its structural parameters is essential for ad...As a critical component of horizontal stirred mills,the classifier plays a key role in precisely controlling the particle size distribution and energy efficiency.Adjusting its structural parameters is essential for addressing the challenge of efficient mineral resource liberation.In this study,numerical simulations were conducted to systematically elucidate the influence of classifier diameter on flow field characteristics and grinding media collision behaviour.Results show that increasing the diameter ratio of classifier to stirring disc(d/D)enhances tangential flow and collision energy,thereby creating a more intense stress environment conducive to particle breakage,but also intensifies axial backflow,which can impair classification and increase component wear.While collision frequency and energy generally rise with classifier diameter,an excessive ratio(d/D=1.2)disrupts local flow,reducing collision frequency near the classifier and highlighting axial heterogeneity in media behavior.The collision energy spectrum is normally distributed,dominated by low-energy,high-frequency events.A d/D ratio of 1.1 yields the most concentrated energy distribution and highest density,which is hypothesized to optimize grind efficiency and product size control by providing a uniform and intense stress field.Although power and impact energy increase monotonically with diameter,energy utilization peaks(∼74%)at d/D=1.1 before declining due to reduced flow stability.These findings provide a theoretical basis for parameter optimisation and performance regulation of horizontal stirred mills.展开更多
Research on the solid-liquid mixing process and its enhancement mechanisms in multi-shaft stirred reactors still face challenges that limit its industrial applications.This work employs the RNG k-εmodel combined with...Research on the solid-liquid mixing process and its enhancement mechanisms in multi-shaft stirred reactors still face challenges that limit its industrial applications.This work employs the RNG k-εmodel combined with the EE-KTGF model to numerically simulate the solid-liquid mixing process within a multi-shaft stirred reactor,yielding satisfactory results when compared to experimental data.Comparative analysis of the solid-liquid mixing performance under four different operational conditions reveals that applying variable speed conditions to the bottom impeller results in a smaller solid concentration gradient,reduced particle settling rates,and an improvement in solid homogeneity by 2.74% to 3.22% compared to other operational conditions.This operational condition enables more effective suspension and uniform distribution of solid particles throughout the reactor,thereby enhancing overall mixing efficiency.Flow fieldanalysis under different operational conditions indicates that applying variable speed to the bottom impeller significantlyimproves flow fieldstability,reduces axial back-mixing,and optimizes the axial distribution of solid particles.Further dynamic mode decomposition of the flowfieldand time series analysis of modal coefficientselucidate a multi-scale synergistic nesting chaos-enhanced mechanism characterized by“macroscopic stability,mesoscopic matching,and microscopic resonance”.This work provides a theoretical foundation for the design and operational optimization of multi-shaft stirred reactors.展开更多
Efficient solid-liquid suspension in stirred tanks is critical for mass and heat transfer in various industrial ap-plications.However,insufficient suspension uniformity remains a common challenge,leading to reduced pr...Efficient solid-liquid suspension in stirred tanks is critical for mass and heat transfer in various industrial ap-plications.However,insufficient suspension uniformity remains a common challenge,leading to reduced process efficiency and increased energy consumption.This study investigates the mixing performance of a novel channel-type impeller in stirred tanks with different structural configurations through CFD-DEM coupled simulations.Multiple geometries were examined,including the bottom shapes and baffle forms for tank and the size of suction inlet for impeller.The simulation results revealed that the profiled bottom played a crucial role in facilitating the smooth conveyance of fluid to the impeller and eliminating dead zones.Besides,the introduced baffles signifi-cantly restructured the flow,suppressing free-surface vortices.Meanwhile,the enlarged suction inlet of impeller could further increase axial flow supply.Finally,a synergistic optimization strategy,including profiled bottom flow guidance,baffle vortex suppression,and enlarged-inlet enhancement was proposed.The optimal design(PCTBE)could lead to near-uniform particle suspension and highest turbulent kinetic energy coverage.This combined strategy significantly enhances suspension uniformity and circulation efficiency,offering practical guidance for improved stirred-tank design and operation.展开更多
A reduced-order model(ROM)based on proper orthogonal decomposition(POD)is proposed,integrating POD methodology with regression techniques to predict velocity magnitude flow field morphology in continuous casting elect...A reduced-order model(ROM)based on proper orthogonal decomposition(POD)is proposed,integrating POD methodology with regression techniques to predict velocity magnitude flow field morphology in continuous casting electromagnetic stirring processes under varying operational parameters.Computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulations were performed to calculate flow fields at various casting speeds and applied currents,resulting in a comprehensive sample database.The velocity matrix was decomposed via POD,and regression models were subsequently trained to correlate operational parameters with mode coefficients.Validation against CFD simulations proved the ROM’s effectiveness in predicting velocity magnitude flow fields under electromagnetic stirring,with maximum relative errors of 6.5%in the mold region and 8.4%in the turbulent stirring zone.Notably,the POD-based ROM achieved a computational efficiency three orders of magnitude higher than conventional CFD simulations(prediction time of about 1/1000 of CFD).展开更多
Leveraging big data signal processing offers a pathway to the development of artificial intelligencedriven equipment.The analysis of fluid flow signals and the characterization of fluid flow behavior are of critical i...Leveraging big data signal processing offers a pathway to the development of artificial intelligencedriven equipment.The analysis of fluid flow signals and the characterization of fluid flow behavior are of critical in two-phase flow studies.Significant research efforts have focused on discerning flow regimes using various signal analysis methods.In this review,recent advances in time series signals analysis algorithms for stirred tank reactors have been summarized,and the detailed methodologies are categorized into the frequency domain methods,time-frequency domain methods,and state space methods.The strengths,limitations,and notable findings of each algorithm are highlighted.Additionally,the interrelationships between these methodologies have also been discussed,as well as the present progress achieved in various applications.Future research directions and challenges are also predicted to provide an overview of current research trends in data mining of time series for analyzing flow regimes and chaotic signals.This review offers a comprehensive summary for extracting and characterizing fluid flow behavior and serves as a theoretical reference for optimizing the characterization of chaotic signals in future research endeavors.展开更多
The formation,evolution and modelling of organized flow structures(e.g.,segregated regions and centre-surface vortices) and their destruction in unbaffled stirred tank reactors(UBSTRs) have been a hot research topic i...The formation,evolution and modelling of organized flow structures(e.g.,segregated regions and centre-surface vortices) and their destruction in unbaffled stirred tank reactors(UBSTRs) have been a hot research topic in the field of fluid mixing.In this paper,the relevant researches in the past 30 years were reviewed,focusing on the application of asymmetric mixing.In particular,by drawing on chaotic phenomena in nature and human society(e.g.,kneading-dough,traffic flow,frightened school of fish),we propose a fluid mixing mechanism:squeezing-induced chaotic mixing,and further propose a bionics-imitation-simulation design concept for UBSTRs.This concept is also an important inspiration for the design of other chemical reactors.展开更多
In response to the accelerating demands of industrial development,the scale-up of stirred reactors has become increasingly prevalent.Multi-shaft stirred reactors have emerged as a promising solution;however,a critical...In response to the accelerating demands of industrial development,the scale-up of stirred reactors has become increasingly prevalent.Multi-shaft stirred reactors have emerged as a promising solution;however,a critical challenge remains in achieving efficient mixing while simultaneously minimizing energy consumption.Here,a novel approach based on differential rotation speeds to optimize mixing performance was proposed.Results demonstrate that a carefully configured rotation speed difference significantly enhances mixing efficiency,reducing mixing time by 17.89% and power consumption by 12.07%.This strategy not only amplifies flow field instability but also minimizes instability discrepancies,promoting a more uniform distribution of vortices across various scales.Furthermore,under this approach,the bottom impeller has the strongest impact on mixing,while the middle and lower impellers synergistically strengthen the weaker mixing regions and facilitate the redistribution of energy in the flow field.This method promotes efficient energy transfer from large-scale to small-scale vortices,ultimately improving overall mixing performance.This work offers a promising avenue for the optimal design and operation of multi-shaft stirred reactors,advancing both efficiency and energy sustainability.展开更多
Liquid-liquid dispersion is often performed in stirred tanks,which are valued for their ease of operation,high droplet generation rate and effective droplet dispersion.Many relevant simulations use the Eulerian-Euleri...Liquid-liquid dispersion is often performed in stirred tanks,which are valued for their ease of operation,high droplet generation rate and effective droplet dispersion.Many relevant simulations use the Eulerian-Eulerian method,combining population balance equations with statistical models to forecast droplet breakage.Conversely,the Eulerian-Lagrangian(E-L)method provides precise tracking of individual droplets,which is crucial for simulating dispersion processes.However,E-L simulation faces challenges in integrating droplet breakage effectively.To address this issue,our research introduces a probabilistic approach for droplet breakages.It assumes that a longer time increases the likelihood of breakup;a droplet breaks if the calculated probability exceeds a random value from 0 to 1.Consequently,the simulated breakage frequency becomes independent of the Lagrangian time step.The Sauter mean diameter and droplet size distribution can be accurately predicted by this probabilistic approach.By closely monitoring droplet motion,we reveal the complexity of droplet trajectories and the detailed patterns of circulation in stirred tanks.These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of liquidliquid dispersion dynamics.展开更多
The structural and operational optimization of gas-liquid stirred bioreactors presents both complexity and critical importance for enhancing mass transfer performance. This study proposes a machine learning (ML)-drive...The structural and operational optimization of gas-liquid stirred bioreactors presents both complexity and critical importance for enhancing mass transfer performance. This study proposes a machine learning (ML)-driven approach to identify key features and predict the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa). Four ML models were adopted and compared for kLa prediction in Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids by evaluative indices, with CatBoost and XGBoost emerging as the optimal models, respectively. Specifically, it is demonstrated that Catboost has higher prediction accuracy (AARD = 18.84%) than empirical equations by effectively incorporating multidimensional features (structural, impeller, and operational), while simultaneously extending applicability to diverse Newtonian fluids. For non-Newtonian fluids, XGBoost outperforms empirical equations by effectively incorporating fluid rheological parameters (consistency coefficient, power-law index), thereby better capturing shear-thinning behavior. Feature importance analysis further identified rotational speed (for Newtonian fluids) and liquid height (for non-Newtonian fluids) as the key features, while 2D partial dependence analysis establishes quantitative optimization ranges. This ML approach provides an efficient predictive tool for gas-liquid stirred bioreactor design and optimization.展开更多
Fractal theory provides a new strategy for equipment design.In this work,we propose a novel H-like fractal(HLF)impeller to improve the uniformity of the distribution of hydrodynamics in stirred tanks.The impellers are...Fractal theory provides a new strategy for equipment design.In this work,we propose a novel H-like fractal(HLF)impeller to improve the uniformity of the distribution of hydrodynamics in stirred tanks.The impellers are constructed by replacing two vertical blades or four legs with two or four H-like subblades by fractal iterations,respectively.Flow characteristics including velocity and turbulent kinetic energy(TKE)distributions,vortices,power number,are predicted by large eddy simulation.Compared with Rushton turbine(RT)impeller when H/T=1(or dual RTs when H/T=1.5,triple RTs when H/T=2),the HLF impeller can produce a flow field with more uniform distributions of larger velocities and TKE level.The impeller with more fractal iteration times can further improve the distribution uniformity of hydrodynamics in the case of high H/T.Power analysis shows that this is mainly due to the improved energy utilization efficiency by the fractal structure design.展开更多
Physical upgrading of graphite is typically achieved with many stages of grinding and flotation to produce a concentrate with approximately 95% carbon grade.An innovative grinding and column flotation process has been...Physical upgrading of graphite is typically achieved with many stages of grinding and flotation to produce a concentrate with approximately 95% carbon grade.An innovative grinding and column flotation process has been developed for efficient graphite upgrading to substantially simplify the process flowsheet and reduce operating costs.In this process,a high-pressure grinding roller(HPGR) and a stirred mill were employed as primary comminution techniques and a nanobubble flotation column as a key separation process.The results obtained with a crystalline flake graphite sample with a carbon grade of 11.15% show that the novel process can produce a concentrate with 94.82% carbon grade and 97.89% recovery from an open circuit of one rougher and two cleaner flotation stages.Scanning electron microscope(SEM)microphotographs indicate that HPGR offers the advantage of more effective protection of graphite flakes during crushing.Grinding test results show that stirred mill could not only protect graphite flakes but also promote the efficient liberation of graphite.Compared with the traditional flotation process,nanobubble flotation can effectively recover ultrafine graphite.The new process possesses a number of important advantages over the traditional method,including substantially higher graphite recovery,greatly simplified process flowsheet,better protection of flake size,reduced reagent consumption and process costs,etc.展开更多
The improved Intermig impeller has been used in the seed precipitation tank in China, which could enhance the mixing and suspension of Al(OH)3 particles and the power consumption declined largely. The flow field, soli...The improved Intermig impeller has been used in the seed precipitation tank in China, which could enhance the mixing and suspension of Al(OH)3 particles and the power consumption declined largely. The flow field, solids hold-up, cloud height, just off-bottom speed and power consumptions were investigated in solid-liquid mixing system with this new type of impeller by CFD and water experiment methods. Compared with the standard Intermig impeller, the improved one coupled with specially sloped baffles could promote the fluid circulation, create better solids suspension and consume less power. Besides lower impeller off-bottom clearance is good for solid suspension and distribution. The just-off-bottom speed was also determined by a power number criterion. Meanwhile, the predicted results were in good agreement with the experimental data.展开更多
To improve the efficiency of the desulfurization process, the drawdown mechanism of light particles in stirred tank is studied in this paper. For both up and down pumping modes, the just drawdown speeds(Njd) of floati...To improve the efficiency of the desulfurization process, the drawdown mechanism of light particles in stirred tank is studied in this paper. For both up and down pumping modes, the just drawdown speeds(Njd) of floating particles in transformative Kanbara Reactor(KR) are measured in one and four baffled stirred tanks experimentally. Then numerical simulations with standard k-ε model coupled with volume of fluid model(VOF) and discrete phase model(DPM) are conducted to analyze the flow field at the just drawdown speed Njd. The torques on the impeller obtained from experiments and simulations agree well with each other, which indicates the validity of our numerical simulations. Based on the simulations, three main drawdown mechanisms for floating particles, the axial circulation, turbulent fluctuation and largescale eddies, are analyzed. It's found that the axial circulation dominates the drawdown process at small submergence(S = 1/4 T and 1/3 T) and the large-scale eddies play a major role at large submergence(S = 2/3 T and 3/4 T). Besides, the turbulent fluctuation affects the drawdown process significantly for up pumping mode at small submergence(S = 1/4 T and 1/3 T) and for down pumping mode at large submergence(S = 2/3 T and 3/4 T). This paper helps to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the KR desulphurizer drawdown process in the baffled stirred tank.展开更多
Computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method(CFD-DEM) coupled approach was employed to simulate the solid suspension behavior in a Rushton stirred tank with consideration of transitional and rotational motions...Computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method(CFD-DEM) coupled approach was employed to simulate the solid suspension behavior in a Rushton stirred tank with consideration of transitional and rotational motions of millions of particles with complex interactions with liquid and the rotating impeller. The simulations were satisfactorily validated with experimental data in literature in terms of measured particle velocities in the tank.Influences of operating conditions and physical properties of particles(i.e., particle diameter and density) on the two-phase flow field in the stirred tank involving particle distribution, particle velocity and vortex were studied.The wide distribution of particle angular velocity ranging from 0 to 105r·min 1is revealed. The Magnus force is comparable to the drag force during the particle movement in the tank. The strong particle rotation will generate extra shear force on the particles so that the particle morphology may be affected, especially in the bio-/polymer-product related processes. It can be concluded that the CFD-DEM coupled approach provides a theoretical way to understand the physics of particle movement in micro- to macro-scales in the solid suspension of a stirred tank.展开更多
The effect of mixing on the precipitation of barium sulfate in a continuous stirred tank is simulated numerically with different feeding location, feed concentration, impeller speed and residence time through solving ...The effect of mixing on the precipitation of barium sulfate in a continuous stirred tank is simulated numerically with different feeding location, feed concentration, impeller speed and residence time through solving the standard momentum and mass transport equations in combination with the moment equations for crystal population balance. The numerical method was validated with the literature data. The simulation results including the distribution of the local supersaturation ratio distribution in the precipitator, mean crystal size and coefficient of variation under different operating conditions compared well with experimental data in the literature. The effect of the presence of a draft tube on precipitation were also investigated, and it is suggested that the installation of a draft tube increased the mean crystal size, in general agreement with experimental work in the literature.展开更多
To reduce the power consumption and improve the mixing performance in stirred tanks,two improved disc turbines namely swept-back parabolic disc turbine(SPDT)and staggered fan-shaped parabolic disc turbine(SFPDT)are de...To reduce the power consumption and improve the mixing performance in stirred tanks,two improved disc turbines namely swept-back parabolic disc turbine(SPDT)and staggered fan-shaped parabolic disc turbine(SFPDT)are developed.After validation of computational fluid dynamics(CFD)model with experimental results,CFD simulations are carried out to study the flow pattern,mean velocity,power consumption,pumping capacity and mixing efficiency of the improved and traditional impellers in a dished-bottom tank under turbulent flow conditions,The results indicate that compared with the commonly used parabolic disc turbine(PDT),the power number of proposed SPDT and SFPDT impellers is reduced by 43%and 12%,and the pumping efficiency is increased by 68%and 13%,respectively.Furthermore,under the same power consumption(0-700 W·m-3),the mixing performance of both SPDT and SFPDT is also superior to that of Rushton turbine and PDT.展开更多
The multiphase flow in the solid-liquid tank stirred with a new structure of Intermig impeller was analyzed by computational fluid dynamics(CFD).The Eulerian multiphase model and standard k-ε turbulence model were ad...The multiphase flow in the solid-liquid tank stirred with a new structure of Intermig impeller was analyzed by computational fluid dynamics(CFD).The Eulerian multiphase model and standard k-ε turbulence model were adopted to simulate the fluid flow,turbulent kinetic energy distribution,mixing performance and power consumption in a stirred tank.The simulation results were also verified by the water model experiments,and good agreement was achieved.The solid-liquid mixing performances of Intermig impeller with different blade structures were compared in detail.The results show that the improved Intermig impeller not only enhances the solid mixing and suspension,but also saves more than 20% power compared with the standard one.The inner blades have relatively little influence on power and the best angle of inner blades is 45°,while the outer blades affect greatly the power consumption and the optimized value is 45°.展开更多
Mixing problems are most likely encountered and sometimes can be severe in scaling-up projects. Micro-mixing is an important aspect for fast or quasi-instantaneous reactions. Poor micro-mixing might produce more undes...Mixing problems are most likely encountered and sometimes can be severe in scaling-up projects. Micro-mixing is an important aspect for fast or quasi-instantaneous reactions. Poor micro-mixing might produce more undesired by-products, leading to higher purification costs. This paper gives an extensive review and analysis of micro-mixing studies in single- and multi phase stirred tanks. The relevant experiment techniques, micro-mixing models and nurherical approaches are critically reviewed and analyzed with remarks and perspectives. The reported studies on two-phase micro-mixing experiments and on the impact of the presence of the dispersed phases on turbulence have been limited to a narrow range of conditions. More importantly, disparities widely exist among different reports. Both Lagrangian and Eulerian models are based on oversimplified assumptions, which may lead to uncertainties or even unrealistic results. A heuristic model, which is from the perspective of CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and can cover the whole spectrum of scales and also focus on every subrocess, is desired in the future.展开更多
Based on Fluent software,the gas−liquid two-phase flow in the horizontal stirred tank was simulated with SST k−ωturbulence model,Eulerian−Eulerian two-fluid model,and multi-reference flame method.The mixing process i...Based on Fluent software,the gas−liquid two-phase flow in the horizontal stirred tank was simulated with SST k−ωturbulence model,Eulerian−Eulerian two-fluid model,and multi-reference flame method.The mixing process in the tank was calculated by tracer method.The results show that increasing the rotating speed or gas flow is conducive to a more uniform distribution of the gas phase and accelerates the mixing of the liquid phase.When the rotating speed exceeds 93 r/min,the relative power demand remains basically constant.The change in the inclination angle of the upper impeller has minimal effect on the gas phase distribution.When the inclination angle is 50°,the relative power demand reaches the maximum.An appropriate increase in the impeller distance from the bottom improves the gas holdup and gas phase distribution but increases the liquid phase mixing time.展开更多
The impeller configuration with a six parabolic blade disk turbine below two down-pumping hydrofoil propellers, identified as PDT + 2CBY, was used in this study. The effect of the impeller diameter D, ranging from0.30...The impeller configuration with a six parabolic blade disk turbine below two down-pumping hydrofoil propellers, identified as PDT + 2CBY, was used in this study. The effect of the impeller diameter D, ranging from0.30 T to 0.40T(T as the tank diameter), on gas dispersion in a stirred tank of 0.48 m diameter was investigated by experimental and CFD simulation methods. Power consumption and total gas holdup were measured for the same impeller configuration PDT + 2CBY with four different D/T. Results show that with D/T increases from 0.30 to 0.40, the relative power demand(RPD) in a gas–liquid system decreases slightly. At low superficial gas velocity VSof 0.0078 m·s-1, the gas holdup increases evidently with the increase of D/T. However, at high superficial gas velocity, the system with D/T = 0.33 gets a good balance between the gas recirculation and liquid shearing rate, which resulted in the highest gas holdup among four different D/T. CFD simulation based on the two-fluid model along with the Population Balance Model(PBM) was used to investigate the effect of impeller diameter on the gas dispersion. The power consumption and total gas holdup predicted by CFD simulation were in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.展开更多
基金the National Key Research and Development Project(grant No.2022YFC2904504)Open Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Mineral Processing(grant No.BGRIMM-KJSKL-2024-19)+2 种基金Jiangxi Province Natural Science Foundation General Program(grant No.20252BAC240001)Jiangxi Province Natural Science Foundation Youth Fund Project(grant No.20242BAB20190)Jiangxi University of Science and Technology High-level Talent Research Startup Project(grant No.205200100672).
摘要As a critical component of horizontal stirred mills,the classifier plays a key role in precisely controlling the particle size distribution and energy efficiency.Adjusting its structural parameters is essential for addressing the challenge of efficient mineral resource liberation.In this study,numerical simulations were conducted to systematically elucidate the influence of classifier diameter on flow field characteristics and grinding media collision behaviour.Results show that increasing the diameter ratio of classifier to stirring disc(d/D)enhances tangential flow and collision energy,thereby creating a more intense stress environment conducive to particle breakage,but also intensifies axial backflow,which can impair classification and increase component wear.While collision frequency and energy generally rise with classifier diameter,an excessive ratio(d/D=1.2)disrupts local flow,reducing collision frequency near the classifier and highlighting axial heterogeneity in media behavior.The collision energy spectrum is normally distributed,dominated by low-energy,high-frequency events.A d/D ratio of 1.1 yields the most concentrated energy distribution and highest density,which is hypothesized to optimize grind efficiency and product size control by providing a uniform and intense stress field.Although power and impact energy increase monotonically with diameter,energy utilization peaks(∼74%)at d/D=1.1 before declining due to reduced flow stability.These findings provide a theoretical basis for parameter optimisation and performance regulation of horizontal stirred mills.
基金supported by the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation Innovation and Development Joint Fund Project(CSTB2022NSCQ-LZX0014)Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities(2022CDJQY-005,2023CDJXY-047)At the same time,this work also received funding from the China Scholarship Council and Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program for Doctoral Students by the China Association for Science and Technology(CAST)to Tong Meng.
摘要Research on the solid-liquid mixing process and its enhancement mechanisms in multi-shaft stirred reactors still face challenges that limit its industrial applications.This work employs the RNG k-εmodel combined with the EE-KTGF model to numerically simulate the solid-liquid mixing process within a multi-shaft stirred reactor,yielding satisfactory results when compared to experimental data.Comparative analysis of the solid-liquid mixing performance under four different operational conditions reveals that applying variable speed conditions to the bottom impeller results in a smaller solid concentration gradient,reduced particle settling rates,and an improvement in solid homogeneity by 2.74% to 3.22% compared to other operational conditions.This operational condition enables more effective suspension and uniform distribution of solid particles throughout the reactor,thereby enhancing overall mixing efficiency.Flow fieldanalysis under different operational conditions indicates that applying variable speed to the bottom impeller significantlyimproves flow fieldstability,reduces axial back-mixing,and optimizes the axial distribution of solid particles.Further dynamic mode decomposition of the flowfieldand time series analysis of modal coefficientselucidate a multi-scale synergistic nesting chaos-enhanced mechanism characterized by“macroscopic stability,mesoscopic matching,and microscopic resonance”.This work provides a theoretical foundation for the design and operational optimization of multi-shaft stirred reactors.
基金support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant number 22478288).
摘要Efficient solid-liquid suspension in stirred tanks is critical for mass and heat transfer in various industrial ap-plications.However,insufficient suspension uniformity remains a common challenge,leading to reduced process efficiency and increased energy consumption.This study investigates the mixing performance of a novel channel-type impeller in stirred tanks with different structural configurations through CFD-DEM coupled simulations.Multiple geometries were examined,including the bottom shapes and baffle forms for tank and the size of suction inlet for impeller.The simulation results revealed that the profiled bottom played a crucial role in facilitating the smooth conveyance of fluid to the impeller and eliminating dead zones.Besides,the introduced baffles signifi-cantly restructured the flow,suppressing free-surface vortices.Meanwhile,the enlarged suction inlet of impeller could further increase axial flow supply.Finally,a synergistic optimization strategy,including profiled bottom flow guidance,baffle vortex suppression,and enlarged-inlet enhancement was proposed.The optimal design(PCTBE)could lead to near-uniform particle suspension and highest turbulent kinetic energy coverage.This combined strategy significantly enhances suspension uniformity and circulation efficiency,offering practical guidance for improved stirred-tank design and operation.
基金financial support of this study by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U22A20173).
摘要A reduced-order model(ROM)based on proper orthogonal decomposition(POD)is proposed,integrating POD methodology with regression techniques to predict velocity magnitude flow field morphology in continuous casting electromagnetic stirring processes under varying operational parameters.Computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulations were performed to calculate flow fields at various casting speeds and applied currents,resulting in a comprehensive sample database.The velocity matrix was decomposed via POD,and regression models were subsequently trained to correlate operational parameters with mode coefficients.Validation against CFD simulations proved the ROM’s effectiveness in predicting velocity magnitude flow fields under electromagnetic stirring,with maximum relative errors of 6.5%in the mold region and 8.4%in the turbulent stirring zone.Notably,the POD-based ROM achieved a computational efficiency three orders of magnitude higher than conventional CFD simulations(prediction time of about 1/1000 of CFD).
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22078030)the National Key Research and Development Project(2019YFC1905802,2022YFB3504305)+1 种基金the Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U1802255,CSTB2022NSCQ-LZX0014)the Key Project of Independent Research Project of State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control(2011DA105287-zd201902).
摘要Leveraging big data signal processing offers a pathway to the development of artificial intelligencedriven equipment.The analysis of fluid flow signals and the characterization of fluid flow behavior are of critical in two-phase flow studies.Significant research efforts have focused on discerning flow regimes using various signal analysis methods.In this review,recent advances in time series signals analysis algorithms for stirred tank reactors have been summarized,and the detailed methodologies are categorized into the frequency domain methods,time-frequency domain methods,and state space methods.The strengths,limitations,and notable findings of each algorithm are highlighted.Additionally,the interrelationships between these methodologies have also been discussed,as well as the present progress achieved in various applications.Future research directions and challenges are also predicted to provide an overview of current research trends in data mining of time series for analyzing flow regimes and chaotic signals.This review offers a comprehensive summary for extracting and characterizing fluid flow behavior and serves as a theoretical reference for optimizing the characterization of chaotic signals in future research endeavors.
基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFB3504300)the Graduate Research and Innovation Foundation of Chongqing (CYB240045)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2024CDJXY010)the Large-scale Instrument and Equipment Function Development Program of Chongqing University(gnkf2024019) for supporting this work。
摘要The formation,evolution and modelling of organized flow structures(e.g.,segregated regions and centre-surface vortices) and their destruction in unbaffled stirred tank reactors(UBSTRs) have been a hot research topic in the field of fluid mixing.In this paper,the relevant researches in the past 30 years were reviewed,focusing on the application of asymmetric mixing.In particular,by drawing on chaotic phenomena in nature and human society(e.g.,kneading-dough,traffic flow,frightened school of fish),we propose a fluid mixing mechanism:squeezing-induced chaotic mixing,and further propose a bionics-imitation-simulation design concept for UBSTRs.This concept is also an important inspiration for the design of other chemical reactors.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22078030,52021004)National Key Research and Development Project (2019YFC1905802)+4 种基金Key Project of Independent Research Project of State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control (2011DA105287-zd201902)Chongqing Natural Science Foundation Innovation and Development Joint Fund Project (CSTB2022NSCQ-LZX0014)Hubei Three Gorges Laboratory Open/Innovation Fund (SK211009,SK215001)Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities(2022CDJQY-005)this work also received funding from the China Scholarship Council。
摘要In response to the accelerating demands of industrial development,the scale-up of stirred reactors has become increasingly prevalent.Multi-shaft stirred reactors have emerged as a promising solution;however,a critical challenge remains in achieving efficient mixing while simultaneously minimizing energy consumption.Here,a novel approach based on differential rotation speeds to optimize mixing performance was proposed.Results demonstrate that a carefully configured rotation speed difference significantly enhances mixing efficiency,reducing mixing time by 17.89% and power consumption by 12.07%.This strategy not only amplifies flow field instability but also minimizes instability discrepancies,promoting a more uniform distribution of vortices across various scales.Furthermore,under this approach,the bottom impeller has the strongest impact on mixing,while the middle and lower impellers synergistically strengthen the weaker mixing regions and facilitate the redistribution of energy in the flow field.This method promotes efficient energy transfer from large-scale to small-scale vortices,ultimately improving overall mixing performance.This work offers a promising avenue for the optimal design and operation of multi-shaft stirred reactors,advancing both efficiency and energy sustainability.
基金support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China,China(2023YFE0106600)the National Natural Science Foundation of China,China(22421003,22178354,21925805)funding from FFG(Austria)under project“ABATE”(903872).
摘要Liquid-liquid dispersion is often performed in stirred tanks,which are valued for their ease of operation,high droplet generation rate and effective droplet dispersion.Many relevant simulations use the Eulerian-Eulerian method,combining population balance equations with statistical models to forecast droplet breakage.Conversely,the Eulerian-Lagrangian(E-L)method provides precise tracking of individual droplets,which is crucial for simulating dispersion processes.However,E-L simulation faces challenges in integrating droplet breakage effectively.To address this issue,our research introduces a probabilistic approach for droplet breakages.It assumes that a longer time increases the likelihood of breakup;a droplet breaks if the calculated probability exceeds a random value from 0 to 1.Consequently,the simulated breakage frequency becomes independent of the Lagrangian time step.The Sauter mean diameter and droplet size distribution can be accurately predicted by this probabilistic approach.By closely monitoring droplet motion,we reveal the complexity of droplet trajectories and the detailed patterns of circulation in stirred tanks.These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of liquidliquid dispersion dynamics.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22494713,22178160,22327809 and 22208141)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,China(BK20220349).
摘要The structural and operational optimization of gas-liquid stirred bioreactors presents both complexity and critical importance for enhancing mass transfer performance. This study proposes a machine learning (ML)-driven approach to identify key features and predict the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa). Four ML models were adopted and compared for kLa prediction in Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids by evaluative indices, with CatBoost and XGBoost emerging as the optimal models, respectively. Specifically, it is demonstrated that Catboost has higher prediction accuracy (AARD = 18.84%) than empirical equations by effectively incorporating multidimensional features (structural, impeller, and operational), while simultaneously extending applicability to diverse Newtonian fluids. For non-Newtonian fluids, XGBoost outperforms empirical equations by effectively incorporating fluid rheological parameters (consistency coefficient, power-law index), thereby better capturing shear-thinning behavior. Feature importance analysis further identified rotational speed (for Newtonian fluids) and liquid height (for non-Newtonian fluids) as the key features, while 2D partial dependence analysis establishes quantitative optimization ranges. This ML approach provides an efficient predictive tool for gas-liquid stirred bioreactor design and optimization.
基金the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22078058)。
摘要Fractal theory provides a new strategy for equipment design.In this work,we propose a novel H-like fractal(HLF)impeller to improve the uniformity of the distribution of hydrodynamics in stirred tanks.The impellers are constructed by replacing two vertical blades or four legs with two or four H-like subblades by fractal iterations,respectively.Flow characteristics including velocity and turbulent kinetic energy(TKE)distributions,vortices,power number,are predicted by large eddy simulation.Compared with Rushton turbine(RT)impeller when H/T=1(or dual RTs when H/T=1.5,triple RTs when H/T=2),the HLF impeller can produce a flow field with more uniform distributions of larger velocities and TKE level.The impeller with more fractal iteration times can further improve the distribution uniformity of hydrodynamics in the case of high H/T.Power analysis shows that this is mainly due to the improved energy utilization efficiency by the fractal structure design.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2019XKQYMS45)。
摘要Physical upgrading of graphite is typically achieved with many stages of grinding and flotation to produce a concentrate with approximately 95% carbon grade.An innovative grinding and column flotation process has been developed for efficient graphite upgrading to substantially simplify the process flowsheet and reduce operating costs.In this process,a high-pressure grinding roller(HPGR) and a stirred mill were employed as primary comminution techniques and a nanobubble flotation column as a key separation process.The results obtained with a crystalline flake graphite sample with a carbon grade of 11.15% show that the novel process can produce a concentrate with 94.82% carbon grade and 97.89% recovery from an open circuit of one rougher and two cleaner flotation stages.Scanning electron microscope(SEM)microphotographs indicate that HPGR offers the advantage of more effective protection of graphite flakes during crushing.Grinding test results show that stirred mill could not only protect graphite flakes but also promote the efficient liberation of graphite.Compared with the traditional flotation process,nanobubble flotation can effectively recover ultrafine graphite.The new process possesses a number of important advantages over the traditional method,including substantially higher graphite recovery,greatly simplified process flowsheet,better protection of flake size,reduced reagent consumption and process costs,etc.
基金Projects(50974035,51074047)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(2010AA03A405)supported by the High-tech Research and Development Program of China
摘要The improved Intermig impeller has been used in the seed precipitation tank in China, which could enhance the mixing and suspension of Al(OH)3 particles and the power consumption declined largely. The flow field, solids hold-up, cloud height, just off-bottom speed and power consumptions were investigated in solid-liquid mixing system with this new type of impeller by CFD and water experiment methods. Compared with the standard Intermig impeller, the improved one coupled with specially sloped baffles could promote the fluid circulation, create better solids suspension and consume less power. Besides lower impeller off-bottom clearance is good for solid suspension and distribution. The just-off-bottom speed was also determined by a power number criterion. Meanwhile, the predicted results were in good agreement with the experimental data.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51474109,51609090,51679097)the Science Research Project of Huazhong University of Science and Technology(0118140077,2006140115)
摘要To improve the efficiency of the desulfurization process, the drawdown mechanism of light particles in stirred tank is studied in this paper. For both up and down pumping modes, the just drawdown speeds(Njd) of floating particles in transformative Kanbara Reactor(KR) are measured in one and four baffled stirred tanks experimentally. Then numerical simulations with standard k-ε model coupled with volume of fluid model(VOF) and discrete phase model(DPM) are conducted to analyze the flow field at the just drawdown speed Njd. The torques on the impeller obtained from experiments and simulations agree well with each other, which indicates the validity of our numerical simulations. Based on the simulations, three main drawdown mechanisms for floating particles, the axial circulation, turbulent fluctuation and largescale eddies, are analyzed. It's found that the axial circulation dominates the drawdown process at small submergence(S = 1/4 T and 1/3 T) and the large-scale eddies play a major role at large submergence(S = 2/3 T and 3/4 T). Besides, the turbulent fluctuation affects the drawdown process significantly for up pumping mode at small submergence(S = 1/4 T and 1/3 T) and for down pumping mode at large submergence(S = 2/3 T and 3/4 T). This paper helps to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the KR desulphurizer drawdown process in the baffled stirred tank.
基金Supported by the State Key Development Program for Basic Research of China (2013CB733600), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21036003, 20776074) and the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (20090002110069).
摘要Computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method(CFD-DEM) coupled approach was employed to simulate the solid suspension behavior in a Rushton stirred tank with consideration of transitional and rotational motions of millions of particles with complex interactions with liquid and the rotating impeller. The simulations were satisfactorily validated with experimental data in literature in terms of measured particle velocities in the tank.Influences of operating conditions and physical properties of particles(i.e., particle diameter and density) on the two-phase flow field in the stirred tank involving particle distribution, particle velocity and vortex were studied.The wide distribution of particle angular velocity ranging from 0 to 105r·min 1is revealed. The Magnus force is comparable to the drag force during the particle movement in the tank. The strong particle rotation will generate extra shear force on the particles so that the particle morphology may be affected, especially in the bio-/polymer-product related processes. It can be concluded that the CFD-DEM coupled approach provides a theoretical way to understand the physics of particle movement in micro- to macro-scales in the solid suspension of a stirred tank.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.20236050, 50134020) and the Special Funds for Major State Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, 2004CB217604).
摘要The effect of mixing on the precipitation of barium sulfate in a continuous stirred tank is simulated numerically with different feeding location, feed concentration, impeller speed and residence time through solving the standard momentum and mass transport equations in combination with the moment equations for crystal population balance. The numerical method was validated with the literature data. The simulation results including the distribution of the local supersaturation ratio distribution in the precipitator, mean crystal size and coefficient of variation under different operating conditions compared well with experimental data in the literature. The effect of the presence of a draft tube on precipitation were also investigated, and it is suggested that the installation of a draft tube increased the mean crystal size, in general agreement with experimental work in the literature.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(2020YFA0906800)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22078325,21938009)+3 种基金the NSFC-EU project(31961133018)the Special Project of Strategic Leading Science and Technology CAS(XDC06010302)Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Guangdong Laboratory,Shantou(No.1922006)the Li Foundation Fellow Program。
摘要To reduce the power consumption and improve the mixing performance in stirred tanks,two improved disc turbines namely swept-back parabolic disc turbine(SPDT)and staggered fan-shaped parabolic disc turbine(SFPDT)are developed.After validation of computational fluid dynamics(CFD)model with experimental results,CFD simulations are carried out to study the flow pattern,mean velocity,power consumption,pumping capacity and mixing efficiency of the improved and traditional impellers in a dished-bottom tank under turbulent flow conditions,The results indicate that compared with the commonly used parabolic disc turbine(PDT),the power number of proposed SPDT and SFPDT impellers is reduced by 43%and 12%,and the pumping efficiency is increased by 68%and 13%,respectively.Furthermore,under the same power consumption(0-700 W·m-3),the mixing performance of both SPDT and SFPDT is also superior to that of Rushton turbine and PDT.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1760120, U1508217)National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFC0210403, 2017YFC0210404)Shenyang Science & Technology Project (17-500-8-01)。
摘要The multiphase flow in the solid-liquid tank stirred with a new structure of Intermig impeller was analyzed by computational fluid dynamics(CFD).The Eulerian multiphase model and standard k-ε turbulence model were adopted to simulate the fluid flow,turbulent kinetic energy distribution,mixing performance and power consumption in a stirred tank.The simulation results were also verified by the water model experiments,and good agreement was achieved.The solid-liquid mixing performances of Intermig impeller with different blade structures were compared in detail.The results show that the improved Intermig impeller not only enhances the solid mixing and suspension,but also saves more than 20% power compared with the standard one.The inner blades have relatively little influence on power and the best angle of inner blades is 45°,while the outer blades affect greatly the power consumption and the optimized value is 45°.
基金Supported by the State Key Development Program for Basic Research of China (2010CB630904)the National Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (21025627)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21106154,20990224)the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2011AA060704)the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (2112038) and Jiangsu Province Project (BY2009133)
摘要Mixing problems are most likely encountered and sometimes can be severe in scaling-up projects. Micro-mixing is an important aspect for fast or quasi-instantaneous reactions. Poor micro-mixing might produce more undesired by-products, leading to higher purification costs. This paper gives an extensive review and analysis of micro-mixing studies in single- and multi phase stirred tanks. The relevant experiment techniques, micro-mixing models and nurherical approaches are critically reviewed and analyzed with remarks and perspectives. The reported studies on two-phase micro-mixing experiments and on the impact of the presence of the dispersed phases on turbulence have been limited to a narrow range of conditions. More importantly, disparities widely exist among different reports. Both Lagrangian and Eulerian models are based on oversimplified assumptions, which may lead to uncertainties or even unrealistic results. A heuristic model, which is from the perspective of CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and can cover the whole spectrum of scales and also focus on every subrocess, is desired in the future.
基金financially supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Central South University,China(No.2020zzts515)。
摘要Based on Fluent software,the gas−liquid two-phase flow in the horizontal stirred tank was simulated with SST k−ωturbulence model,Eulerian−Eulerian two-fluid model,and multi-reference flame method.The mixing process in the tank was calculated by tracer method.The results show that increasing the rotating speed or gas flow is conducive to a more uniform distribution of the gas phase and accelerates the mixing of the liquid phase.When the rotating speed exceeds 93 r/min,the relative power demand remains basically constant.The change in the inclination angle of the upper impeller has minimal effect on the gas phase distribution.When the inclination angle is 50°,the relative power demand reaches the maximum.An appropriate increase in the impeller distance from the bottom improves the gas holdup and gas phase distribution but increases the liquid phase mixing time.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21121064,21206002,21376016)
摘要The impeller configuration with a six parabolic blade disk turbine below two down-pumping hydrofoil propellers, identified as PDT + 2CBY, was used in this study. The effect of the impeller diameter D, ranging from0.30 T to 0.40T(T as the tank diameter), on gas dispersion in a stirred tank of 0.48 m diameter was investigated by experimental and CFD simulation methods. Power consumption and total gas holdup were measured for the same impeller configuration PDT + 2CBY with four different D/T. Results show that with D/T increases from 0.30 to 0.40, the relative power demand(RPD) in a gas–liquid system decreases slightly. At low superficial gas velocity VSof 0.0078 m·s-1, the gas holdup increases evidently with the increase of D/T. However, at high superficial gas velocity, the system with D/T = 0.33 gets a good balance between the gas recirculation and liquid shearing rate, which resulted in the highest gas holdup among four different D/T. CFD simulation based on the two-fluid model along with the Population Balance Model(PBM) was used to investigate the effect of impeller diameter on the gas dispersion. The power consumption and total gas holdup predicted by CFD simulation were in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.