Computational fluid dynamic analysis of mixing characteristics inside a jet mixer for Newtonian and Non Newtonian fluids

Jet mixers with side entering jets and their different configurations are used for mixing purposes, e.g., homogenization of physical properties and composition, prevention of stratification or deposition of suspended particles, for improved rates of heat, mass transfer and chemical reaction to achieve faster mixing time. Most of the researchers have focused on experimental estimation of mixing time and proposing suitable correlations for the prediction of mixing time and recent ones being on flow visualization. Though there are few researcher works on flow visualization, many of them have riot validated their results with the real time values. Hence it is proposed to study the flow pattern inside the jet mixer under different configuration. A 3D jet mixer (cylindrical tank with jet of different configuration and aspect ratio of 1) was modeled using commercially available software Fluent. This model was simulated for different sets of nozzle configurations and the simulated mixing characteristics were obtained for both Newtonian and Non-Newtonian (9% carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) solution) fluids. A detailed comparative analysis has also been made with the already estimated experimental mixing times for Newtonian fluids. The simulated mixing characteristics of 9% CMC solution (Non-Newtonian fluid) have been compared with water (Newtonian fluid) mixing characteristics under the same operating conditions.