You are on page 1of 24

UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
CHNG 2009 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
LABORATORY 2 2010
NAME OF EXPERIMENT: MIXING OF
LIQUIDS
(F5)
INFORMAL
DATE CONDUCTED: 11TH OCTOBER, 2010
DATE SUBMITTED: 25TH OCTOBER, 2010
NAME OF STUDENT: TERRANCE ALI
STUDENT ID: 809000670
LAB GROUP: B

ABSTRACT
The aim of this experiment was to determine the relationship
between the mixing speeds and power consumption of three
impellers namely the Flat Paddle, the Propeller and the 6 Blade
Turbine and to determine the relationship between mixing speeds
and mixing time. For the first objective, the rpm of the motor was
adjusted and the power consumed was read off the power meter.
For the second objective, a KCl solution containing ions was added
to the system and the time taken for the conductivity of the
solution to remain constant at different rpm values was measured.
It was seen that the power consumption increased with impeller
speed and the mixing time decreased with impeller speed. The
flat paddle was the most efficient impeller in terms of mixing time
while the propeller was the most efficient in terms of power
consumption. However, as an impeller becomes more efficient in
terms of mixing times, it does so at the expense of increased
power consumption. The value of K was largest for the propeller
and smallest for the flat paddle, with the values being 1.62 x 10 5,
2.74 x 107 and 4.53 x 107 for the flat paddle, 6-blade turbine and
propeller respectively with respect to the power consumption. The
flat paddle produced the smallest average value of k from the
Fox and Gen equation, while the propeller gave the largest. These
values were 1570.09, 1360.65 and 722.57 for the propeller, 6blade turbine and flat-paddle respectively.

EXPERIMENTAL
APPARATUS

Mixing Rig consisting of:


Mixing Tank - Diameter of 190mm and a Height of
550mm.
Variable Speed Motor
Power Meter
Conductivity Meter with Conductivity Probe and Recorder
Tachometer
Impeller 1: Propeller of Diameter 66mm
Impeller 2: 6-Blade Turbine, 64mm in Diameter
Impeller 3: Flat Paddle of Diameter 100mm

Potassium Chloride [KCl(aq)]


Water
Stopwatch
Plastic 10ml Syringe
Beaker and Spatula

PROCEDURE
Part A - Power Consumption
1. The baffle was removed and the vessel filled until the level
specified on it.
2. The 6 Blade Turbine mixer was then attached to the shaft and
the shaft inserted into the vessel.
3. The plate was then screwed into position on the vessel with the
aid of nuts. The level of the plate was adjusted by the use of
the nuts to ensure that it was perfectly horizontal.
4. The Tachometer and Speed Controller were then connected.
5. The rpm was set initially to 200 rpm and the power
consumption was recorded.
6. Step 5 was repeated for the following rpm values: 400, 600,
800, 1000.
7. The entire procedure was then repeated for the Propeller and
Flat Paddle Impellers.

Part B - Mixing Time

1. A solution containing 75g Potassium Chloride (KCl) was


prepared in 250ml of water and mixed thoroughly.
2. The baffle was removed and the mixing tank was filled with
water up to the level mark.
3. The propeller was then fitted to the shaft and the motor/plate
assembly was positioned on the studs of the glass vessel.
4. The agitator was switched on at 500rpm and the system
allowed to mix for approximately five (5) minutes so that steady
state was attained at which point the conductivity chart
recorder was started.
5. Using a syringe, 10ml of the KCl solution was withdrawn from
the beaker injected as quickly as possible into the water being
agitated in the tank, and the stopwatch was immediately
started.
6. The conductivity meter was observed and the stopwatch was
halted when the conductivity remained at a constant value.
This time was recorded as the mixing time.

7.

A second 10ml portion of the KCl solution was injected and

the mixing time recorded.

8.

Steps (4) to (7) were then carried out for agitator speeds of

300rpm and 200rpm

RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS


Table 1: Power Consumption Results

Power Consumption
Impeller

200
rpm

400
rpm

600
rpm

800
rpm

1000
rpm

6 Blade Turbine

6.25

7.5

9.5

12.5

15.5

Propeller

5.75

8.5

9.8

12.7

Flat Paddle

6.25

11.75

21

23

28.5

Table 2: Mixing Time Results

Mixing Time (s)


Impeller
1
6 Blade
Turbine
Propeller
Flat Paddle

500 rpm
Avera
2
ge

37.4 35.1
5
2
33.5 35.1
0
4
22.3 10.1
7
8

36.29
34.32
16.28

300 rpm
Avera
2
ge

53.9 56.8
3
6
71.4 66.4
5
0
32.8 31.9
0
0

55.40
68.93
32.35

1
73.3
9
108.
62
44.1
2

200 rpm
Averag
2
e
92.6
4
101.
38
48.6
8

83.02
105.00

All Sample Calculations will be done readings from the 6 Blade


Turbine at 200rpm.

Part A - Power Consumption


Determination of Power in Watts
Armature Current, Ia

46.40

100% is equivalent to 3.0 A

6.25%

Angular Velocity,

2f

= [2 x x

= 20.94 rads-1

Power Consumed, P
P

= 0.2381 Ia
P

= 0.2381 x 20.94 rads-1x 0.1875 A

= 0.935 W

Determination of Power Number

Power Number

Where,
P

Power (Watts)

Density of Water @ 30 C

Impeller Speed (rps)

= 995.71 kgm-3

Di

Impeller Diameter (m)

=
N

= 3.33 rps

Power Number

Power Number

= 23.51

Determination of Reynolds Number

Reynolds Number, Re

=
= Viscosity of Water @ 30C =

0.000798 kg/ms

Re

Re

=17036

Determination of a and K

=K
Where

Power Number

Reynolds Number
A plot of log (Power Number) versus log (Reynolds Number) should
yield a straight line of gradient a and y-intercept log K. This is
shown below:

= K
Taking logs on both sides of equation yields:

P
3
5
N Di
log
= log

P
3
5
N Di
log
= log K + log

P
3
5
N Di
log
= log K + a log

This is of the form y= mx + c where:


m

a is the gradient of the line

log K is the intercept on the y axis

These two values are obtained from the line plotted on Microsoft
Excel which also gives

us the equation of the line. These equations are displayed on


the graphs which can be
found in the Appendix.
From the equation of the 6 Blade Turbine it is seen that:
a

= -1.4427

= 7.4375
log K = 7.4375
K

= 107.4375
= 2.74 x 107

Table 3: Calculated Values - 6 Blade Turbine - Power


Consumption

Spee
d
(rpm)

Armature
Current
(A)

Angul
ar
Veloci
ty
(rad/s
)

200

0.188

20.94

0.935

23.61

1.37

17036

4.23

400

0.225

41.89

2.244

7.08

0.85

34072

4.53

600

0.285

62.83

4.264

3.99

0.60

51108

4.71

800

0.375

83.78

7.480

2.95

0.47

68144

4.83

1000

0.465

104.7
2

11.594

2.34

0.37

85180

4.93

Power
Consum
ed (W)

Power
Numb
er

log
Power
Numb
er

Reynol
log
ds
Reynold
Numbe
s
r
Number

Table 4: Calculated Values - Propeller - Power


Consumption

Spee
d
(rpm)

Armature
Current
(A)

Angul
ar
Veloci
ty
(rad/s
)

200

0.173

20.94

0.860

18.63

1.27

18117

4.26

400

0.180

41.89

1.795

4.86

0.69

36235

4.56

600

0.255

62.83

3.815

3.06

0.49

54352

4.74

800

0.294

83.78

5.864

1.98

0.30

72470

4.86

1000

0.381

104.7
2

9.500

1.65

0.22

90587

4.96

Power
Consum
ed (W)

Power
Numb
er

log
Power
Numb
er

Reynol
log
ds
Reynold
Numbe
s
r
Number

Table 5: Calculated Values - Flat Paddle - Power


Consumption

Spee
d
(rpm)

Armature
Current
(A)

Angul
ar
Veloci
ty
(rad/s
)

Power
Consum
ed (W)

Power
Numb
er

log
Power
Numb
er

Reynol
log
ds
Reynold
Numbe
s
r
Number

200

0.188

20.94

0.935

2.54

0.40

41592

4.62

400

0.353

41.89

3.516

1.19

0.08

83184

4.92

600

0.630

62.83

9.425

0.95

-0.02

800

0.690

83.78

13.763

0.58

-0.23

1000

0.855

104.7
2

21.318

0.46

-0.33

12477
6
16636
8
20795
9

Table 6: Values of a and K


Impeller

6 Blade Turbine

-1.4427

2.74 x 10

Propeller

-1.5115

4.53 x 10

Flat Paddle

-1.0393

1.62 x 10

Part B - Mixing Time


Determination of Average Mixing Time

5.10
5.22
5.32

Average Mixing Time

= (T1 + T2) / 2

= (73.39 + 92.64) / 2
= 83.02 s.

Determination of N
N

= Impeller Speed x Mixing Time

=
N

= 276.73

Determination of Froude Number, Fr

Fr

=
Where,
N

Impeller Speed

Di

Impeller Diameter

Acceleration due to Gravity

Fr

Fr

= 0.0725

= 9.81 ms-2

Determination of Reynolds Number, Re


Reynolds Number was determined in Part A of the calculations.

Determination of k

Recall

Let

= 0.1948

k = 1420.5

Determination of Average k
Average k =(k200 + k300 + k500) / 3
= (1420.5 + 1328.96 + 1332.49) / 3
= 1360.65

Table 7: Calculated Values - 6 Blade Turbine - Mixing


Time
Reynol
Froude
ds
Numbe
Numbe
r
r

Speed
(rpm)

200

276.73

0.0725

17036

0.1948

300

277.00

0.1631

25554

0.2084

500

302.42

0.4531

42590

0.2270

Average
k

1420.
50
1328.
96
1332.
49

1360.65

Table 8: Calculated Values - Propeller - Mixing Time


Reynol
Froude
ds
Numbe
Numbe
r
r

Speed
(rpm)

200

350.00

0.0725

17036

0.1948

300

344.65

0.1631

25554

0.2084

500

286.00

0.4531

42590

0.2270

Average
k

1796.
59
1653.
52
1260.
15

1570.09

Table 7: Calculated Values - Flat Paddle - Mixing Time


Speed
(rpm)

Froude
Numbe

Reynol
ds

Average
k

Numbe
r

200

154.67

0.0725

17036

0.1948

300

161.75

0.1631

25554

0.2084

500

135.67

0.4531

42590

0.2270

793.9
2
776.0
3
597.7
6

722.57

DISCUSSION
Mixing of two liquids refer to the random distribution, into and
through one another of two or more initial separate phases. A tank of
water alone can be agitated but it cannot be mixed since there is only
one component within the tank. Mixing is enhanced by the use of
materials with similar densities (reduces the effect of separation
induced by stratification), low interfacial tension and low viscosities.
The velocity of the fluid at any point in tank has three components,
and the overall flow pattern in the tank depends on the variations in
these three velocity components from point to point. The first velocity
component is radial and acts in a direction perpendicular to the shaft
of the impeller. The second component is longitudinal and acts in a
direction parallel with the shaft. The third component is tangential, or
rotational, and acts in a direction tangent to circular path around the
shaft. In the usual case of a vertical shaft, the radial and longitudinal
components are useful and provide the flow necessary for the mixing
action. The propeller is an axial flow impeller which means that it has
a longitudinal velocity component. The flat paddle pushes the liquid
radial and tangentially with almost no vertical motion at impeller

unless the blades are pitched. The turbine has radial and tangential
velocity components.
From the graph of power consumed against impeller speed, it can be
seen that as the speed of the impeller increases, the power consumed
also increases non-linearly. Furthermore, it is seen that the gradient if
the lines are increasing which means that as impeller speed increases
uniformly, more and more power would be required to effect this
uniform change. These results coincide with the theory on the subject
matter which indicates that as the speed of the impeller increases,
the vorticity and the turbulence within the mixture would be
increased and as such a greater force would need to be exerted by
the impeller to overcome this increase in resistive forces. Moreover, it
can be seen that the impeller which consumes the greatest of power
at a certain speed is the Flat Paddle making it the least efficient in
terms of power consumption. The most efficient impeller with respect
to power consumption is the Propeller since this impeller consumed
the least amount of power at a certain speed.
The Reynolds number is a dimensionless number that gives a
measure of the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces, and is utilized
in the characterization of flow. A Reynolds Number less than 2000
indicates laminar flow while one greater than 4000 implies turbulent
flow and one lying in the range 2000 to 4000 indicates that the flow is
in transition. From the graph of log Power Number against log
Reynolds Number it is seen that the Flat Paddle produced the largest
Reynolds Number which indicated that it produced the most turbulent
stream. This accounts for the fact that the Flat Paddle is the least
efficient in terms of Power Consumption. It should be noted that the
vortex produced as a result of the Flat Paddle was visibly larger than

that of the Propeller and 6 Blade Turbine which had similar Reynolds
Numbers. In terms of the Power Number it was seen that the 6 Blade
Turbine had the largest Power Number and the Flat Paddle had the
lowest Power Number.
The graph of mixing time against impeller speed shows that as the
impeller speed increases the mixing time decreases. The mixing time
in this case represents the time it takes for the Potassium Chloride
ions to be evenly distributed and as such the time was measured with
the aid of a conductivity meter. The mixing time is expected to
decrease with an increase in the impeller speed since the faster the
impeller rotates the more the fluid particles are in motion and thus
the greater the likelihood that they will bombard against the KCl ions
leading to the even distribution of it. The lines representing the
mixing times for the 6 Blade Turbine and Propeller intersected at the
end which can be attributed to the under-mentioned sources fo errors.
It is seen that the Flat Paddle is the most efficient in terms of mixing
time and the propeller is the least efficient in this regard.
According to the Fox and Gen equation, a value for k can be
developed which gives an idea of the efficiency of the impeller used.
It is seen that the average value for k is the lowest with the Flat
Paddle (722.57) which implies that it is the most efficient impeller.
The value of k for the propeller (1570.09) which means that it is the
least efficient. The 6 Blade Turbine is more efficient than the Propeller
but it is far less than the Flat Paddle. This trend can be seen when the
k value for the 6 Blade Turbine is considered (1360.65).
From the results attained in this experiment it can be seen that for the
most efficient impeller a compromise needs to be made between the

mixing time and the power consumption. This is because the most
efficient impeller with respect to power consumption is the Propeller
and the least efficient impeller is the Flat Paddle but with respect to
mixing time it is the exact opposite in that the Flat Paddle is the most
efficient and the Propeller is the least efficient.

Safety Analysis
The motor was switched off when not in use to prevent
overheating.
The mixing jar should be properly secured since at high speeds
turbulence may occur causing vibration of the equipment.
The wires connecting the probe to the power meter must be
web insulated because if it comes in contact with the solution it
may cause a short circuit and hence a electrical hazard.

Sources of Errors

The tachometer which was used to set the impellers to their


desired speed was not accurate since there existed a level of

variation in the readings.


The density and viscosity of the liquid in the tank was assumed
to be constant but this was not the case since the KCl solution
was being added to it which would have an impact on these
values. It should be noted that the effect of this change in
density and viscosity is not profound since a large volume of

water was used initially in the tank.


The flat paddle impeller required a lower volume to be used
within the tank since the vortex create by this impeller would
have caused the water to overflow. This would mean that the

level of water used in the calculations would have been

inaccurate.
Due to human reaction time, the time at which the stopwatch
was initiated would have varied from the time at which the
mixing actually started which would mean that the time

measured would be inaccurate.


Parallax errors may have occurred when reading instruments
such as the power meter.

CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS


It was concluded that:

As impeller speed increases, power consumption increases.


Furthermore, for a given impeller speed, power consumption

was greatest for the flat paddle and lowest for the propeller.
As mixing speed increases, there is a corresponding decrease

in mixing time.
From Graph 2, the value of K was largest for the propeller and
smallest for the flat paddle, with the values being 1.62 x 105,
2.74 x 107 and 4.53 x 107 for the flat paddle, 6-blade turbine

and propeller respectively.


The flat paddle produced the smallest average value of k
while the propeller gave the largest. These values were
1570.09, 1360.65 and 722.57 for the propeller, 6-blade turbine

and flat-paddle respectively.


The flat paddle was the most efficient impeller in terms of
mixing time while the propeller was the most efficient in terms
of power consumption. However, as an impeller becomes more
efficient in terms of mixing times, it does so at the expense of
increased power consumption.

It is recommended that:

A digital tachometer should be used so as to get an accurate

impeller speed.
Warm water should have been used to dissolve the KCl so as to

ensure that all of the salt dissolved.


De-ionized water should have been used to dissolve the KCl salt
so that the only ions present in the KCl solution would have

been that of the KCl.


The conductivity probe should be replaced so that a longer one
could be used to better determine the conductivity of the
solution since the probe used only measured the conductivity at

the surface.
The amount of water added to the tank should be lowered so
that none would need to be removed for the Flat Paddle
impeller and a constant volume would be used.

REFERENCES

http://www.thermexcel.com/english/tables/eau_atm.htm
http://202.44.47.77/tam/SubjectsbyWASAN/673331FoodProcessing
Machinery/Agitation%20equipment.pdf
http://www.scribd.com/doc/31120531/Agitation
Massey, B.S. Mechanics of Fluids, Longman Hill, 6th ed. (1993)
Coulson & Richardson, Backhurst and Harker- Chemical
Engineering Volume One, 3rd Ed.

APPENDIX

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract
1

Experimental

Results and Calculations


4
Discussion
13
Conclusions

& Recommendations

16
References
17
Appendix

18

You might also like