Dispersed two-phase flow analysis by pulsed ultrasonic velocimetry in SMX static mixer

Dispersed two-phase flow was experimentally investigated, by pulsed ultrasonic velocimetry (PUV) technique, in Sulzer SMX static mixers for turbulent flow regimes (2280 < ReP < 7980). Data are reported for oil/water ratio of ϕ = 1%, 5% and 30% upstream, downstream and within the static mixer. Turbulence intensity as well as rate of mixing were tracked as function of Reynolds number. Most related studies considered the aspect of macromixing, by extracting the residence time distribution (RTD) of mixers which cannot properly reveal the complicated flow characteristics. Furthermore the information regarding micromixing efficiency in a static mixer is still lacking in the literature. In this work a global approach, based on the average and maximum velocity values and turbulence intensity, to estimate the time scale and process governing the mixing in the Sulzer SMX static mixer is discussed.

► Dispersed two-phase flow.
► Experimental data upstream, inside and downstream SMX.
► Multi-scale mixing time parameters analysed.
► Ultrasonic velocimetry measurements.
► Substantial modifications of velocity profile and turbulence intensity.