Numerical study of the performance of multistage Scaba 6SRGT impellers for the agitation of yield stress fluids in cylindrical tanks

The 3-D flow fields and power consumption in a vessel stirred by multistage Scaba 6SRGT impeller have been investigated. The Xanthan gum solutions in water were used, which have a shear thinning behavior with yield stress. This study was carried out with the help of a CFD package (CFX 13.0, Ansys Inc.) which is based on the finite volume method to solve the momentum equations. The effects of stirring rate, fluid rheology, impeller number, impeller location and vessel size on the performance of such stirred system are presented. To validate the CFD model, our predicted results have been compared with other literature data and a satisfactory agreement has been found.