The performance of a coaxial mixer combining an anchor and a Rushton turbine was investigated for different diameter ratios and rotating modes in the laminar and transition flow regimes. Based on mixing efficiency criteria, this study confirmed that the co-rotating mode is consistently yielding the best results in the laminar and early transition regimes. The best performance was obtained for a turbine to tank diameter ratio of 1/3. In the upper transition and turbulent regimes, the best performance was obtained with the anchor at rest acting like two opposed baffles. With such a configuration, the optimum diameter ratio was found to be 1/2. New definitions of Reynolds number and power number were also introduced based on new characteristic diameter and speed. These correlations shown to be applicable for radial and axial impellers and are significantly better than the ones proposed in the literature.

The performance of a coaxial mixer equipped with an anchor combined to either a radial or an axial impeller was investigated. The system was operated in both counter- and corotating modes in the laminar and transition flow regimes. Experimental and numerical data regarding power consumption, mixing time, tracer evolution, and flow characterization were collected and compared. On the basis of these mixing efficiency criteria, the corotating mode was found to be a better choice for both mixers in the investigated flow regimes. The axial impeller−anchor mixer was also found to be more efficient in terms of energy consumption and mixing energy compared to the Rushton−anchor configuration.

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Experimental and numerical investigations have been carried out to assess the effect of the vessel geometry (number of baffles) and the shape of the Maxblend impeller (configuration of the bottom paddle and angle of the upper grid) with viscous Newtonian fluids in the laminar and lower turbulent mixing regimes. Two parameters have been explored namely the power consumption of the impeller and the mixing time. Videos of the discoloration process have also been taken to get access to the mixing patterns. A nominal 50-l vessel has been used in the experiments. The number of baffles has been varied from 1 to 4, and the bottom paddle has been modified by making openings to allow flow passage. Finally, the effect of using a straight grid in the upper part of the Maxblend has been studied under the same conditions. It is shown that the number of baffles does not have a significant effect on the power consumption, the mixing evolution, and the mixing time regardless of the flow regime. Making openings in the bottom paddle allows for the destruction of the segregated zones at the bottom of the tank at the expense of a very slight increase in power consumption and mixing time. Finally, the power and mixing time are both increased with a straight grid Maxblend.

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