Mixing Characteristics Of Gas-Liquid Flow In A Static Mixer: A Numerical Study

Abstract

Mixing characteristics of gas-liquid co-current upward flow inside a vertical pipe equipped with a helical static mixer element were numerically investigated. The results from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with Euler-Euler model of three different length to diameter ratio (L/D) of the static mixer elements were compared. All simulated static mixers provide a better mixing condition in the comparison with the one without a static element. The sudden increase of rotational strength indicated by the liquid velocity curl was observed once the gas-liquid flows enter the static-mixer element zone. The smallest L/D static mixer provides the highest liquid velocity curl in the smallest axial distance providing the most effective mixing process among the tested elements. The best mixing characteristics shown by radial gas distribution was achieved with the static mixer with a smallest L/D.

CFD Study on the Influence of Liquid Viscosity on the Swirling Gas-Liquid Flow

“…In a numerical study using the Euler-Euler CFD model [19], gas-water mixing characteristics inside a vertical pipe were investigated for three different length-to-diameter (L/D) ratios. In their study, it was concluded that all static mixers tested in the numerical simulations provided better mixing conditions compared to a pipe without a static mixer.…”

“…Furthermore, the static mixer with the lowest L/D in their study showed the best gas-water mixing characteristics. This is indicated by the radial distribution of the gas inside the pipe [19]. Their work was carried over to the next numerical study investigating gas-water flow in a horizontal pipe with a single helical static mixer reported in [20].…”

An Experimental Analysis of Gas Reduction in Multiphase Flow with a KMS Helical Static Mixer

“…Multiple geometries are described in [19], where the K, G, R, and M mixers are studied for particular cases and fluid properties such as viscosity; however, it can be also used to produce phase dispersion, chemical reactions, and heat transfer, among other applications [16]. It is verified in [20,21] that, with a gaseous component as a non-miscible phase in the mixture, the mixture fails and dispersion arises along the pipeline where the mixer is hosted. Then, it is possible to take advantage of this effect by producing a phase dispersion because of the tension between the phases.…”