Study Of The Movement Of Different Kind Of Single Spherical Particles In Laminar Flow Cubic Stirred Tank

There are few studies on the mechanism of individual particle suspension in cubic stirred tanks(CST), whereas solid-liquid mixing is a process widely employed in many unit operations including the chemical industry, bio-engineering, petrochemical industry, material engineering, pharmaceutical and food processing.This research aimed to provide a clear understanding of the mechanism of individual spherical particle suspension in cubic stirred tank reactor with respect to the velocity at the point of its suspension. A disk plate together with a fluid of high viscosity was used to create a mixing pattern with laminar flow. A tank, which is square in shape, was used with various kinds of particles of different sizes, varying off-tank base, a particular kind of disk plate with a laminar flow impeller and various kinds of liquids of high viscosity. A camera of high speed and high resolution was used to capture the moving particle at varying time interval. The experimental data was compiled and analyzed using various analytical tools including Mathlab, Excel, Origin, Tecplot, C++etc.A squared base glass stirred tank measuring 220x220x220mm was used in this study. The disk plate (disk panel) was centrally placed in the mid position of the tank at varying distances from the base of the reactor. The aim was purely to determine just the suspended velocity (NjS) of an individual particle in the liquid (glycerol solution of high viscosity). This approach involved placing the individual particle at different mid-point positions at the base of the reactor. A digital computer software (PHOTRON FASTCAM VIEWER (PFV)) was used to control both the velocity of the stirred tank together with the high speed camera (HSC). Duration ranging from 15 to 20 sec and the velocity (NjS) at which the maximal velocity attained can also be modified by PFV digitally. In order to determine the displacement of the particle, its acceleration and velocity, the experiment was performed many times (3 to 5 times) visually on either side of the tank. The average Njs for this method was also determined.Results from this research were tested and validated in an attempt to provide a clear insight of the mechanism of individual particle suspension in cubic stirred tank reactor with respect to the velocity at the point of its suspension. The results were found to be in agreement with other reports in the literature, which further confirmed their validity.