PIV measurements of flow in an aerated tank stirred by a down- and an up-pumping axial flow impeller

Liquid phase hydrodynamics in an aerated tank stirred by a down- and an up-pumping pitched blade turbine have been investigated using particle image velocimetry. The effect of agitator configuration and the gas phase on the mean velocity fields and turbulent quantities in the vessel have been investigated. The global mean gas holdup has also been evaluated for the two pumping conditions. For the gas flow rate used, the presence of gas only slightly alters the liquid flow patterns produced by both the down-and up-pumping configurations and causes a general decrease in the mean liquid velocities. The turbulent kinetic energy in the impeller discharge region was not affected by the presence of gas, but in the bulk of the tank, aeration caused a decrease in this value. Global gas holdup was found to be similar to36% greater for the up-pumping impeller and a large amount of gas was found to be entrained by the primary circulation loop. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.