Simulation and Performance of Pulsed Pipe Flow Mixing in Non-Newtonian Liquid Dispersion Media

T. Koiranen[1], J. Tamminen[1], A. Häkkinen[1]
[1]LUT Chemtech, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lappeenranta, Finland
Published in 2014

A non-newtonian oil dispersion in a pulsed flow pipe system was mixed in a circulation loop pipe with custom-made static mixers. The rotor-pump was used in a non-pulsed flow circulation, and diaphragm pump for pulsed flow circulation. Modeling was done using COMSOL Multiphysics® 4.3b. The simulations were performed using single-phase laminar flow model in steady-state and in time-dependent modes based on the pump type. The mixing was modeled using diluted species transport equation. The simulation was used for the estimation of the fluid mixing efficiencies of pulsed and non-pulsed flows based on the coefficient of variation CoV. Pulsed flow did not improve mixing. The flow simulations assured also experimentally observed high pressure peaks with pulsed flow diaphragm pump.