Experimental analysis of hydrodynamics in axially agitated tank

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique was used to analyze the flow field in a stirred tank induced by, a Lightnin A310 axial impeller, focusing on the hydrodynamics, with particular attention to turbulence [production, transport, and dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE)] The first data of interest are the three components of the mean veocity, which give the overall circulation in the tank. Since turbulence controls mainly the mixing, the six components of the Reynolds stresses were measured. The dissipation rate of TKE was estimated after an experimental evaluation of the different terms of the TKE balance equation at different levels in the tank. A profile close to the impeller is compared to previous empirical modeling where the dissipation rate of TKE was related to the level of TKE and to a macroscale of turbulence that was assumed to be proportional to the impeller.