Two‐component LDV measurements in a stirred tank

Abstract Previous work has shown that in a standard stirred tank, the three‐dimensional velocity field in the discharge flow of the stirrer is characterized by a strong deviation from homogeneous isotropic turbulence. By means of a two‐component laser Doppler velocimeter (2D‐LDV), the Reynolds stresses are measured in a 6.3‐dm 3 standard tank stirred by a six‐flat‐blade Rushton turbine. Obviously, these stresses must be known to better understand the turbulent mixing in such a configuration. Moreover, the 2D‐LDV appears to be an efficient tool for characterizing, from an energy viewpoint, the type of agitator used and, in principle, is confirmed to be useful to accurately obtain the length scales of turbulence which are fundamental parameters for the study of the micromixing processes.