Performance comparison between novel and commercial static mixers under turbulent conditions

This study compares the hydrodynamics and mixing performance of four different static mixers under turbulent flow conditions. The Sulzer SMV™, NOV Kenics™, and two novel static mixer geometries were compared numerically over a pipe Reynolds number ranging between 5000 and 30,000. The new geometries are based on the use of specially located divergent inserts of trapezoidal and rectangular shapes downstream of a woven mesh in an attempt to improve its distributive mixing. The performance of these mixers was compared based on the velocity fields, pressure drop in addition to quantifying both the dispersive and distributive mixing efficiencies. The former was accomplished by means of the extensional efficiency while the latter was based on the intensity of segregation (i.e., coefficient of variation). The results of this study show that the combination of screen-type static mixers with divergent inserts offers a good alternative for commercial designs where an improved distributive and dispersive behavior was obtained at reduced energy costs.