Abstract
Mixing enhancement usually referred to the reduction of non-homogeneities. Mixing operations are encountered widely throughout industrial processes in different energy systems and chemical reactors involving physical and chemical change. The requirement of this process has always been to obtain an energy efficient and environmental friendly mixing in multifunctional heat exchangers/chemical reactors. Poor mixing can affect the product quantity and quality as well as other losses. The passive control of mixing enhancement is meant to the special surface geometries or fluid additives. This work emphasizes on the tracer deformation and analysis of cross-sectional concentration distribution due to imposition of pulsation. An experimental system comprising of a pulsation generator (scotch-yoke mechanism), a 90° curved pipe and a tracer injection system is used. Measurements are carried out by a Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) technique. To avoid laser light diffraction effects during experiments, a T-shaped flow divider are installed at the exit of the 90°curved pipe. The measurements are carried out for a range of steady Reynolds number Rest [420-1000] and different values of Womersley frequency parameter α for a velocity amplitude ratio β = 1. Tracer distribution due to pulsation in a curved pipe flow is observed. Effects of pulsation on the mixing in laminar flow regime are analyzed. The results showed an important and encouraging role of pulsatile flow on mixing enhancement.
Keyword(s)
Chaotic advection, Pulsatile Flow, Mixing enhancement, PLIF measurements