Abstract

In this experiment, students were asked to do an experiment with two different

objectives. For the first objective, students are needed to determine the flow pattern when
using the different type of impeller with and without the use of baffles and by using different
types of fluids which is water and oil. For this objective, types of impellers which are turbine
and flat blade are used. Students are needed to observe the flow patterns when using the
impeller with and without baffles.For the second objective in this experiment, students are
needed to determine the power consumed by a mixer that varies with speed and the inclusion
of baffles. Students are needed to use hydraulic oil and oil as the fluid to be filled in the tank.
Then, it is needed to determine its power and its rotation speed with and without baffle. At
the end of the experiment for first objective, it can be observed that different impellers
produce different type of flow patterns in a baffled tank.In a baffled tank, flat paddle and
turbine impeller produce radial flow pattern. In an unbaffled tank, two types of impellers
produced the same flow pattern which is tangential flow pattern.For second objectives in this
experiment, it can be seen that power consumed increases as the speed increases.It also can
be seen that the power consumed in a baffled tank is higher than an unbaffled tank.
Introduction
Mixing of liquid-liquid or solid-liquid system is a complex operation to analyze and subject
to many variables. The choice of mixer for a particular application depends on the degree of
bulk movement or shear mixing required by the process. In order to predict full-scale
requirements, it is usual to model the system and apply dimensional analysis.Before the
dimensional analysis can be used, three conditions must apply:
1. Geometric similarity This will define the boundary conditions, corresponding
dimensions will have the same ratio.
2. Kinematics similarity This requires that velocities at corresponding points must
have the same ratio ac those at other corresponding points.
3. Dynamic similarity This requires that the ratio of forces at corresponding points is
equal to that at other corresponding points.
The modes of flow behavior exist in a mixer laminar and turbulent flow. Both of the flow
conditions may be described dimensionally but for turbulent flow its behavior is less
significant. In particular, the power number becomes independent of Reynolds number
beyond a certain turbulence range. A further factor to consider is surface waves, which are,
described by the Froude number group. In a mixer this phenomena is usually function of the
height of the vortex, which forms. Arm field have developed a model mixer, which can be

used to predict the power consumption of a full-sized mixer by equating Reynolds number
and Froude number. The effect of placing baffles in the mixer vessel is also investigated. In
this experiment, we used liquid mixing apparatus as our operating machine.

Figure 1 : Liquid Mixing Apparatus

Objectives
1. The objective of this experiment is to observe the flow patterns that can be achieved by the
use of different impellers with and without the use of baffles.
2. The objective of this experiment is to show how the power consumed by a mixer varies
with speed, types of impeller and with the inclusion of baffles.
Theory
An impeller is on of the rotating component of a centrifugal pump which transfer energy
from the motor that drives the pump to the fluid that being pumped by the accelerating fluid
outwards from the center of rotation.The velocity achieved by the impeller change into
pressure when the outward movement of the fluid is confined by the pump casing.Impeller
are usually short cylinders with an open inlet to accept incoming fluid, vanes to push the fluid

radially, and splined center to accept a driveshaft. There are three types of mixing flow
patterns that are markedly different. The so-called axial-flow turbines actually give a flow
coming off the impeller of approximately 45 degree and therefore have a recirculation pattern
coming back into the impeller at the hub region of the blades.
Axial flow impellers include all impellers in which the blade makes an angle of less than 90
degree with the plane of rotation.It run at the highest efficiency and it have the lowest NPSH
requirement.It require the highest power requirement at shut off, so they are normally started
with the discharge valve open. Axial flow impellers may also be mounted near the bottom of
the cylindrical wall of the vessel.
Radial flow impellers have blades which are parallel to the axis of the drive shaft. The
smaller multiblade ones are known as turbines; larger, slower-speed impeller with two or four
blades are often called paddles. The diameter of a turbines is normally between 0.3 and 0.6 of
the tank diameter. They should be specified for high head and low flow conditions.
The baffles are needed to stop the swirl in a mixing tank.Almost all the impeller rotate in the
clockwise or counter clockwise direction. Without baffles, the tangential velocity coming
from any impeller causes the entire fluid mass to spin. Most common baffles are straight flat
plate of metal that run along the straight side of vertically oriented cylindrical tank or vessel.
For unbaffles tank, there is a tendency for a swirling flow pattern to develop
regardless of the type of impeller. For baffles tank, for vigorous agitation of thin suspensions,
the tank is provided with baffles which flat vertical strips set radially along the tanks wall as
shown in figure 1.

Figure 2 : Flow pattern of agitation by flat paddle

Figure 3 : Flow pattern of agitation by turbine

Procedures
General Start-up procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The power outlet is switched on.

All the tightening screws is fastened.
The working surrounding area is ensured to be dry and clean.
The shaft is lifted up using lifting chain attached to the shaft.
The experiment is carried out.

General shut-down procedure

1.
2.
3.
4.

Any liquid inside the tank is removed by opening the outlet valve
The tank is washed and rinsed to make sure no oil residue after the experiment.
The paddle/impeller inside the tank is removed and washed after use.
The power outlet is shut down.

Experiment : Observer the flow pattern

1.
2.
3.
4.

The tank is filled with water up to a depth of 30L.

Flat paddle is attached with the end of the shaft.
A small quantity of plastic pellet is added to the tank.
The speed of the impeller is turned up in small increments: 50 rpm, 100 rpm, 150rpm,
200 rpm and 250 rpm. The pellets are seen to swirl around in the water showing flow

patterns.
5. The movement of the pellets and the flow pattern is observed and drawn.
6. The procedures are repeated by replacing the flat paddle with other impeller.
7. The procedures are also repeated with the baffles fitted in the tank with each flat
paddle and turbine impeller.

Experiment : To calculate the power consumed by a mixer varies with speed, types of
impeller and with the inclusion of baffles.
1. The tank filled with hydraulic oil up to a depth of 30 L
2. Flat paddle is attached with the end of the shaft.
3. The speed of the impeller is turned up to 50 rpm and the reading of force is recorded.

4. The speed is then turned up to 100 rpm, 150 rpm, 200 rpm and 250 rpm with the force
recorded at the respective speed.
5. Step 3-4 is repeated with the baffles fitted in the tank.
6. The power consumed for each of the speed is calculated.
Apparatus and Materials

Figure 2
1. Acrylic cylindrical mixing vessel incorporates a drain valve, depth scale and a
removable set of baffles.The mixing vessel is mounted on a mild steel frame.
2. Mixer assembly c/w stainless steel shaft with bare end shaft for mounting
various type of impeller, the mixer is direct driven by Electrical motor. The
reaction force of mixer is measured by load cell and indicates on the digital
panel meter.The mixer rotation speed is control by frequency inverter.
3. Load cell is installed to measures the mixer resultant force. The distance of
centre mixer shaft to the load cell measure point is 60mm.

4 .Electrical control panel is comprise of :

4.1. Safety residual current breaker.
4.2. Motor overload breaker.
4.3. Load cell amplifier and digital display unit. It indicates the mixing reaction
force in Newton unit ( N ).
4.4. Frequency inverter 0.75kw for varies the motor speed. The inverter c/w
digital display meter to shows the motor rotating speed in RPM.
4.5. Main power switch.
4.6. Mixer run switch.
4.7. Mixer speed adjustment potentiometer
5. Impeller for testing, consists of :
5.1. Flat Paddle 6 x 3cm, 6 x 5cm.
5.2. Turbine impeller.
5.3. Screw propeller.

Results and Calculations

RESULTS
EXPERIMENT : Observation of the flow patterns
WITH BAFFLES
Flat Paddle

Turbine Blade

WITHOUT BAFFLES
Flat Paddle

Turbine Blade

Experiment : To calculate the power consumed by a mixer varies with speed, types of
impeller and with the inclusion of baffles.
Angular speed
(rpm)

Angular speed,

Force, F
(N)

Torque, T
(Nm)

Power, W
(watts)

-1
( rads )

50
100
150
200
250

Angular speed
(rpm)

5.24
18
13.5
10.47
17.5
13.13
15.71
17.93
13.44
20.94
19.33
14.50
26.18
19.47
14.60
Table 1 : flat blade (oil , without baffles)

Angular speed,

Force, F
(N)

Torque, T
(Nm)

70.74
137.47
211.41
303.63
382.22

Power, W
(watts)

-1

( rads )
50
100
150
200
250

Angular speed
(rpm)

5.24
18.8
14.1
10.47
19.07
14.30
15.71
20.95
15.71
20.94
23.73
17.80
26.18
29.6
22.2
Table 2 : Flat blade (oil , with baffles)

Angular speed,

73.88
149.72
246.80
372.73
581.20

Force, F
(N)

Torque, T
(Nm)

Power, W
(watts)

20.4
22.0
27.2

15.3
16.5
20.4

80.172
172.755
320.484

-1
( rads )

50
100
150

5.24
10.47
15.71

200
250

Angular speed
(rpm)

20.94
31.3
23.5
26.18
37.6
28.2
Table 3 : Flat blade (water , with baffles)

Angular speed,

Force, F
(N)

Torque, T
(Nm)

492.000
738.276

Power, W
(watts)

-1

( rads )
50
100
150
200
250

Angular speed
(rpm)

5.24
18.53
13.9
10.47
18.80
14.1
15.71
18.93
14.2
20.94
19.07
14.3
26.18
19.33
14.5
Table 4 : Flat blade (water , without baffles)

Angular speed,

Force, F
(N)

Torque, T
(Nm)

72.836
147.627
223.082
299.442
379.610

Power, W
(watts)

-1
( rads )

50
100
150
200
250

Angular speed
(rpm)

5.24
92.57
13.7
10.47
94.60
14.0
15.71
95.27
14.1
20.94
96.62
14.3
26.18
97.30
14.4
Table 5 : Turbine (oil , with baffles)

Angular speed,

Force, F
(N)

Torque, T
(Nm)

71.79
146.58
221.51
299.44
376.99

Power, W
(watts)

-1
( rads )

50
100
150
200
250

5.24
94.60
14.0
10.47
95.27
14.1
15.71
95.95
14.2
20.94
95.95
14.2
26.18
96.62
14.3
Table 6 : Turbine (oil , without baffles)

73.36
147.63
223.08
297.35
374.37

Angular speed
(rpm)

Angular speed,

Force, F
(N)

Torque, T
(Nm)

Power, W
(watts)

-1
( rads )

50
100
150
200
250

Angular speed
(rpm)

5.24
91.89
13.6
10.47
93.24
13.8
15.71
93.92
13.9
20.94
94.59
14.0
26.18
95.27
14.1
Table 7 : Turbine (water , with baffles)

Angular speed,

Force, F
(N)

Torque, T
(Nm)

71.264
144.486
218.369
293.160
369.136

Power, W
(watts)

-1

( rads )
50
100
150
200
250

5.24
91.22
13.5
10.47
92.57
13.7
15.71
93.54
13.8
20.94
93.92
13.9
26.18
95.27
14.1
Table 8 : Turbine (water , without baffles)

70.74
143.436
216.798
291.066
369.138

CALCULATIONS
2
Angular seed, = rpm 60
Torque, T = F r
Power, W = T
Discussion
This experiment is divided into two parts with two different objectives.Part 1 is conducted to
observe the flow patterns that be achieved by the use of different impellers with and without
the use of baffles.While part of this experiment 2 is conducted to show how the power
consumed by a mixer varies with speed and the inclusion of baffle. To achieve these
objectives, liquid mixing apparatus is used.
In part 1 in this experiment , the flow patterns of water and oil with the aid of the plastic
pellets are observed.Four set of flow patterns are shown with the use of 2 different impellers
with and without the baffle. These impellers are actually the agitator for mixing the
substances. Agitation and swirling are the method for combining the compounds together.
Therefore, flow patterns of the water depend on the type of impeller used different impeller

give different type of flow pattern.There are three different types of flow patterns which are
axial, radial and tangential.
Based on the flow patterns that have been observed from the experiment, it shown that
different types of impellers without the inclusion baffles produced the same flow pattern.
That is, a circular and rotary motion.Another observation seen during the experiment is the
production of the deep vortex in an unbaffled tank. These characteristics can be related to the
tangential flow pattern. Thus, tangential flow patterns are produced in an unbaffled tank.
Tangential flow patterns offer very little mixing because of the small velocity gradients.
With the inclusion of baffle, the use of flat paddle and turbine blade as the impeller produced
the same flow pattern. At the corners of the tank near the baffle, it can be seen that the pellets
are flowing parallel to the impeller and then towards the tank wall. The flow is observed to
have actually split into two streams which are then continuing flowing along the tank wall
and back to the impeller. The flow pattern that produced is radial. This makes the flat paddle
and turbine the radial-flow impellers.
For part 2 in this experiment, the force is recorded at every increment of speed and the
powers consumed are calculated. The graph of power consumption (W) against speed (rad/s)
is also plotted to give a clearer understanding of all of the relationships involved in the
experiment that have been conducted. From the results and the graph obtained, it can be seen
that the power consumed increases as the speed increases. It also can be seen that the power
consumed in a baffled tank is higher than an unbaffled tank. This is because with the use of
baffles in an agitation process, vortex does not occur. Hence, proper mixing is achieved.
When the system operates without baffle, it is found that deep vortex is mainly produced.
This limit in how much power can transmit to the fluid because of the forming of the
vortexes.
Conclusions
From the observation in experiment 1, it can be concluded that different impellers produce
different type of flow patterns in a baffled tank. In a baffled tank, Flat paddle and turbine
impeller produced radial flow pattern whereas screw propeller produced axial flow pattern.
For a tank without the inclusion of baffle, it can be concluded that all three type of impellers
produced the same flow pattern which is tangential flow pattern. Based on the results and the
graph obtained for Experiment 2, it can be seen that power consumed increases as the speed
increases. It also can be seen that the power consumed in a baffled tank is higher than an
unbaffled tank.

Even though the objective of the experiment is reached, a lot of improvements must
be considered to overcome the experimental problems and obtain the best results throughout
this experiment. For example, ensure that the equipment is in a proper operating good
condition as the unit has been used at many times and the tank should be cleaned thoroughly
especially after conducting the experiment to prevent the oil and water from mixing. It is also
necessary to make sure the balance is operating in a good condition to avoid experiencing
problems with the reading of the force balance. Moreover, ensure that the eyes are
perpendicular to the scale of the tank during refill the tank with water to avoid parallax error
and different color plastic pellet must be used to detect flow patterns easily. Also, two tanks
should be provided by the laboratory so that the water and oil can be prevented from mixing.

Recommendations
Due to the experiment that has been done, there are few recommendations that should be
considered to get the best results needed throughout in this experiment. First and the
foremost, ensure that the equipment is in a proper operating good condition. It is suggested to
repair and always do some maintenance for this equipment when the unit has been used at
many times.
Since this experiment should be done with water source and coagulant or oil as a fluid, the
tank should be cleaned thoroughly especially after conducting the experiment with oil. This is
because to prevent the high concentration of coagulant or oil to be attached the wall of the
tank. This is also to prevent the oil and water from mixing. Therefore, the tank can be used
again when conducting the next experiment.
Other than that, it is necessary to make sure the balance is operating in a good condition. If
the balance is not operating very well, it will affect the reading for the force balance
regarding to each speed of impellers. It is not the right way to measure the force by operating
the tension spring manually, it is much better to use the tension spring that operated by
computer itself. Indirectly, the accurate readings can be obtained as the best results needed.
Furthermore, ensure that the eyes must be perpendicular to the scale of the tank during refill
the tank with water to avoid parallax error. Besides that, always make sure that the water does
not spill over the side of the tank by increasing the speed too much. In addition, several

different colors of plastic pallets can be used, so the flow pattern can be detected easily.
Because of that, the movement of the plastic pellets can be seen clearly.
Last but not least, it is much better to suggest that two tanks should be provided by the
laboratory. One of them is for water and the remaining one for coagulant or oil. This is to
ensure that the water and oil can be prevented from mixing. The mixture between water and
oil can be happened if only one tank provided and used the same tank to conduct the
experiment. This will affect the data as well as inaccurate readings when conducting this
experiment.
References
1. Yunus A. Cengal & Michael A. Boles, Thermodynamics An Engineering Approach,
3rd Edition, 4th Edition, McGraw Hill, 2002.
(2015, November 10th) Retrieved from
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjvaBfGlaTQ
3. http://utcan.ut.ac.ir/member/journal/labbafi/Mixing%20of%20complex%20fluids%20.pdf
4.http://www.engr.uky.edu/~aseeched/SummerSchool/2007/session_handouts/new_approache
s/fluids/v41p101.pdf
APPENDICES
1.

Liquid Mixing Apparatus

Liquid Mixing Equipment

Control Panel
2.

Type of Impellers

(Flat Paddle)

(Turbine Impeller)

Baffle

Hydraulic Oil