Theory

An impeller is a rotating component of a centrifugal pump which transfer

energy from the motor that drives the pump to the fluid being pumped by accelerating
the fluid outwards from the center of rotation. The velocity achieved by the impeller
transfers into pressure when the outward movement of the fluid is confined by the
pump casing. Impeller are usually short cylinders with an open inlet (called an eye) 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. They run at the highest efficiency and
they have the lowest NPSH requirement. They 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 f 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.

As we know, 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. A vortex is produced owing to centrifugal force
acting on the rotating liquid. However, there is a limit to the rotational speed that may
be used, since one the vortex reaches the impeller, severe air entrainment may occur. In
addition, the swirling mass of liquid often generates an oscilating surge in the tank,
which coupled with the deep vortex may create a large fluctuating force acting on the
mixer shaft.

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. Four baffles are almost always adequate. A common baffle width is 1:10 to 1:12 of
the tanks diameter. For Reynolds number greater than 10,000, baffles are commonly
used with turbine impellers and with on-centerline axial-flow impellers.

In the transition region (Reynolds number, from 10 to 10,000), the width of the
baffles may be reduced, often to ½ of standard width. If the circulation pattern is
satisfactory when the tank is unbaffled but a vortex creates a problem, partial length
baffles may be used. These are standard width and extend downward from the surface
into about 1/3 of the liquid volume.

In the region of laminar flow (NRe< 10), the same power is consumed by the
impeller whether baffles are present or not, and they are seldom required. The flow
pattern may be affected by the baffles but not always advantageously. When they are
need, the baffles are usually placed one or two widths radially, to allow fluid to
circulate behind them and at same time produce some axial deflection of flow.

Figure 2 : Flow pattern of agitation by flat paddle

Figure 3 : (a) Flow pattern of agitation by propeller

(b) Flow pattern of agitation by turbine