(248d) Momentous Flow Technology – the Other Way of Mixing

The continuous rotating flow, referred to as Momentous Flow Technology, may find application in alumina precipitators and anaerobic digesters. This technology allows use of relatively inexpensive mixers for large tall form vessels above 6 m in diameter and with Z/T ~=3.0. Circular flow in a vessel is generated by an axial impeller located in the upper part of the vessel with no baffles. As a result of fast rotation, a tornado like vortex is generated in the vessel center. Lab experimentation in a 0.91 m diameter vessel confirmed that this vortex has the capacity of lifting and uniformly distributing alumina particles up to 63 microns in diameter. The same principle can be applied for economical mixing in anaerobic digesters. The 0.29 m diameter model vessel was built to conduct PIV measurements and validate CFD calculations.