THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

ST. AUGUSTINE
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
AGITATION TUTORIAL

1.

An agitation unit consists of a 0.2 m diameter disk impeller (curve 3 in

Fig. 1). The ratio D/T is 0.3, the ratio Z/T is 1.0, and the tank is
properly baffled. The impeller operates at 420 rpm. The fluid viscosity
-1 -1
is 0.003 kg m s and specific gravity is 1.25. Calculate the Reynolds

Figure 1 - Turbine Power Correlation for Baffled Vessels

number, the power number, and the quantities P/V and Tq/V.
1

2.

Suppose variables for heat transfer in agitation units are correlated with
the 9 variables in Table 1. Perform a dimensional analysis to obtain a
useful equation suitable for correlation of actual data.
TABLE 1

Variables for heat transfer in agitated vessels

Symbol

3.

Name

SI Units
-3

density

kg m

viscosity

kg m s

wall viscosity

kg m s

thermal conductivity

kg m s K

cp

heat capacity

m s K

heat transfer coefficient

kg s K

rotational speed

impeller diameter

tank diameter

-1 -1

-1 -1
-3

-2

-1

-3

-1

-1

-1

One reliable method of scaling up agitation units for a processing

application is to maintain constant the torque per unit volume.

It is

desired to increase the tank diameter of a baffled unit by a factor of 6.

The large unit will be geometrically similar to the small unit.

Both

operate in the high-Reynolds-number region. Determine the sizes ratios

between the new unit and old unit for
(a)

tank diameter

(b)

impeller

(c)

power

(d)

torque

4.

A six-bladed disk-style turbine impeller (curve 1 in (Fig. 1) is located in a

baffled tank 1.5 m in diameter that is filled with a 60 percent sucrose
-1 -1

solution of specific gravity 1.29 and viscosity 0.055 kg m s

at 23C.

The design of the turbine, baffles, etc., follows the normally accepted
practice. The tank is filled to a depth of 1.5 m. The turbine operates at
100 rpm. Find the torque and power required for this unit. Also find the
lengths of B and C (see Fig. 2).

5.

A company owns two test units as described in Table 2. It is desired to

3

-1 -1

build a 53 m reactor containing a fluid of viscosity 0.004 kg m s

and

specific gravity 1.3. Tests are performed, and equal process results are
obtained as follows:
Laboratory Unit: N = 750 rpm; P = 0.075 kW
Pilot plant unit:

N = 370 rpm; P = 0.3 kW

Find the horsepower, the torque, the speed and the impeller diameter for
3

the 53 m reactor.

TABLE 2

Test units for scale-up

Description

Laboratory unit

Pilot plant unit

Vessel diameter, m

0.3

0.6

Ratio Z/T

1.0

1.0

Ratio D/T

0.3

0.3

Impeller type: disk style, flat blade turbine (6 blades)

3

6.

An agitation unit is being designed to handle a latex of viscosity 1.2 kg

-1 -1

-1

-1

-3

m s , thermal conductivity 0.610 W m K , and density 770 kg m .

The tank is to be 0.9 m in diameter, 0.9 m high, and with D/T equal to
1/3.

Suppose a 9 kW motor is available to drive the impeller at any

speed; let the overall efficiency of the motor, drive train, etc., be 75
percent. Compute the speed, Reynolds number, and torque to operate a
six-bladed turbine with no pitch in a baffled tank. Let the ratio W/D be
0.125 so that curve 4 applies.

7.

In Problem 6, if the Prandtl number of the fluid is 8.0, estimate a heat

transfer coefficient using the following correlation:
Nu = 0.74. Re2/3 . Pr 1/3 .(m/ m w )

0.14

Compute the driving force in C between bulk liquid temperature and the
tank wall if the following equation applies (where Q is in W).
Q = hAheat Dt

Is this driving force a reasonable number to remove the equivalent of

6.75 kW of heat through the walls of a jacketed vessel? Note that all
power added through the agitation shaft is transferred to the fluid by the
impeller so that the temperature of the fluid rises unless the heat can be
removed through the heat transfer area.
4

8.

Consider the two units in Table 2. In this problem, a polymer is being

-1 -1

prepared in a solution whose viscosity is 20 kg m s

and density 800

-3

kgm . Tests are performed, and equal process results are obtained as
follows:
Laboratory unit:

N = 600 rpm;

P = 0.125 kW

Pilot plant unit:

N = 360 rpm;

P = 0.32 kW

Find the power, the torque, the impeller speed, and the impeller
3

diameter for a 45 m reactor.

Figure 2 - Nomenclature
Agitation Tank
19/10/2009
agit.dj
5

for

Baffled