Experimental Investigation of Flow Regimes in an SMX Sulzer Static Mixer

Abstract

An experimental study of the flow pattern in the wall region of an SMX static mixer was performed by using electrochemical shear rate sensors. Electrochemical signals were related to the local shear stress and the fluctuating rate of the velocity gradient. Signal fluctuation analysis allowed one to define the flow regimes inside the static mixers. The laminar flow was characterized by a time-constant evolution of the velocity gradient, while the turbulent flow corresponded to the stabilization of the fluctuating rate of the velocity gradient for high values of pore Reynolds number, defined by considering the static mixer as a porous medium and by using a capillary model. The transition from a laminar flow to an intermediate flow occurred at a pore Reynolds number of about 200. The turbulent flow was observed at a pore Reynolds number of between 1500 and 3000.