Modelling of solids distribution in stirred tanks: analysis of simulation strategies and comparison with experimental data

The predictive capabilities of CFD techniques as applied to solid–liquid stirred vessels are investigated. The distribution of solid particles was simulated in three baffled stirred tanks agitated with single and multiple impellers. Suspensions of glass beads of different diameters and average concentration up to 6?vol. % in water were studied. The simulations of solid–liquid suspensions in the stirred vessels were performed by using fully predictive approaches. Eulerian multiphase models were adopted for modelling the solid–liquid flow, coupled with three different extensions of the standard k-? model to the case of multiphase flows. The simulated particle axial concentration profiles are compared with experimental data and critically discussed. The most successful simulation strategy and one possible implementation are described.