Rapid diagnosis of flow separation around an axial impeller in a mixing vessel

 The relative flows around a flat plate axial impeller in a mixing vessel were visualized directly using a combined image shifting and image de-rotation technique. The image shifting technique used a rotating mirror to produce a velocity bias equal to the blade velocity so that the relative flow field could be studied in a co-axial plane cutting through the 2-dimensional blade section. The technique provides a rapid means of locating local flow separation on the blade. To visualize the relative flow field in the plane of the blade span, an image de-rotation method was used. The method includes using a dove-shaped prism which, when rotated, produce a rotation of an image about the optical axis. It was observed in the relative frame of reference through the prism that a new vortex structure, not reported previously, with vorticity sign opposite to that of the rotation of the shaft, exists near the hub at the high pressure side of the blade. Received: 17 June 1996/Accepted:12 November 1996