Numerical simulation of rotor-stator mixer with viscous fluids

The three dimensional unsteady flow in a batch tank with a rotor-stator mixer was studied with CFD software FLUENT. Sliding mesh method, laminar flow model, standard wallfunctions were involved in this process. As the consequence, the power, self-generated flow rate, the properties of the velocity and shear-rate's distribution of the mixer were investigated. The numerical prediction shows that the self-generated flow rate was in consistent with reference. The research is proved to be accurate and reliable. It is indicated that the distribution of velocity and shear-rate in the tank was symmetry. The velocity gradient in the gap between the rotor and stator which caused the max shear-rate area was big. The power of the mixer increases as the fluid viscosity increased. The self-generated flow rate and the max shear-rate were decreased on the contrary.