Numerical simulation of mixing flows in agitated vessels with impellers and baffles

Mixing flows in an agitated vessel with impellers and baffles are computed using a dynamical multi-block method. In an example of a typical agitator with paddle impellers and baffles, the computational domain is divided into two blocks: the inner block containing rotating impellers; and the outer block containing baffles. In addition, only the inner block is rotated and the outer block is fixed. Thus, mixing phenomena are well-represented numerically. This method is also applied to a more complicated agitator with an inlet, an outlet and two-step impellers. In this example, a Chimera type of dynamical multi-block method with overlapping grids is used. It is then found that mixing flows are well-represented and the dynamical multi-block method works well in such an agitator with a complicated configuration.