Evaluation of the Efficiency and Intensity of Homogenization by Changing the Geometry of the Turbine Impeller Blades

Abstract

This article presents a numerical study of the effects of changing the geometry of the turbine impeller blades on the efficiency and intensity of homogenization in a bioreactor. The mixing of liquid media is an important stage of technological processes in various industries. Modern Impellers are equipped with homogenizing devices for introducing energy into the liquid, they include hydraulic, pneumatic and mechanical devices or their combinations. Rational selection of the mixing device at the design stage is important for the efficiency of the homogenizer and the entire production line. Four types of impellers are considered: a classic turbine impeller with straight blades, and three modified impellers with different blade inclinations. The mixing process is simulated using the ANSYS Fluid Flow CFX module, based on the finite element method. The results show that the impeller with an upper inclined blade at an angle of 45� has the best performance in terms of mixing speed and vortex formation. The article demonstrates the potential of using computer modeling to optimize the design of mixing devices and to improve the quality and productivity of biotechnological processes. The results obtained in this work can be used by engineers and technologists to design bioreactors with reduced values of shear stresses.