Numerical Study on the Hydraulic and Mixing Performance of Fluid Flow within a Channel with Different Numbers of Sector Bodies

Abstract

This study numerically analyzes and compares the outlet mixing efficiency (Mout), the pressure loss (ΔP), and the comprehensive performance parameter η, defined as the ratio between Mout and dimensionless pressure drop, of fluid flow in mixing channels with a single sector body (CSSB), dual sector bodies (CDSB), and triple sector bodies (CTSB). This analysis is conducted under a Reynolds number based on the dimension of the sector body Red = 100. The analysis reveals that both for the CDSB and CTSB, when the spacing distance between the sector bodies is small, the downstream sector body blocks the vortex shedding, resulting in a low mixing degree. Increasing the spacing distance between the sector bodies can significantly improve the mixing performance. When comparing the performance of three configurations, it is found that only when the spacing distances between the sector bodies in CDSB and CTSB are large enough, their outlet mixing efficiencies converge to a closed value, surpassing that of CSSB, but at the expense of a substantial pressure loss. Moreover, the CSSB consistently outperforms the CDSB and CTSB in terms of comprehensive performance. This study provides insights into the selection and spacing of bluff bodies in channels to achieve desirable hydraulic and mixing performance.