Effect of Taper Angle on Flow and Stress in Conical Shell Fluid Mixers

Abstract

Hollow cylindrical flow mixers achieve a homogeneous mixture with less pressure loss and higher momentum. However, the low volume of the mixer due to the hollow creates high pressure effects and mechanical stresses on the mixer. In this study, the stresses formed on the mixer by considering the flow and thermal effects of fluids in a conical cylinder mixer at different temperatures were examined. The effect of taper angle has been studied. In the examinations carried out using the finite element method, a verification study was first made, and solution sensitivity was determined. Water as fluid in standard conditions and common steel properties as cylinder material were used. Plate thickness was chosen to be 1 mm. It seems more appropriate to use a non-conical straight model to achieve thermal equilibrium. The taper angle reduced the high velocity region created by the fluid entering the mixer. Stress concentrations were observed at the supports and a lower and decreasing stress distribution was obtained for the conical mixer while it was constant for the straight cylinder in the other regions.