Open Access

Optimization of mixing in agitated reactors: A CFD-based approach for energy efficiency and dispersion in biphasic systems

División de Ingeniería Química y Bioquímica, Tecnológico Nacional de México/ TES de Ecatepec

Abstract

A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study was conducted to simulate the hydrodynamic behavior of a Norstone-type high-shear impeller operating in a stirred unbaffled tank containing a biphasic system (glycerin-hexane). A transient, multiphase Eulerian-Eulerian approach was implemented in ANSYS Fluent under laminar flow conditions. The model captured the formation of four distinct recirculation loops and identified zones of high-energy dissipation at the impeller blades, which are critical for the dispersion of the secondary phase. Experimental validation was conducted using temperature sensors (Max6675 thermocouples) connected to an Arduino Uno; good agreement between simulated and measured temperatures was observed. This work provides a validated CFD framework and fundamental insight into the flow dynamics, establishing a solid foundation for optimizing impeller geometry and operating conditions to achieve greater mixing homogeneity and energy efficiency in industrial biphasic systems.

Keywords

How to Cite

Parra Reyes, J. A., Cuevas Sosa, I. S., López Yáñez, A., Ángel Cuapio, R. A., & Martínez-de-Jesús, G. (2026). Optimization of mixing in agitated reactors: A CFD-based approach for energy efficiency and dispersion in biphasic systems. Renewable Energy, Biomass & Sustainability, 8(1), 78–83. https://doi.org/10.56845/rebs.v8i1.675

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