Experimental study on turbulence properties in a Kenics static mixer

The three-dimensional pulsating velocity distribution of fluid in a Kenics static mixer was measured by using laser Doppler velocimetry. The analysis of experimental data shows that the influences of inlet flow rate on the distributions of pulsating velocity, turbulence intensity, and Reynolds stress are less. But the radial component, axial component, and circumferential component of pulsating velocity are enhanced with inlet flow rate increasing, especially for its radial component. When Reynolds number is above 6400, square root mean of pulsating velocity, radial turbulence intensity, turbulence kinetic energy increase distinctively with the increase of inlet flow rate, Reynolds stress is enhanced with the flow rate increasing, and more significant incremental change is seen for the components of τxy and τxz than that for τyz, τxy increases rapidly when Reynolds number is above 6400.