Optimization of Transformable Multiple Impeller (AM Impeller) for Highly Viscous Fluids

Mixing performance in a laminar flow with a mixing Reynolds number less than 10 is greatly affected by the geometry of the impeller blades, and how to generate axial flow is important. The authors developed a new AM impeller with a low production cost by combining simple pitched paddle impellers in multiple stages. In this study, we attempted to further optimize the shape of the AM impeller by adding an assisting blade. Mixing performance was compared between Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. The mixing performance of the multiple-pitched-paddle-impeller was improved by the assisting blades, but the partial helical ribbon impeller was ineffective, and the most efficient AM impeller was the partial helical ribbon impeller without assisting blades, so further impeller simplification was attempted and a modified new AM impeller with the most efficient and simple structure was developed, because the most efficient AM impeller was a partial helical ribbon impeller without assisting blades.