Date of Award

January 2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Advisor

Clement Tang

Abstract

The following thesis entails the research relating to single and two-phase flow through various static mixer geometries and the measurement of fluid viscosity, viscous behavior, and density. Previous studies on the effects of static mixers on flow behavior, and the determination of fluid properties have been examined and summarized. Fluid viscosity and viscous behavior was measured using a rheometer that determined the shear stress on the fluid with a range of spindle shear rates from 0 to 250 1/s and a temperature range of 5 to 35 degrees Celsius. The results validated the fluid viscosities and the viscous behavior as Newtonian. A closed flow loop was used to test a variety of single and two-phase flow fluids through a static mixer and a static pressure transducer test section. Gas and liquid Reynolds numbers ranged from 0 to 1336 and 328 to 1452, respectively. Reynolds mixture numbers were generated based on the homogeneous flow model and ranged from 328 to 2374, which demonstrated a range of laminar and turbulent flow through the 3.175 mm diameter test section. Ten pressure transducers downstream of the static mixer were used to measure local static pressures. Differential pressures across the entire test section including the static mixer and the test section were also measured. Analysis showed the static pressure profile, downstream differential pressure, average downstream static pressure in the pipe, overall system differential pressure, and the comparison of the usage of helical, double plate, and triple plate static mixer geometries to an empty pipe over the range of mixture Reynolds numbers.

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