White Paper
FINAL REPORT - Part 1
Prepared by:
Dr. Thomas J. Gieseke
NUWCDIVNPT - Code 8233
March 29, 1999
Distribution Statement D: Distribution authorized to the DoD and to Westfall Manufacturing. Other Requests for this document shall be referred to Westfall Manufacturing, Bristol, RI.
The performance of the Westfall Manufacturing Co. static mixer has been evaluated using experimental techniques. At issue was the hydrodynamics mechanism by which the device effectively mixes an additive to the primary fluid stream. A six inch diameter mixer was installed in the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Flow-Loop test facility and the velocity field downstream of the mixer was monitored using Laser Doppler Velocimetry. Multiple two-dimensional profiles of the streamwise and vertical velocity component were measured using this system. The mean and standard deviation of the velocities were computed and are presented at stations up to 8 diameters downstream of the mixer. Two accelerated jets surrounded by very high velocity gradients and intense turbulent mixing dominate the flow. There is no evidence of stable streamwise vortices.
This paper fulfills the contractual obligations to Westfall Manufacturing under purchase order 607619383-5 dated June 16, 1998.
Westfall manufacturing has developed an innovative static mixer design which is intended to serve as a low-cost, small, highly efficient alternative to other static mixers currently on the market. The mixer is shown as a drawing in figure 1 and as an image in figure 2.
Figure 1. Mechanical Drawing of the Westfall Mixer
Figure 2. Photograph of the Westfall Mixer
NUWC was contracted to carryout a series of tests to clearly identify the hydrodynamics mechanism which controls the mixer performance. This document contains a description of the experimental and numerical approach taken to document the mixer hydrodynamics.