Properties of Gases and Liquids", 3rd ed., McGraw-Hill, 20) Watanabe, K., J. Yata and T.

Minamiyama: Nippon
New York (1977). Kikai Gakkaishi, 81, 1182 (1978).
17) Saito, S.: "Heikobussei Suisan no Kiso", p. 56, Baifukan, 21) Yaws, C. L., J. J. McGinley and P. N. Shah: Chem. Eng.,
Tokyo (1980). Oct. 25, 127 (1976).
18) Sayegh, S. G. andJ. H. Vera: Chem. Eng. /., 19, 1 (1980).
19) Touloukian, Y. S., P. E. Liley and S. C. Saxena: "Thermo- (Presented at the 46th Annual Meeting (Nagoya, April, 1981)
physical Properties of Matter", Vol. 3, IFI/Plenum, New and the 15th Autumn Meeting (Kanazawa, Oct., 1981) of The
York (1970). Soc. of Chem. Engrs., Japan.)

JET MIXING OF FLUIDS IN TANKS

Toshiro MARUYAMA,
Yuji BAN and Tokuro MIZUSHINA
Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606

An experimental investigation was made of the mixing of liquids in a tank where the liquid jet
was injected through a nozzle. The mixing time was defined as the time required to reduce the
concentration variation within 1 % of the mixed mean value and was measured by an impulse
response. The circulation time was also obtained from the response curve.
It was found that in the circulation flow regime of mixing (Re^3 x 104) there exists an optimum
nozzle depth for rapid mixing. It ranges from the liquid surface level to three-quarters of the
liquid depth when the liquid depth is equal to the tank diameter, and is the mid-depth of the liquid
when the liquid depth is smaller than the tank diameter. Whenthe nozzle height is within one-
fourth of the tank diameter, it is efficient for rapid mixing to tilt the nozzle upwards enough to
prevent the formation of a wall jet, which induces circulations of small variance of circulation
time.

Introduction mixing time.

The correlating equations of the mixing time have
In modern chemical processing units, it is common been proposed by Fossett and Prosser2),
Fox and
Gex3), van de Vusse8) and Okita and
Oyama5).
practice that liquids in a tank are circulated by drawing
them through a pumpand returning them to the tank Fossett and Prosser2) assumed that the momentumof
through a pipe or nozzle for such purposes as homo- the jet was preserved in the tank and that the jet
genation of physical properties, prevention of strati- diameter and jet axis length at the termination point
fication, prevention of deposition of suspended of mixing were equal to the tank diameter. They
particles, and tank cleaning. measured concentrations electrically by a pair of
Figure 1 depicts diagrammatically the configura- electrodes in a tank (D=152.4 cm, 72=25.7 cm) and
tion and symbols of jet mixing in a tank. The situa- correlated the mixing time with Eq. (1) on the basis
tion chosen is jet injection through a nozzle attached of the two assumptions.
to the side wall of a cylindrical tank. The external
recirculation system consists of a pipeline and a
pump. The volume of the external system is neg-
ligibly small in comparison with the volume of the
contents of tank. The nozzle is directed across a
diameter of the tank at an arbitrary height ht and an
arbitrary elevation angle 6. The purpose of this
study is to make clear the geometrical condition for
rapid mixing in the circulation flow regime of mixing
on the basis of measured mixing characteristics and
Received November 4, 1981. Correspondence concerning this article
should be addressed to T. Maruyama. Y. Ban is now with Asahi Chem,
Ind. Co., Ltd., Kurashiki 710 Fig. 1 Configuration and symbols of jet mixing in tank
342 JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING OF JAPAN
 tM=SD2/Vqu ite^4500 (1) basis of the quantitative definition of the degree of
Furthermore, they made a number of tests on blending mixing, and the circulation time is obtained from the
of hydrocarbons and confirmed the applicability of period of a damping oscillation of the response curve.
Eq. (1) to some large tanks (D=457 cm, H=457 cm- The optimumheight and elevation angle of the nozzle
Z>=4390cm, H=1006 cm) by measuring the con- for efficient mixing will be determined from the meas-
centration of grab sampling at different levels of the ured mixing time and will be discussed on the basis
tank. Their measurements of mixing time, however, of the characteristics of the jet-induced circulation.
comprise the period for introduction of the second
component to the tank. The time taken to inject 1. Mixing Time and Circulation Time
the second fluid occupied about half the mixing time. A recycle model for tracer response is applied to
Therefore, the constant 8 in Eq. (1) was replaced with analyze mixing characteristics. Whenthe Reynolds
4 by a later investigator8}. Rushton7) compared the number of the jet is so large that the circulating flow
mixing time of Fossett and Prosser with that of a in the tank dominates the mixing and the variance
side-entering propeller mixer. Fox and Gex3) meas- of circulation time is small, an output curve of the
ured the mixing time for a tank (D=30.5cm) by impulse response shows a damping oscillation.
visual interpretation of end-point and for a tank Khang and Levenspiel4) proposed an approximate
(D=152.4cm) by a concentration measurement. expression for the decaying amplitude of the damping
Their correlation of mixing time comprises the de- oscillation.
pendences on gravity and Reynolds number. Van A=2 txp (-27c2a2ctltc) (4)
de Vusse8) assumed that mixing was accomplished in That is, a concentration deviation from a mixed
the circulation time obtained by dividing the tank meanvalue decreases exponentially in time and the
contents volume by the flow rate of the jet midway time elapsed to a certain value of A depends on the
between nozzle and liquid surface. mean circulation time tc and the dimensionless vari-
tM=SJD2 sin 0/du (2) ance of the circulation time, o%.
He measured the density difference in a tank (D= Meanwhile, since the circulating flow is caused by
3600cm, #<1180cm) equipped with a nozzle of a the entrainment of the jet, the mean circulation time
fixed elevation angle (#=57r/36 rad), and confirmed is expressed by the liquid volume in tank and the
the validity of Eq. (2). Okita and Oyama5) obtained flow rate of the jet at its termination point as:
the mixing time for two different sized tanks (D=40 tc= VJqj (5)
cm, 100 cm) by measuring concentration differences If one assumes that the jet terminates at the point
at two points with electrolyte conductivity probes where the jet axis collides with the inner wall of the
placed in each tank. On the basis of a dimensional tank or intersects the liquid surface, and that the
analysis of the mean circulation time, Okita and
entrainment rate of the jet is constant, the flow rate
Oyama correlated the results by Eq. (3): at the termination point is expressed as :
tM=5.5(d/u)(D/dY'5(H/dy'5 5000<ite<105 (3)
qj/q = kL/d (6)
In addition, they reported that the data of Fox and Then the mean circulation time tc can be normalized
Gex3) were also correlated well by Eq. (3) if the con- by the mean residence time and the ratio d/L.
stant 5.5 was replaced by 2.6. (tc/tR)/(d/L) ^ l/&=constant (7)
In all the above-mentioned studies, the degree of
mixing was defined qualitatively, such as terminal Substituting Eq. (7) into Eq. (4) yields the amplitude
mixing or complete mixing, and consequently the A as a function of both dimensionless time (t/tR)/(d/L)
and the dimensionless variance of circulation time,
mixing time has been determined from the time when
the uniformity of composition (or color) in the
specified sample size, within the precision of the A ^2 exp {-27rVck(t/tB)/(d/L)} (8)
instrument used (or of visual interpretation), is not The expressions of the mixing time, Eqs. (l)-(3),
further changed by additional mixing. Therefore, can be rewritten in terms of dimensionless mixing
the mixing time is not sufficient to predict quanti- time which is similar to Eq. (7).
tatively the time required to achieve a desired degree (ti,ltB)l(dlH) = 9 i?e ^ 4500 (9)
of mixing. In addition, they did not describe the (tMlt.B)f(d sin 0/H)=*-7 (10)
effect of jet location, i.e. the height and elevation
(tM/tB)/(d/VDH)= 5.5 5000 <i?e< 106 (ll)
angle of the nozzle, on efficient mixing because the
correlation of mixing time is based on the concept Thus the dimensionless mixing time falls into a narrow
of the meancirculation time. range of 2.6-9, including the measurements of Fox
In this study, the mixing time is obtained on the and Gex3). However, Eqs. (9)-(ll) include different
VOL. 15 NO.5 1982 343
 time and the variance of the circulation time.
Table 1 Geometry of nozzle
huh0 [cm]: 4, 14, 24, 34, 44, 74, 94 (Z>=104cm)
: 4.38, 20.5, 48.5 (D=56cm) 2. Experimental
d [cm]: 0.5, 1.0, 1.8
6 [rad]: 7^/180, tt/12, w/6, tz/4, 3tt/10, tt/3, 73tt/180, To measure the mean circulation time and mixing
tt/2 time, impulse response experiments were conducted,
mainly at large Reynolds number of the jet.
Two tanks made of polyethylene were used: one
125cm high and 104cm in diameter, the other 84
cm high and 56 cm in diameter. External recircula-
tion was achieved by withdrawing tank contents
through a 2.5-cm ID line to the pump and returning
them to the nozzle through a 2.5-cm ID line. The
contents volume of the external flow system is 3000 cm3
and consequently the mean residence time of the
external flow system is small enough compared with
the mixing times for the two tanks. Three nozzles
with different internal diameters were provided.
The elevation angle of the nozzle was changed by
connecting elbows of various angles. Connections
for attaching nozzle and suction pipe to the tank wall
were situated on two vertical lines on the side wall,
diametrically opposite to each other. Geometric
conditions of nozzle and suction pipe are listed in
Table 1. The jet-axis length L was calculated from
H, D, hu 6 and nozzle length (see Fig. 1).
Fig. 2 Typical example of impulse response Tap water at room temperature (10°C-28°C) was
used as a test mediumwith NaCl solution as a tracer.
The tracer volumes in each experiment were 500 cm3
for the large tank (Z>=104cm) and 200cm3 for the
small tank (D=56 cm).
In the experiments, a tracer which was trapped in
the bypass line was instantaneously added to the
system, already made steady in motion through reg-
ulation of the flow line by a three-way electromag-
netic valve, without disturbing the steady flow rate
and total contents of the system. Temporal changes
in concentration were measured by using an electric
conductivity meter (M & S Instruments CD-35 Mil).
The conductivity probe was made from a platinum
wire of 1 mmdiameter and inserted into an external
flow pipe at a location between the pump and the
bypass for tracer injection. The jet discharge rate
was measured with the aid of an orifice meter. The
range of Reynolds number covered was about 2x 103
to 1x105.

3. Results and Discussion

Fig. 3 Amplitude A as a function of dimension- 3. 1 Response curve and mixing characteristics
less time (effect of nozzle height) Figure 2 shows an example of the impulse response.
It is normalized by dividing by the final value. The
representative length scales of tank: i.e., liquid depth abscissa is the elapsed time from the instant of tracer
Hin Eq. (9), jet axis length #/sin6 in Eq. (10), and injection. In this case, the mean residence time is
the geometric mean ofH and D in Eq. (ll). None 934 s. There appears an oscillation which damps
of the single length scales of the above mentioned and disappears within a short time comparedto the
ones seems to represent both the mean circulation meanresidence time. Themeancirculation time tc
344 JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING OF JAPAN
was obtained from the mean period of the oscillation, Table 2 Circulation time
i.e. mean time from peak to peak and from valley to 6 D H L hi d t4^
valley in the oscillation. The peak and valley values [rad] [cm] [cm] [cm] [cm] [cm] ^
were changed into the amplitude from the final value.
0 104 104 90.7 4 1 1.57
Figure 3 shows typical series of the decaying amplitude 0 104 104 90.7 4 1.8 1.67
as a function of the dimensionless time (t/tR)/(d/L). 0 104 104 90.7 4 0.5 1.71
The decay of amplitude was independent of suction 0 104 104 90.7 44 1 1.46
0 104 104 90.7 44 0.5 1.24
height h0 and inner diameter of nozzle d. As shown 0 104 93 98.3 4 1 1.54
by a solid line, measured amplitude can be correlated 0 104 82 90.7 4 1 1.59
by the exponential function with the intercept 2 on 0 104 73 98.3 4 1 1.76
the ordinate. That is, an expression of the recycle 0 104 61 98.3 4 1 1.88
0 104 52 90.7 4 1 1.88
model, Eq. (8) with o% as a parameter, is a good 0 104 43 98.3 4 1 2.08
approximation for the decaying amplitude except for 0
0
56
56
56
56
53.7
53.7
4.38
4.38
1.8
1
1.63
1.60
the first few peak and valley values4), and predicts 7tt/180 104 53 90.7 4 1 1.61
how uniformity is approached. jt/6 104 104 105.3 24 1 1.22
In a preliminary study, measurements were also tt/4 104 104 104.3 24 1 1.52
tt/2 104 104 91.0 4 1 1.26
made at various positions throughout the test tank tt/2 104 104 70. 3 24 1 1.03
and external recirculation pipe. The results showed
that the measuring position had no measurable effect
on the amplitude and period of oscillation, although
in some cases high-frequency oscillations of small
amplitude were added to the damping oscillation.
Table 2 shows a dimensionless mean circulation
time (tc/tB)/(d/L) obtained from the mean period of
the damping oscillation on the response curve. It
is evident that the difference in mixing time shown in
Fig. 3 is not attributable to that of the mean circula-
tion time. The value of (tc/tR)/(d/L) ranges from
1.0 to 2.1. Substituting these value into Eq. (7)
yields values of k ranging from 0.48 to 1.0, which is
larger than that for the free jet (fc=0.32) obtained by
Ricou and Spalding6) from direct measurements of
the entrainment rate.
At certain values of nozzle height, nozzle elevation
angle and liquid depth, however, the number of peaks
and valleys on the response curve is too small to show Fig. 4 Dimensionless mixing time as a function
the applicability of Eq. (8) since the oscillation damps of Reynolds number
very rapidly or shows some deformations. At low
value of Re where the circulation flow is not dominant of the mixing time is shown in Fig. 4. While at
to the mixing, meanwhile, no damping oscillation higher values of Re the dimensionless mixing time is
appears but the concentration decreases (after an independent of Re, at lower values of Re it becomes
overshoot) or increases monotonically to the mixed larger with decreasing Re. In addition, the response
mean value. To compare the mixing characteristics curve at ite<104 was not characterized by damping
for these various conditions, the mixing time was oscillation. Depending on the relative height of
defined as the time from the start of mixing to the nozzle and suction pipe, the concentration increased
time whenthe variation of measured concentration or decreased (after an overshoot) monotonically to
dropped to within ± 1 %of the mixed mean concentra- the mixed mean value. Thus, the dimensionless
tion. Therefore, the mixing time was obtained mixing time showed a complicated dependence on Re,
from the time at ^4=0.01 when the response curve hi and h0 in addition to its dependence on 0 and H.
shows a precise damping oscillation. Because of a At Re^3 X 104 all the measured mixing times become
scatter of data for each set of system parameters, independent of Re. This value of the lower bound
the mixing time was measured more than three times. of Re coincides with that associated with a free jet,
Anaverage of the measurementswas recorded as the i.e. Re^2.5x lO4 where the entrainment rate of the
final result. free jet becomes independent of Re according to
One example of the Reynolds-number dependence Ricou and Spalding6). On the other hand, the re-

VOL 15 NO.5 1982 345

 Fig. 5 Dimensionless mixing time as a function of
nozzle height for H/D=l
Fig. 6 Dimensionless mixing time as a function of
nozzle height for various values of H/D
ported values2 5) of Re for the lower bound are small:
lte=4500 with Eq. (1), and lte=5000 with Eq. (3).
These smaller values are probably due to the fact
that measurements were based on the qualitative
definition of the degree of mixing without a detailed
examination of the response curve.
The following discussion is based on the results
in the circulation flow regime, i.e. Re^3 x 104.
3. 2 Mixing by use of horizontal jet (0=0 rad)
Figure 5 shows the dimensionless mixing
346
Fig. 7 Dimensionless mixing time as a function of
nozzle height and liquid depth
Fig. 8 Qualitative sketch of flow pattern induced by jet
(tMltR)l{dlL) at H/D= l plotted against dimensionless
nozzle height ht\H. The dimensionless mixing time
(tMltR)l(dlL) is independent of the inner diameters
of both nozzle and tank. It is constant, with a value
of 3.5 at hi/H^0.25, increasing to 7 with decreasing
hJH at hJH<0.25. The mixing time for H/D<1
is shown in Fig. 6. The results for different liquid
depths show different dependence on hi/D. Figure 7
is a diagram obtained from the above results and the
measurements at a fixed nozzle height and continu-
ously varying liquid depth. The mixing time is
least at hi/H=0.5. That is, there exists a range of
optimum nozzle height for rapid mixing. The range
becomes narrower with decreasing liquid depth.
With variation in nozzle height from hi/H=0.5,
meanwhile, the mixing time incerases and at hi/H<^
0.05 it reaches the maximumvalue, which is twice the
minimumvalue. On the basis of the variance ofcir-
culation time, the dependence of mixing time on
liquid depth can be qualitatively explained as follows.
Figure 8 schematically represents the jet-induced
flow pattern in three dimensions. In general, an
time injected fluid develops a circular jet which induces
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING OF JAPAN
 three-dimensional circulations of larger variance of
circulation time such as those in Fig. 8 (a). In parti-
cular, the variance becomes large at the optimum
nozzle height because a pair of strong circulations
is formed at any cross section which includes the
jet axis. On the other hand, a circular jet at small
value of hi evolves into a wall jet along the vessel's
bottom wall. According to Davis and Winarto1*,
the spreading rate of the wall jet is 8.5 times greater
parallel to the wall than normal to the wall. There-
fore, the wall jet spreads widely along the wall, in-
ducing circulations which consist mainly of vertical
two-dimensional loops as shown in Fig. 8 (b). Hence
the variance becomes small at the same meancircula-
tion time. It is reflected by the large mixing time
Fig. 9 Dimensionless mixing time as a function of
and by the precise damping oscillation on the response
curve. From the results in Fig. 7 it is obtained that angular elevation
the range of nozzle height where the wall effect ap-
pears in mixing time was hJD<^0.25.
3. 3 Mixing by use of inclined jet (0>O rad)
Figure 9 shows the dimensionless mixing time
(tM/tR)/(d/L) plotted against the elevation angle of
the nozzle. Although the plot shows a scatter, it
ranges from about 2.5 to about 7. Despite a wide
range of jet axis length, the dimensionless mixing
time and the dimensionless mean circulation time
show the same ranges of value as those for 0=0 rad
in which the jet axis length L is nearly equal to the
tank diameter.
In Fig. 9, the dimensionless mixing time becomes
large at Q=tz\2rad and at 0=0rad andhi=4cm. As
explained in the preceding section, these larger values
are due to the wall effect: i.e., the circular jet changes Fig. 10 Cone of vertical angle tt/6 rad in tank
to a wall jet along vessel's side wall, inducing circula-
tions of small variance of circulation time. The
range of the elevation angle affected by the wall is
evident from results at 6<tz\12 rad where the mixing
time at ^=4 cm differs from that at hi=24cm. It
is noted that the range of the elevation angle, i.e.
tan (tt/12)fg0.27, is equivalent to that of the nozzle
height for 0=0rad, i.e. hJD^O.25. Hence, the
extent of the wall effect can be expressed in a unified
manner by a cone in a tank as shown in Fig. 10; the
cone of vertical angle n/6 rad is concentric to the
jet. So far as the cone does not contact the tank
wall until the termination of the jet, the circular jet
does not evolve into a wall jet and consequently the
mixing time is not increased by the wall effect. It is
worth noting that the vertical angle n/6 rad agrees Fig. ll Ratio of mixing time to mean residence
with that associated with a free jet; according to Ricou time as a function of angular elevation
and Spalding6) the angle of exit orifice of nj6 rad is
necessary for the orifice not to affect development of a
free jet in direct measurement of the entrainment the dependence of jet axis length L on nozzle elevation
rate. angle 6. To clarify the effect of elevation angle on
The dimensionless mixing time in Fig. 9 comprises the mixing time, the ratio of mixing time tM to mean
VOL. 15 NO.5 1982 347
residence time tR is shown in Fig. ll. The large
value at #=0 rad corresponds to the maximumof the
dimensionless mixing time, i.e. 7, and the small value
at 0=0 rad corresponds to the minimumvalue, i.e.
3.5. In short, all results at #=0rad, if plotted, may
be included between the two values. With the results
for /^=4cm, the ratio decreases with increasing 0
and at 6=tt/12 rad the ratio shows the minimum value,
which is nearly equal to that for #=0rad. Con-
sequently, it is possible to decrease the mixing time to
about the minimumvalue by giving the nozzle a suf-
ficient elevation angle to exclude the wall effects.
From a practical point of view, this fact is very useful
since it is often the case that the nozzle must be fixed
at the side of the tank near the bottom for use irre-
of the tank diameter, the mixing time for horizontal
jet becomes large because of the wall effect: i.e., the
circular jet evolves into the wall jet, which induces
circulations of small variance of circulation time. In
this case, the mixing time can be decreased to about
minimum value by giving the nozzle an elevation
angle adequate to exclude the wall effect; a cone
which is concentric to the jet and of a vertical angle
tt/6 rad should not contact the tank wall until the
termination of the jet. The mixing time cannot be
made less than the minimum value for horizontal
nozzle by tilting the nozzle upwards and consequently
decreasing the mean circulation time.
Nomenclat ure

A
spective of the level in the tank. normalized amplitude of response signal [-]

D
Meanwhile,the meancirculation time can be re- internal diameter of tank [cm]

d
internal diameter of nozzle [cm]
duced by giving the nozzle an elevation angle and
H
liquid depth in tank [cm]
consequently making the jet axis length longer in the hi
height of nozzle from bottom of tank;
tank because the meancirculation time is inversely see Fig. 1 [cm]
proportional to the jet axis length. This would h0
height of suction pipe from bottom of
reduce the mixing time if the variance of the circula- tank; see Fig. 1
k
tion does not decrease with increasing 0. Among constant defined by Eq. (6)
L
length of axis of jet in tank; see Fig. 1
the results in Fig. ll, the largest value of L is given Q volumetric rate of flow through nozzle
at the elevation angle #=7r/4rad at /Zi=4cm and Qj volumetric flow rate of jet
#=104cm; 0=tt/6rad at ht=24cm and #=104 Re Reynolds number of jet (=du/v)
cm; #=7r/12rad at ht=Acm, 24cm and H=52cm. t time
Evidently, the mixing times at these angles are small to meancirculation time
tM mixing time
comparedto the others but they are not smaller than tR mean residence time (= V/q)
the minimumvalue at #=0rad. That is, no reduc- u mean velocity of liquid through nozzle
tion in mixing time from the minimum value for V volume of liquid in tank
#=0 rad is possible by tilting the nozzle upwards. 6 = angular elevation of nozzle; see Fig. 1 [rad]
Conclusion v = kinematic viscosity of liquid [cm2/s]
a% = dimensionless variance of circulation time [-]
In the circulation flow regime (Re^3xlO4) of
mixing the dimensionless mixing time depends on Literature Cited
liquid depth, nozzle height and nozzle elevation angle, 1) Davis, M. R. and H. Winarto: /. Fluid Mech., 101, 201
(1980).
and shows a value between 2.5 and 7. 2) Fossett, H. and L. E. Prosser: Proc. I. Mech. E., 160, 224
There exists an optimum geometric condition of (1949), idem: Trans. Instn. Chem. Engrs., 29, 322 (1951).
nozzle for rapid mixing with minimum value of di- 3) Fox, E.A. andV.E. Gex: AIChE/.,2, 539 (1956).
mensionless mixing time. The optimum nozzle 4) Khang, S. J. and O. Levenspiel: Chem. Eng. Set, 31, 569
(1976).
depth ranges from the liquid surface level to three-
quarters of the liquid depth when the liquid depth 5) Okita, N. and Y. Oyama: Kagaku Kogaku, 27, 252 (1963).
6) Ricou, F. P. and D.B. Spalding: /. Fluid Mech., ll, 21
is equal to the tank diameter and is the mid-depth of (1961).
liquid when the liquid depth is smaller than the tank 7) Rushton, J. H.: Pet. Refiner, 33, 101 (1954).
diameter. If the nozzle height is within one-fourth 8) van de Vusse, J. G.: Chemie-Ing.-Techn., 31, 583 (1959).

348 JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING OF JAPAN