Generalized Newtonian Fluid: Flow in a Static Mixer
This tutorial demonstrates the process of setting up and analyzing the flow of a viscous fluid through a static mixer.
Static mixers are used to mix fluids, immiscible liquids, and liquid/gas combinations. Commercial applications include food production, the petrochemical industry, and plastics manufacture, among other industries.
The approach here is to start with a simple model of the mixer and then add the more complex model for viscous energy. You can then visualize the residence time of material moving through the mixer and the temperature levels that the flow generates. Residence time gives a measure of the speed of the mixing process. The operating temperature allows you to determine if the mixing generates heat in an acceptable range; for instance, you generally do not want food stuffs to cook while in the mixer.