Hydrodynamics of Gas-Liquid Mixing in Non-Newtonian Fluids Agitated by a Maxblend Impeller

Gas-liquid mixing of non-Newtonian fluids is encountered in many industrial processes, including biochemical, polymer, and wastewater treatment applications, yet limited information is available on the hydrodynamic performance of the Maxblend impeller under gas-liquid non-Newtonian conditions. In this study, the hydrodynamics of a gas-liquid stirred reactor equipped with a Maxblend impeller and containing non-Newtonian fluids were investigated through a combined experimental and computational approach. Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) was employed to measure local and overall gas hold-up distributions at multiple axial positions within the vessel. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed using an Eulerian-Eulerian multiphase framework to predict gas dispersion, flow behavior, and power consumption. Numerical predictions were compared and validated against experimental measurements to evaluate model performance. The study examined the independent and coupled influences of fluid rheology, gas flow rate, and impeller rotational speed on gas hold-up, hydrodynamic characteristics and power consumption. The results provide insight into the interaction between operating conditions and gas dispersion behavior, contributing to a better understanding of gas-liquid mixing in non-Newtonian systems agitated by a Maxblend impeller. The findings support the development of numerical tools and design methodologies for gas-liquid reactors handling complex fluids and provide a foundation for future investigations of gas-liquid-solid systems and reactor scale-up applications.