Flow visualization and numerical analysis of a new mixing equipment with vibratory fins

The mixing performance of a new type of mixing equipment which has several fin oscillators on a pair of shafts with a vibrating motor was investigated. This mixing equipment, which is mainly used for industrial plating processes, was usually operated at a vibrating frequency of about 40 Hz with the amplitude 1 mm. The flow visualization in this equipment showed that the flow in the vessel at laminar flow region was vertically divided into two distinct symmetric regions. The numerical simulation of the flow and the mixing patterns agreed well with the visualization result at laminar flow region.