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Laminar and turbulent flows in stirring technology
In agitator technology, a basic distinction is made between two types of flow that have a significant influence on the mixing process: laminar and turbulent flows. The type of flow has a decisive influence on mixing, energy input, heat distribution and product protection.
What are laminar flows?
In a laminar flow, the medium moves in ordered layers that glide past each other almost without mixing. The movement is uniform and smooth. Laminar flows mainly occur at low flow velocities and with highly viscous media.
Typical for laminar flows is a comparatively low internal exchange within the medium. As a result, mixing is slower, but at the same time significantly lower shear forces act on the product.
Examples of laminar flows include:
- the blood flow in fine blood vessels
- the movement of groundwater
- the slow flow of highly viscous media
What are turbulent flows?
As the flow velocity increases, increasingly irregular turbulence occurs within the medium. The previously ordered layered structure dissolves and the fluid moves chaotically in all directions. This is referred to as turbulent flow.
Turbulent flows ensure an intensive exchange of substances and heat and enable effective mixing. In agitator technology, this effect is often supported by installations in the tank, such as so-called baffles.
Typical examples of turbulent flows are
- Milk poured into coffee
- Eddies and whirlpools in rivers
- Quickly stirred low-viscosity liquids
