Flow structures of a lobed mixer and effects of streamwise vortices on mixing enhancement

Abstract

Large-scale vortices downstream of a lobed mixer are investigated experimentally using a nanoparticle-based planar laser scattering experimental system. The results are contrasted with additional measurements of a flat plate and a convoluted plate. Three streamwise vortices form downstream of the lobed mixer due to the pressure difference between the peak and trough regions of the trailing edge. This is not the case for the convoluted plate, where the streamwise structures are suppressed and do not appear downstream. Comparison of vortex sizes indicates that streamwise vortices contribute almost 80% of mixing enhancement, which is substantially higher than what could be expected from the inc..