The internal components of a stirred tank include baffles, coils, flow guides, and gas distributors.
To eliminate swirling of the liquid within the stirred vessel and achieve uniform mixing through vertical turbulence, baffles are typically added. The width of the baffles is usually about 1/12 to 1/10 of the vessel's inner diameter. Accessories within the equipment, such as thermometers, heat transfer coils, or various supports, can also serve a baffle function, but often do not achieve a "full baffle condition." Increasing the number and width of baffles generally increases power consumption, but after a certain point, power consumption no longer increases; this condition is called a "full baffle condition."
Within the stirred vessel, fluid can flow towards the agitator in various directions, with varying travel lengths. Flow guides are used when it is necessary to control the speed and direction of backflow to determine a specific flow condition. A flow guide is a cylindrical tube open at both the top and bottom, installed inside a container. During mixing, it guides the flow, increasing the agitation of the fluid and enhancing the direct shearing action of the agitator. It also creates a certain degree of circulation, allowing all the fluid to pass through the intense mixing zone within the flow guide, thus improving mixing efficiency. Installing the flow guide defines the circulation path, reducing the chance of short-circuiting. Flow guides are mainly used for guiding the flow in propeller, screw, and turbine agitators.
