Created in COMSOL Multiphysics 5.

Particle Trajectories in a Laminar Static Mixer

This model is licensed under the COMSOL Software License Agreement 5.4.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. See www.comsol.com/trademarks.
Introduction
In static mixers, also called motionless or in-line mixers, a fluid is pumped through a pipe
containing stationary blades. This mixing technique is particularly well suited for laminar
flow mixing because it generates only small pressure losses in this flow regime. This
example studies the flow in a twisted-blade static mixer. It evaluates the mixing
performance by calculating the trajectory of suspended particles through the mixer.

Model Definition
This model studies the mixing of particles (the discrete phase) in a channel containing
water (the continuous phase) at room temperature. The geometry consists of a tube with
three fixed, twisted blades of alternating rotations (Figure 1).

Outlet

Inlet

Figure 1: Depiction of a laminar static mixer containing three blades with alternating
rotations.

The tube’s radius, ra, is 3 mm, the length is 14ra, and the length of each blade is 3ra. At
the Inlet, a Poiseuille flow is specified with an average velocity of 1 cm/s. At the Outlet, a
uniform pressure of 0 Pa (relative to atmosphere) is specified.

The Laminar Flow interface is used to solve for the fluid velocity and pressure:

T
ρ ( u ⋅ ∇ )u = ∇ ⋅ [ – pI + μ ( ∇u + ( ∇u ) ) ]
∇⋅u = 0

2 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

where

• μ is the dynamic viscosity (SI unit: kg/(m·s)),

• u is the fluid velocity (SI unit: m/s),
• ρ is the fluid density (SI unit: kg/m3), and
• p if the pressure (SI unit: Pa).

The particle positions are computed by solving second-order equations of motion for the
particle position vector components, following Newton’s second law,

dq
------- = v
dt
d (m v) = F
dt p t

where

• q is the particle position (SI unit: m),

• v is the particle velocity (SI unit: m/s),
• mp is the particle mass (SI unit: kg), and
• Ft is the total force (SI unit: N).

In this example the only force is the drag force Ft (SI unit: N). Because the particles are
very small and the particle velocity relative to the fluid is not too large, the Stokes drag law
is applicable,

1
F D = ----- m p ( u – v )
τp

where v is the particle velocity (SI unit: m/s) and τp is the particle velocity response time
(SI unit: s):

2
ρp dp
τ p = -------------
18μ

where ρp is the density of the particles (SI unit: kg/m3) and dp is the particle diameter
(SI unit: m). There are 3000 particles released. The density of the particles released is
normalized according to the magnitude of the fluid velocity at the inlet. This means that
there are more particles released where the inlet velocity magnitude is highest and fewer
particles released where the velocity magnitude is low.

3 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

Results and Discussion
The particle trajectories are plotted in Figure 1. The color along the trajectories indicates
the total shear rate at the particle position. Because the particles have mass, they do not
necessarily all reach the outlet. The inertia of some particles causes them to cross fluid
velocity streamlines and come into contact with the mixing blades, where they stop
moving because the Freeze boundary condition is applied. In addition, some particles pass
close enough to the mixing blades that the fluid velocity becomes extremely slow, so the
particles don’t reach the outlet even by the final time in the study.

The transmission probability is defined as the ratio of the number of particles that reach
the outlet to the total number of particles released. In this example the transmission
probability is automatically computed by the Particle Counter feature, which records the
number of particles that reach the Outlet and expresses it as a fraction of the total number
of released particles.

For this specific configuration the transmission probability is about 0.80. This means that
about 20% of the particles remain trapped in the mixer. If the study were run for more
than 5 seconds then this transmission probability would gradually increase.

Figure 2: Plot of the particle trajectories inside the laminar mixer. The color is the shear rate.

4 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

One useful way to visualize how the particles mix is to use a Poincaré Map plot. The Poincaré
Map places a colored dot where each particle passes through a cut plane (also known as a
Poincaré section). The Cut Plane data set can easily be used to define a single Poincaré
section or multiple parallel planes.

In Figure 3, the location of the particles at 6 Poincaré sections are shown. The color
represents the location of the particle at its initial position. Particles colored red had an
initial position of x < 0 and particles colored blue had an initial position of x > 0. The at
operator is used to mark the particles with the color of their initial position. The first
Poincaré section (the one furthest to the left in Figure 3) clearly indicates which particles
start with coordinates of x < 0. As the particles begin to follow the flow field, they begin
to mix together. By the end of the mixer, the particles have not mixed completely; there
are still significant pockets of only red and only blue particles.

Figure 3: Poincaré maps of the particle trajectories at different Poincaré sections. The color is
a logical expression indicating which particles had an initial position at x < 0.

5 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

A Phase Portrait plot can also be used to visualize the mixing performance. A single Phase
Portrait gives a snapshot of all particles at the same time whereas the Poincaré Map shows
the intersection points of particles with a surface, even if these intersections occur at
different times. The two axes in the phase portrait can be assigned any particle variables,
and are often used to plot velocity or momentum versus position. In Figure 4 the
horizontal axis represents the y-coordinates of the particles, and the vertical axis represents
the z-coordinates of the particles. Phase portraits are given at 6 different solution times.
At the final time (t = 5 s) there are still pockets of exclusively blue or red particles,
indicating the particles are not yet completely mixed.

t=0s t=1s

t=2s t=3s

t=4s t=5s

Figure 4: Plot of the particle position in the xz-plane at different points in time. The red
colored particles had an initial position of x < 0 and the blue colored particles had an initial
position of x > 0.

6 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

Notes About the COMSOL Implementation
The model is solved in two stages. First, the fluid velocity and pressure are solved for using
a Stationary study step. Then the particle trajectories are computed using a Time Dependent
study step.

Reference
1. R. Perry and D. Green, Perry’s Chemical Engineering Handbook, 7th ed., McGraw-
Hill, 1997.

Application Library path: Particle_Tracing_Module/Fluid_Flow/

laminar_mixer_particle

Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.

NEW
In the New window, click Model Wizard.

MODEL WIZARD
1 In the Model Wizard window, click 3D.
2 In the Select Physics tree, select Fluid Flow>Single-Phase Flow>Laminar Flow (spf).
3 Click Add.
4 Click Study.
5 In the Select Study tree, select General Studies>Stationary.
6 Click Done.

GEOMETRY 1
The mixer geometry is quite complicated so start by importing it from a file.

Import 1 (imp1)
1 In the Home toolbar, click Import.
2 In the Settings window for Import, locate the Import section.
3 Click Browse.

7 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

4 Browse to the model’s Application Libraries folder and double-click the file
laminar_mixer_particle.mphbin.

5 Click Import.

GLOBAL DEFINITIONS
1 In the Model Builder window, under Global Definitions click Parameters 1.
2 In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Name Expression Value Description

Ra 3[mm] 0.003 m Tube radius
u_av 1[cm/s] 0.01 m/s Mean velocity

MATERIALS

Material 1 (mat1)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Materials and
choose Blank Material.
2 In the Settings window for Material, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Property Variable Value Unit Property group

Density rho 1000 kg/m³ Basic
Dynamic viscosity mu 1e-3 Pa·s Basic

LAMINAR FLOW (SPF)

Now add an expression for the inflow velocity which is parabolic.

Inlet 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Inlet.
2 Select Boundary 23 only.
3 In the Settings window for Inlet, locate the Velocity section.
4 In the U0 text field, type 2*(1-(x^2+z^2)/Ra^2)*u_av.
The boundary condition which was just added was rather complicated but necessary to
get a fully developed flow profile. The CFD, Microfluidics, and Plasma modules all have
a special Laminar inflow boundary condition which ensures a fully developed flow profile

8 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

 at the inlet. It is not necessary to enter a complicated expression for the velocity profile,
just the average velocity or flowrate.

Outlet 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Outlet.
2 Select Boundary 20 only.

MESH 1
The mesh needs to be quite fine to ensure that the particle motion is accurate through the
modeling domain. In this case, take care to ensure that the mesh is fine on the mixing
blades.

Free Triangular 1
1 In the Mesh toolbar, click Boundary and choose Free Triangular.
2 Click the Wireframe Rendering button in the Graphics toolbar.
3 Select Boundaries 5, 16–18, and 53–55 only.

Size 1
1 Right-click Free Triangular 1 and choose Size.
2 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Element Size section.
3 From the Calibrate for list, choose Fluid dynamics.
4 From the Predefined list, choose Extremely fine.

Size
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Mesh 1 click Size.
2 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Element Size section.
3 From the Predefined list, choose Extremely fine.
4 Click the Custom button.
5 Locate the Element Size Parameters section. In the Curvature factor text field, type 0.15.

Free Triangular 2
1 In the Mesh toolbar, click Boundary and choose Free Triangular.
2 Select Boundary 23 only.

Size 1
1 Right-click Free Triangular 2 and choose Size.
2 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Element Size section.
3 From the Calibrate for list, choose Fluid dynamics.

9 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

4 From the Predefined list, choose Extra fine.

Free Tetrahedral 1
1 In the Mesh toolbar, click Free Tetrahedral.
2 Click Build All.

STUDY 1
In the Home toolbar, click Compute.

RESULTS

Velocity (spf)
Now that the flow field has been computed, add the interface to compute the particle
trajectories.

ADD PHYSICS
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Physics to open the Add Physics window.
2 Go to the Add Physics window.
3 In the tree, select Fluid Flow>Particle Tracing>Particle Tracing for Fluid Flow (fpt).
4 Find the Physics interfaces in study subsection. In the table, clear the Solve check box for
Study 1.
5 Click Add to Component in the window toolbar.
6 In the Home toolbar, click Add Physics to close the Add Physics window.

ADD STUDY
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Study to open the Add Study window.
2 Go to the Add Study window.
3 Find the Studies subsection. In the Select Study tree, select General Studies>
Time Dependent.
4 Find the Physics interfaces in study subsection. In the table, clear the Solve check box for
the Laminar Flow (spf) interface.
5 Click Add Study in the window toolbar.
6 In the Home toolbar, click Add Study to close the Add Study window.

PARTICLE TRACING FOR FLUID FLOW (FPT)

In the Physics toolbar, click Laminar Flow (spf) and choose
Particle Tracing for Fluid Flow (fpt).

10 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

The drag force feature should get the fluid velocity field and viscosity from the Laminar
flow interface.

Drag Force 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Domains and choose Drag Force.
2 Select Domain 1 only.
3 In the Settings window for Drag Force, locate the Drag Force section.
4 From the u list, choose Velocity field (spf).
5 From the μ list, choose Dynamic viscosity (spf/fp1).

The goal is to release particles with a number density proportional to the magnitude of the
fluid velocity.

Inlet 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Inlet.
2 Select Boundary 23 only.
3 In the Settings window for Inlet, locate the Initial Position section.
4 From the Initial position list, choose Density.
5 In the N text field, type 3000.
6 In the ρ text field, type spf.U.
7 Locate the Initial Velocity section. From the u list, choose Velocity field (spf).

Particle Counter 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Particle Counter.
2 Select Boundary 20 only.
3 In the Settings window for Particle Counter, locate the Particle Counter section.
4 From the Release feature list, choose Inlet 1.

Particle Properties 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>
Particle Tracing for Fluid Flow (fpt) click Particle Properties 1.
2 In the Settings window for Particle Properties, locate the Particle Properties section.
3 In the dp text field, type 5E-7[m].

STUDY 2

Step 1: Time Dependent

1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 2 click Step 1: Time Dependent.

11 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

2 In the Settings window for Time Dependent, click to expand the
Values of Dependent Variables section.
3 Find the Values of variables not solved for subsection. From the Settings list, choose
User controlled.
4 From the Method list, choose Solution.
5 From the Study list, choose Study 1, Stationary.
6 Locate the Study Settings section. Click Range.
7 In the Range dialog box, type 0.2 in the Step text field.
8 In the Stop text field, type 5.
9 Click Replace.
10 In the Home toolbar, click Compute.

RESULTS

Particle Trajectories (fpt)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Results click Particle Trajectories (fpt).
2 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, locate the Color Legend section.
3 From the Position list, choose Bottom.
4 Click to expand the Title section. From the Title type list, choose None.

Particle Trajectories 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Particle Trajectories (fpt) node, then click
Particle Trajectories 1.
2 In the Settings window for Particle Trajectories, locate the Coloring and Style section.
3 Find the Line style subsection. From the Type list, choose Line.
4 Find the Point style subsection. From the Type list, choose None.

Color Expression 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Particle Trajectories 1 node, then click
Color Expression 1.
2 In the Settings window for Color Expression, click Replace Expression in the upper-right
corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Component 1>Laminar Flow>
Velocity and pressure>spf.sr - Shear rate - 1/s.
3 In the Particle Trajectories (fpt) toolbar, click Plot.
4 Click the Go to Default View button in the Graphics toolbar. The resulting plot should
look like Figure 2.

12 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

Global Evaluation 1
1 In the Results toolbar, click Global Evaluation.
2 In the Settings window for Global Evaluation, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Study 2/Solution 2 (sol2).
4 From the Time selection list, choose Last.
5 Click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of the Expressions section. From the
menu, choose Component 1>Particle Tracing for Fluid Flow>Particle Counter 1>
fpt.pcnt1.alpha - Transmission probability.
6 Click Evaluate.

Cut Plane 1
1 In the Results toolbar, click Cut Plane.
2 In the Settings window for Cut Plane, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Particle 1.
4 Locate the Plane Data section. From the Plane list, choose xz-planes.
5 In the y-coordinate text field, type 0.006.
6 Select the Additional parallel planes check box.
7 In the Distances text field, type 0.006 0.016 0.026 0.036 0.042.
8 Click Plot.

3D Plot Group 4
1 In the Results toolbar, click 3D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, type Poincaré Maps in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, choose Particle 1.
4 Locate the Title section. From the Title type list, choose None.

Poincaré Map 1
1 In the Poincaré Maps toolbar, click More Plots and choose Poincaré Map.
2 In the Settings window for Poincaré Map, locate the Data section.
3 From the Cut plane list, choose Cut Plane 1.
4 Locate the Coloring and Style section. Select the Radius scale factor check box.
5 In the associated text field, type 6E-5.
6 In the Poincaré Maps toolbar, click Plot.

Color Expression 1
1 Right-click Poincaré Map 1 and choose Color Expression.

13 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

2 In the Settings window for Color Expression, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type at(0,qx<0).
4 Locate the Coloring and Style section. Clear the Color legend check box.

Surface 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Poincaré Maps and choose Surface.
2 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Cut Plane 1.
4 Locate the Expression section. In the Expression text field, type 1.
5 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Coloring list, choose Uniform.
6 From the Color list, choose Gray.
7 In the Poincaré Maps toolbar, click Plot.
8 Click the Go to Default View button in the Graphics toolbar. The resulting plot should
look like Figure 3.
9 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 2D Plot Group.

2D Plot Group 5
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results click 2D Plot Group 5.
2 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, type Phase Portrait in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Plot Settings section. Clear the Plot data set edges check box.
4 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, choose Particle 1.

Phase Portrait 1
1 In the Phase Portrait toolbar, click More Plots and choose Phase Portrait.
2 In the Settings window for Phase Portrait, locate the Expression section.
3 From the x-axis list, choose Manual.
4 In the Expression text field, type comp1.qx.
5 From the y-axis list, choose Manual.
6 In the Expression text field, type comp1.qz.
7 Locate the Coloring and Style section. Select the Radius scale factor check box.
8 In the associated text field, type 3E-5.

Color Expression 1
1 Right-click Phase Portrait 1 and choose Color Expression.
2 In the Settings window for Color Expression, locate the Coloring and Style section.

14 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

3 Clear the Color legend check box.
4 Locate the Expression section. In the Expression text field, type at(0,qx<0).
5 In the Phase Portrait toolbar, click Plot.

Phase Portrait
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results click Phase Portrait.
2 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, locate the Plot Settings section.
3 From the View list, choose View 2D 2.
4 Click Go to Source.

View 2D 2
By default the Phase Portrait plot scales the coordinate axes so that the plot fits in the
Graphics window. This is to ensure that the phase portrait is shown clearly even if the two
axes correspond to quantities with vastly different orders of magnitude, like position and
momentum. In the present case, both axes represent position components, so by selecting
View 2D 2 a reasonable-looking 1:1 aspect ratio is enforced.

Phase Portrait
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the View 2D 2 node, then click Results>
Phase Portrait.
2 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, locate the Data section.
3 From the Time (s) list, choose 0.
4 In the Phase Portrait toolbar, click Plot.
5 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.
Plot the phase portrait at different solution times by selecting values from the Time (s)
list. The phase portraits at 1-second intervals are shown in Figure 4.

15 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER

16 | PARTICLE TRAJECTORIES IN A LAMINAR STATIC MIXER