EXPERIMENT No.

1
TITLE: POWER REQUIREMENT FOR AGITATION
OBJECTIVES:
1) To be able to determine the effect of impeller speed on the power
requirement for agitation with and without baffles.
2) To be able to determine the effect of impeller dimensions (straight
blade turbine) on the power requirement for agitation with and without
baffles.

MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, & APPARATUS:

20 L distilled water
Agitator (with three types of straight blade impeller)
Wrench
1 pc 2-L plastic Graduated Cylinder
1 pc 5-L plastic Beaker
1 pc Vernier Caliper
1 pc Ruler
1 pc 100-ml glass beaker

METHODOLOGY:
A. Experimental Design
Preliminary Steps:
1. Disconnect the cord between the torque arm and the balance before
removing the motor or baffles.
2. Measure the dimensions of the impeller and attach the shaft
assembly. Record the relevant dimension of the baffles and the tank,
i.e. width, height, and diameter.
3. Place baffles in the tank, tighten the screw by hand, and attach the
cord of the balance back to the torque arm. Check the dynamometer
balance for correct setting.
4. Close the discharge valve before filling the tank with water. The
liquid height should not exceed 350 mm.

5. Record the water temperature and determine the density and

absolute viscosity from appropriate tables in available literature.
6. Ensure that the speed control knob (next to the on/off switch) is set
at zero.
7. Release the support screw and let the balance come to rest. Tighten
the support screw when the balance is in its rest position and record
the initial value.
Experiment Proper in Determining Power Requirements:
1. Switch on the agitator and ensure that the red indicator is lit.
2. Conduct the experiment using the settings shown in Table 1:
Table 1. Experimental Conditions.
Without baffles
Impeller A Impeller B
(W =
(W =
0.0209 m) 0.0428 m)
0
0
50
50
100
100
150
150
200
200
250
250
300
270

Impeller Speed, Ni (rpm)

With baffles
Impeller C Impeller A
(W =
(W =
0.0652 m) 0.0209 m)
0
0
50
50
100
70
150
100
200
110
250
120
130
150
170
200
230
250

Impeller B
(W =
0.0428 m)
0
50
70
100
110
120
130

Impeller C
(W =
0.0652 m)
0
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120

Shutdown operations:
1. Set the speed to zero before turning off the power.
2. Remove the impeller and baffles from the tank, clean them, and
place the cleaned baffles back.
3. Position the outer sleeve of the force balance at its up-most position
and lock it so that there is no tension on the cord or balance.

Table 3 show s quantified value for power requirement using the following
formula:
P = TNi = FlNi
(Eq. 1)
or
P = Fl[Ni (2pi/60)]
( Eq. 2)
Where:
P = Power in J/s
T = torque in N.m
Ni = impeller speed in rpm
l = lever arm length in m equal to 0.098 m as measured
2pi/60 = conversion factor to convert impeller speed rpm to rad/s
Using Equation 2, Power Requirement in Agitation are generated in Table
3 using different dimensions of flat blade impellers.
Table 3. Power requirement for agitation of water using different
dimensions of flat-blade impellers.
Without baffles
With baffles
Impeller A Impeller B Impeller C Impeller A Impeller B Impeller C
(H =
(H =
(H =
(H =
(H =
(H =
0.0209 m) 0.0428 m) 0.0652 m) 0.0209 m) 0.0428 m) 0.0652 m)
Spe Pow Spe
Pow Spe
Pow Spe
Pow Spe
Pow Spe
Pow
ed,
er,
ed,
er,
ed,
er,
ed,
er,
ed,
er,
ed,
er,
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
in
rpm
J/s
rpm
J/s
rpm
J/s
rpm
J/s
rpm
J/s
rpm
J/s
0
0
0
0
0
0
50
50
50
50
50
50
100
100
100
70
70
60
150
150
150
100
100
70
200
200
200
130
110
80
250
250
250
150
120
90
300
270
170
130
100
200
110
230
120
250

Appendix A
RAW DATA

A. Preliminary Data:
Physical Properties
Density of water
at T = 28 oC
(g/ml)
Viscosity of
Water at T = 28
oC (Pa.s)
Tank Dimensions
Diameter of the
Tank, Dt (m)
Water Level or
height (m), H
Length of Lever
arm (m)
Impeller
Dimensions
Impeller Width,
W
Impeller
Diameter, Da
Baffle Diameter, J

Blade A

Blade B

Blade C

Baffle Dimensions
0.0249 m

Table 2. Impeller Speed and Force exerted by agitator using different

dimensions of impellers.
Without baffles
Impeller A Impeller B Impeller C
(W =
(W =
(W =
0.0209 m) 0.0428 m) 0.0652 m)
Spe
Spe
Spe
ed,
For ed,
For ed,
For
in
ce, in
ce, in
ce,
rpm
in N rpm
in N rpm
in N
0
0
0
50
50
50

Impeller A
(W =
0.0209 m)
Spe
ed,
For
in
ce,
rpm
in N
0
50

With baffles
Impeller B
(W =
0.0428 m)
Spe
ed,
For
in
ce,
rpm
in N
0
50

Impeller C
(W =
0.0652 m)
Spe
ed,
Forc
in
e,
rpm
in N
0
50

100
150
200
250
300

100
150
200
250
270

100
150
200
250

70
100
130
150
170
200
230
250

70
100
110
120
130

60
70
80
90
100
110
120