Gas Dispersion Impeller Flooding & Cavity Regime Calculator
Determine gas-liquid dispersion hydrodynamic regimes (flooded, loaded, complete dispersion) and gassed power draw (Pg/P0) per Nienow & Smith.
Sparged Gas & Agitator Inputs
Dispersion Regime & Gas Power
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is impeller flooding in an agitated gas-liquid reactor?
Flooding occurs when the gas flow rate overwhelms the impeller pumping capacity. Buoyancy forces dominate inertial forces, gas cavities envelope the blades, and gas rushes directly up the agitator shaft, destroying mass transfer.
Why does agitator power draw drop significantly when gas is introduced?
Low-density gas cavities form on the trailing edges of the impeller blades, reducing the effective density of the swept fluid and streamlining the blade profile, dropping power draw by 30% to 60%.
Why are concave blades (Smith / CD-6) superior to flat Rushton blades for gas dispersion?
Concave semi-circular blades prevent the formation of large trailing gas cavities, handling up to 3x higher gas throughput before flooding and maintaining 80% to 90% of their ungassed power draw.