Evaluation of the efficiency of mixing and homogenization processes using different agitator blades in pharmaceutical reactors through computational fluid dynamics simulations

Abstract

This study investigates the homogenization of mixtures in a pharmaceutical reactor using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Three types of impeller blades were evaluated: anchor (tangential flow), propeller (radial flow), and helical screw (laminar flow). The simulations combined mixing volumes of 200 mL (low) and 3000 mL (high) at an impeller rotation speed of 1500 rpm. Particle trajectories, mixture uniformity, and component mass fraction indices were analyzed. The results indicate that the helical screw impeller is the most effective, achieving complete homogenization at both volumes. The propeller and anchor impellers demonstrated lower efficiency, with the propeller nearly achieving complete homogenization at low volumes and the anchor being the second most effective at high volumes.