Over the past two decades or so, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been employed to predict overall mixing times inside jet mixing tanks instead of non-universal mixing time correlations obtained by experiments. However, the numerical methods for jet mixing tank simulations were not clearly tested and the discretization errors of the previous CFD models were not assessed. So, in this paper, the suitable turbulence model and numerical methods for pump-around jet mixing tank simulations were investigated. Further, the discretization errors of the present CFD models were estimated with the help of grid convergence index (GCI). The results revealed that the realizable k-epsilon model, SIMPLE, second order upwind, and first order implicit were proper turbulence model and numerical methods for pump-around jet mixing tank simulations. From GCI analyses, the maximum discretization uncertainty in overall mixing time of the present CFD models was about ±0.08 s.

Jet mixing tanks are important in chemical processes. Over the past two decades or so, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been employed to study jet mixers. The shortfalls of the previous CFD models were the discrepancy in concentration profiles between simulation and experiment and the absence of exact inlet turbulence conditions. So, in our present work, the CFD model was developed to investigate the proper conditions for jet mixing tank simulation and improve the accuracy of concentration profile prediction by using an appropriate grid arrangement, a realizable k-epsilon model, and a second-order upwind discretization scheme. The results revealed that the CFD model with proper inlet conditions predicted the overall mixing time well and somewhat improved the predicted concentration profiles. Further, the reasons for discrepancies in concentration profiles were inappropriate inlet turbulence conditions and overprediction in total momentum available for mixing due to the flat top liquid surface assumption. In addition, this discrepancy may be caused by the dynamic response of concentration measuring device.