The flow patterns and velocity distribution for the flow of highly viscoe-lastic fluid in an agitated vessel with an anchor impeller were obtained from streak photographs by using selective illumination of the vessel and polystyrene pearl as tracer particles. At the same time

the power consumption were measured. The conclusions are follows: ( 1 ) In the low Re*number regime

the magnitude of the tangential velocity for the viscoelastic fluid is greater and that of the radial velocity is smaller in comparison with Newtonian fluid

the radial position of the peak in velocity distribution for the viscoelastic fluid is nearer to wall than for Newtonian fluid. ( 2 ) The shear rate distribution is similar for these two fluids

but the magnitude of shear rate viscoelastic fluid is greater in the highly shear area for the same rotational speed of the impeller. The power consumption correlation for agitating Newtonian

pseudoplastic and viscoelastic fluids was developed by means of a CEF rheological model. The parameters fv

fs and F*1av were determined experimentally. The predicted results agree with experimental data.