scholarly journals Assessment of the Mixing of Polydisperse Solid Particles in the Rotary Drum and Slant Cone Mixers Using Discrete Element Method

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basel Alchikh-Sulaiman

In spite of wide applications of powders in industry, there is a lack of sufficient knowledge regarding the mixing of poly-disperse particles in rotary drum and slant cone mixers. The main objective of this study was to explore the mixing quality of mono-disperse, bi-disperse, tri-disperse, and poly-disperse particles inside rotary drum and slant cone mixers as a function of the drum speed, particle size, agitator speed, and the initial loading method through the discrete element method (DEM). To achieve this objective, experimental work and simulations were carried out. DEM results were validated using experimental data obtained from both sampling and image analysis techniques. DEM simulation results were in good agreement with the experimentally determined data, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Three major loading methods were defined: side-side, top-bottom, and back-front. Also, the mixing metric was utilized to measure the mixing quality. For bi-disperse particles inside the slant cone mixer, the mixing index increased to a maximum and decreased slightly before reaching a plateau at the drum speed of 15 rpm with different loading methods as a direct result of the segregation of particles of different sizes. The same behavior was observed in the rotary drum for bi-disperse, tri-disperse, and poly-disperse particles. The effect of agitator speed on the mixing performance for bi-disperse particles inside the slant cone mixer was also investigated. The addition of the agitator increased the mixing quality and reduced the segregation of particles with different sizes. The best mixing qualities for the tri-disperse and poly-disperse particles inside the rotary drum were recorded for the top-bottom smaller-to-larger loading method. For the slant cone mixer, highest mixing indices for tri-disperse and poly-disperse particles with the top-bottom smaller-to-larger loading method were obtained at drum speeds of 15 and 55 rpm, respectively. The impact of segregation for both mixers was reduced by introducing additional intermediate size particles.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basel Alchikh-Sulaiman

In spite of wide applications of powders in industry, there is a lack of sufficient knowledge regarding the mixing of poly-disperse particles in rotary drum and slant cone mixers. The main objective of this study was to explore the mixing quality of mono-disperse, bi-disperse, tri-disperse, and poly-disperse particles inside rotary drum and slant cone mixers as a function of the drum speed, particle size, agitator speed, and the initial loading method through the discrete element method (DEM). To achieve this objective, experimental work and simulations were carried out. DEM results were validated using experimental data obtained from both sampling and image analysis techniques. DEM simulation results were in good agreement with the experimentally determined data, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Three major loading methods were defined: side-side, top-bottom, and back-front. Also, the mixing metric was utilized to measure the mixing quality. For bi-disperse particles inside the slant cone mixer, the mixing index increased to a maximum and decreased slightly before reaching a plateau at the drum speed of 15 rpm with different loading methods as a direct result of the segregation of particles of different sizes. The same behavior was observed in the rotary drum for bi-disperse, tri-disperse, and poly-disperse particles. The effect of agitator speed on the mixing performance for bi-disperse particles inside the slant cone mixer was also investigated. The addition of the agitator increased the mixing quality and reduced the segregation of particles with different sizes. The best mixing qualities for the tri-disperse and poly-disperse particles inside the rotary drum were recorded for the top-bottom smaller-to-larger loading method. For the slant cone mixer, highest mixing indices for tri-disperse and poly-disperse particles with the top-bottom smaller-to-larger loading method were obtained at drum speeds of 15 and 55 rpm, respectively. The impact of segregation for both mixers was reduced by introducing additional intermediate size particles.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amirsalar Yaraghi

The objective of this study was to assess the mixing performance of a horizontal paddle blender for mono-disperse and bi-disperse particles. The assessment was performed through the application of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations, experiments, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). EDEM 2.7 commercial software was utilized for the mono-disperse simulations while LIGGGHTS(R)-PUBLIC 3.3.1, an open source software, was used for the bi-disperse simulations. DEM models were validated with experimental data. Simulations were performed to explore the effect of impeller rotational speed, vessel fill level, particle number composition, and particle loading arrangement on mixing quality defined by the Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) index. The flow pattern and mixing mechanisms were examined through granular temperature, particle diffusivity, and Peclet number. The impeller rotational speed was the most influential parameter on the mixing performance of mono-disperse particles. The particle number composition was the dominating parameter on the mixing quality of bi-disperse particles


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amirsalar Yaraghi

The objective of this study was to assess the mixing performance of a horizontal paddle blender for mono-disperse and bi-disperse particles. The assessment was performed through the application of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations, experiments, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). EDEM 2.7 commercial software was utilized for the mono-disperse simulations while LIGGGHTS(R)-PUBLIC 3.3.1, an open source software, was used for the bi-disperse simulations. DEM models were validated with experimental data. Simulations were performed to explore the effect of impeller rotational speed, vessel fill level, particle number composition, and particle loading arrangement on mixing quality defined by the Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) index. The flow pattern and mixing mechanisms were examined through granular temperature, particle diffusivity, and Peclet number. The impeller rotational speed was the most influential parameter on the mixing performance of mono-disperse particles. The particle number composition was the dominating parameter on the mixing quality of bi-disperse particles


Author(s):  
Rajesh P. Nair ◽  
C. Lakshmana Rao

Discrete Element Method (DEM) is an explicit numerical scheme to model the mechanical response of solid and particulate media. In our paper, we are introducing Quadrilateral Discrete Element Method (QDEM) for the simulation of the separation of elements in fixed beam subjected to impact load. QDEM results are compared with other DEM results available in literature. Impact loads include two cases: (a) a half sine wave and (b) a penetrator hitting the fixed beam. Separation criteria used for the discrete elements is maximum principal stress failure criteria. In QDEM, convergence study for the response of fixed beam is obtained using MATLAB platform. Validation of quadrilateral elements in fixed beam is being carried out by comparing the results with empirical formula available in literature for the impact analysis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 832 ◽  
pp. 345-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Kellogg ◽  
Peiyuan Liu ◽  
Casey Q. LaMarche ◽  
Christine M. Hrenya

The continuum description of rapid cohesive-particle flows comprises the population balance, which tracks various agglomerate sizes in space and time, and kinetic-theory-based balances for momentum and granular energy. Here, fundamental closures are provided in their most general form. In previous population balances, the probability (‘success factor’) that a given collision results in agglomeration or breakage has been set to a constant even though it is well established that the outcome of a collision depends on the impact (relative) velocity. Here, physically based closures that relate the success factors to the granular temperature, a (continuum) measure of the impact velocity, are derived. A key aspect of this derivation is the recognition that the normal component of the impact velocity dictates whether agglomeration occurs. With regard to the kinetic-theory balances, cohesion between particles makes the collisions more dissipative, thereby decreasing the granular temperature. The extra dissipation due to cohesion is accounted for using an effective coefficient of restitution, again determined using the derived distribution of normal impact velocities. This collective treatment of the population and kinetic-theory balances results in a general set of equations that contain several parameters (e.g. critical velocities of agglomeration) that are cohesion-specific (van der Waals, liquid bridging, etc.). The determination of these cohesion-specific quantities using simple discrete element method simulations, as well as validation of the resulting theory, is also presented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 249 ◽  
pp. 07009
Author(s):  
Li Zeng ◽  
Andres Alfonso Peña Olarte ◽  
Roberto Cudmani

A series of compression tests on agglomerates of microspheres representing a single grain are conducted to investigate the impact of heterogeneity on the acoustic emissions (AE) generation. The grain heterogeneity is realized by using a Weibull shape parameter-augmented traditional discrete element method (DEM). During the compression process the development of the micro-cracks, and the magnitude and location of the AE events are tracked and recorded. Through a 3D visualization of the AE events, their location and the clustered broken bonds are identified. The current study demonstrates the potential of AE measurements to track changes in the fabric and structure of granular materials. The results of this DEM study will contribute to clarify the mechanism of particle breakage and its consideration in practical applications.


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