Numerical study of the mixing process of binary-density particles in a bladed mixer

Discrete element method (DEM) simulations of binary mixing of particles with different densities were conducted to study the influence of density ratio, blade speed, and filling level on the particle dynamics and mixing performance in a bladed mixer. Four particles with different densities at different locations were tagged to discuss the influence of three factors on the particle trajectory and velocity field in the mixer. A method based on cubic polynomial fitting of relative standard deviation was used to determine the critical revolution during the mixing process. It was found that the non-dimensional tangential velocity decreases with the increase of the blade speed and filling level, the fluctuation of vertical velocity increases with the radial location, blade speed, and filling level, and it is more pronounced than the fluctuation of tangential and radial velocity during the mixing process. Results obtained indicate that the mixing performance of particles with different density increases with the decrease of density ratio and filling level, while it increases with the increase of blade speed. (c) 2021 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

DEM simulations were used to study the mixing performance of particles with different densities in a bladed mixer. It was found that the decrease in density ratio and filling level can improve mixing performance, while an increase in blade speed can also improve mixing performance.