Effect of drum structure on particle mixing behavior based on DEM method

The optimization of the drum structure is beneficial to improve the particle motion and mixing in rotary drums. In this work, two kinds of drum structures, Lacy cylinder drum (LC) and Lacy-lifters cylinder drum (LLC), are developed on the basic of cylinder drum to enhance the heat transfer area. The particle motion and mixing process are simulated by DEM method. Based on the grid independence and model validation, the contact number between particles and wall, particle velocity profile, thickness of active layer, particle exchange coefficient, particle concentration profile and mixing index are demonstrated. The influences of the drum structure and the operation parameters are further evaluated. The results show that the contact number between particles and wall is improved in LC and LLC compared to cylinder drum. The particle velocity in LC is higher than that in cylinder drum at high rotating speed, and the particle velocity of the particle falling region is significantly improved in LLC. Compared to cylinder drum and LC, the thickness of active layer in LLC is smaller, while the local particle mixing quality is proved to be the best in the active region. In addition, the particle exchange coefficients between static region and active region in the three drums are compared and LLC is found tending to weaken the particle flow. Besides, the fluctuations of particle concentration in the active region, static region, and boundary region are weakened in LLC, and the equilibrium state is reached earlier. In addition, the overall particle mixing performance in cylinder drum, LC and LLC is analyzed. The particle mixing performance in cylinder drum is the worst, while the difference in mixing quality of LC and LLC depends on the operation conditions. (c) 2022 Chinese Society of Particuology and Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effects of different drum structures and operation parameters on particle motion and mixing through simulation. The results show that the contact number between particles and wall is improved in LC and LLC compared with the cylinder drum. Higher particle velocity is observed in LC at high rotating speed, and the particle velocity in the falling region is significantly improved in LLC. The thickness of active layer is smaller in LLC, and the local particle mixing quality is the best. LLC tends to weaken the particle flow, reduce fluctuations in particle concentration, and achieve equilibrium state earlier.