Home Flow Visualisation in Co-rotating Twin Screw Extruders: Positron Emission Particle Tracking and Numerical Particle Trajectories
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Flow Visualisation in Co-rotating Twin Screw Extruders: Positron Emission Particle Tracking and Numerical Particle Trajectories

  • J. Diemer , C. Chilles , J. Colbert , T. Miri , A. Ingram , P. David , A. Sarhangi Fard and P. D. Anderson
Published/Copyright: April 6, 2013
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
Submit Manuscript Author Information
International Polymer Processing
From the journal International Polymer Processing Volume 26 Issue 5

Abstract

Co-rotating twin-screw extruders are widely used compounding machines. They are mainly configured based on extensive experience and iterative approaches to optimise output and composite quality. The visualisation technology developed in the EU-project PEPTFlow allows visualisation of composite flow in twin-screw extruders under realistic processing conditions by tracking radioactive tracer particles in the polymer melt, using a specially developed camera system. This new approach allows polymer flow to be studied in different screw elements and screw configurations under realistic compounding conditions at normal temperatures and melt pressures. The paper presents the latest developments in the camera systems as well as the different ways to use and interpret the results. Detailed analysis of residence times and residence time distributions for standard compound screw elements, like kneading discs, conveying elements and reverse elements are presented. In addition for a better understanding of the flow field inside twin-screw extruders, numerical particle tracking is done. The Stokes equation, using XFEM method, are solved and the numerical RTD's (residence time distribution) are compared for various screw designs.

∗ Mail address: Patrick D. Anderson, Materials Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands. E-mail:

References

Ding, Y. L., et al., “Solids Motion in Rolling Mode Rotating Drums Operated at Low to Medium Rotational Speeds”, Chem. Eng. Sci., 56, 1769–1780(2001), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2509(00)00468-1Search in Google Scholar

Fan, X., et al., “Labelling a Single Particle for Positron Emission Particle Tracking Using Direct Activation and Ion-exchange Techniques”, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A, 562, 345–350(2006), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2006.03.015Search in Google Scholar

Fishwick, R. P., et al., “Explaining Mass Transfer Observations in Multiphase Stirred Reactors: Particle-liquid Slip Velocity Measurements Using PEPT”, Catalysis Today, 79–80, 195–202(2003), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0920-5861(03)00005-1Search in Google Scholar

Glowinski, R., et al., “A Fictitious Domain Method for Dirichlet Problem and Applications”, Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng., 111, 283–303(1994), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0045-7825(94)90135-XSearch in Google Scholar

Hawkesworth, M. R., et al., “Nonmedical Applications of a Positron Camera”, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A, 310, 423–434(1991), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(91)91073-5Search in Google Scholar

Ingram, A., et al., “Portable Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) for Industrial Use”, 12th International Conference on Fluidization – New Horizons in Fluidization Engineering, paper 60, Vancouver (2007)Search in Google Scholar

Jones, J. R., Bridgwater, J., “A Case Study of Particle Mixing in a Ploughshare Mixer Using Positron Emission Particle Tracking”, Int. J. Miner. Process., 53, 29–38(1998), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0301-7516(97)00054-9Search in Google Scholar

Kohlgrüber, K., Bierdel, M.: Co-rotating Twin-screw Extruders: Fundamentals, Technology, and Applications, Hanser Publishers, Munich(2008)10.3139/9783446433410.fmSearch in Google Scholar

Leadbeater, T. W., Parker, D. J., “A Positron Camera with Flexible Geometry for the Study of Industrial Processes”, 5th World Congress on Industrial Process Tomography, Bergen (2007)Search in Google Scholar

Leadbeater, T. W., Parker, D. J., “A High Speed PC-based Data Acquisition and Control System for Positron Imaging”, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A, 604, 355–358(2009), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2009.01.184Search in Google Scholar

Parker, D. J., et al., “Developments in Particle Tracking Using the Birmingham Positron Camera”, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A, 392, 421–426(1997), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9002(97)00301-XSearch in Google Scholar

Parker, D. J., et al., “Positron Emission Particle Tracking – a Technique for Studying Flow within Engineering Equipment”, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A, 326, 592–607(1993), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(93)90864-ESearch in Google Scholar

Parker, D. J., Fan, X. F., “Positron Emission Particle Tracking – Application and Labelling Techniques”, Particuology, 6, 16–23(2008), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpart.2007.10.004Search in Google Scholar

Parker, D. J., et al., “Positron Emission Particle Tracking Using the New Birmingham Positron Camera”, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A, 477, 540–545(2002), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9002(01)01919-2Search in Google Scholar

Parker, D. J., et al., “Positron Imaging Techniques for Process Engineering: Recent Developments at Birmingham”, Meas. Sci. Technol., 19, 094004(2008), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0957-0233/19/9/094004Search in Google Scholar

Sarhangi Fard, A., et al., “Adaptive non-Conformal Mesh Refinement and Extended Finite Element Method for Viscous Flow inside Complex Moving Geometries”, Internat. J. Numer. Methods Fluids, online version (2011), DOI: 10.1002/fld.2595Search in Google Scholar

Seville, J. P. K., et al., “Chapter 4 Positron Emission Imaging in Chemical Engineering”, in Advances in Chemical Engineering, JinghaiL. (Ed.), Academic Press, New York, p. 149–178(2009)10.1016/S0065-2377(09)03704-1Search in Google Scholar

Valette, R., et al., “A Direct 3D Numerical Simulation Code for Extrusion and Mixing Processes”, Int. Polym. Proc., 24, 141–147(2009), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3139/217.2207Search in Google Scholar

Wildman, R. D., et al., “Investigation of Paste Flow Using Positron Emission Particle Tracking”, Powder Technol., 103, 220–229(1999), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0032-5910(99)00019-4Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2011-01-28
Accepted: 2011-05-18
Published Online: 2013-04-06
Published in Print: 2011-11-01

© 2011, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Regular Contributed Articles
  4. Applicability of the Impact Response Analysis Method for Reinforced Concrete Beams Mixed with Polyvinyl Alcohol Short Fibers
  5. Epoxy-Montmorillonite Nanocomposites Applied to Powder Coatings
  6. Direct Imprinting Using Magnetic Nickel Mold and Electromagnetism Assisted Pressure for Replication of Microstructures
  7. Automated Mold Heating System Using High Frequency Induction with Feedback Temperature Control
  8. The Prediction of Bowing Distortion of Film after Transverse Stretching with Consideration of Heated Air Flow in a Tenter
  9. The Influence of Injection Molding and Injection Compression Molding on Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene Polymer Microfabrication
  10. A Design-of-Experiment Study on the Microcellular Extrusion of Sub-critical CO2 Saturated PLA Pellets
  11. Optimization of Injection Molding Process for SGF and PTFE Reinforced PC Composites Using Response Surface Methodology and Simulated Annealing Approach
  12. Flow Visualisation in Co-rotating Twin Screw Extruders: Positron Emission Particle Tracking and Numerical Particle Trajectories
  13. The Influence of Melt and Process Parameters on the Quality and Occurrence of Part Defects in Water-assisted Injection Molded Tubes
  14. Model and Numerical Simulation for the Second Penetration in Water-assisted Injection Molding
  15. Influence of Extrusion Conditions on the Rheological Behavior of Nuclear Bituminized Waste Products
  16. Influence of Dicumyl Peroxide Content on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polylactide
  17. Rapid Communications
  18. Calculation of Average Residence Time in a Ko-kneader
  19. PPS-News
  20. PPS News
https://doi.org/10.3139/217.2475

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Regular Contributed Articles
  4. Applicability of the Impact Response Analysis Method for Reinforced Concrete Beams Mixed with Polyvinyl Alcohol Short Fibers
  5. Epoxy-Montmorillonite Nanocomposites Applied to Powder Coatings
  6. Direct Imprinting Using Magnetic Nickel Mold and Electromagnetism Assisted Pressure for Replication of Microstructures
  7. Automated Mold Heating System Using High Frequency Induction with Feedback Temperature Control
  8. The Prediction of Bowing Distortion of Film after Transverse Stretching with Consideration of Heated Air Flow in a Tenter
  9. The Influence of Injection Molding and Injection Compression Molding on Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene Polymer Microfabrication
  10. A Design-of-Experiment Study on the Microcellular Extrusion of Sub-critical CO2 Saturated PLA Pellets
  11. Optimization of Injection Molding Process for SGF and PTFE Reinforced PC Composites Using Response Surface Methodology and Simulated Annealing Approach
  12. Flow Visualisation in Co-rotating Twin Screw Extruders: Positron Emission Particle Tracking and Numerical Particle Trajectories
  13. The Influence of Melt and Process Parameters on the Quality and Occurrence of Part Defects in Water-assisted Injection Molded Tubes
  14. Model and Numerical Simulation for the Second Penetration in Water-assisted Injection Molding
  15. Influence of Extrusion Conditions on the Rheological Behavior of Nuclear Bituminized Waste Products
  16. Influence of Dicumyl Peroxide Content on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polylactide
  17. Rapid Communications
  18. Calculation of Average Residence Time in a Ko-kneader
  19. PPS-News
  20. PPS News
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 30.10.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.3139/217.2475/html
Scroll to top button