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Flow Field Analysis of Both the Trilobal Element and Mixing Disc Zones within a Closely Intermeshing, Co-Rotating Twin-Screw Extruder

  • D. Bruce , M. Wilson and S. Generalis
Published/Copyright: June 4, 2013
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International Polymer Processing
From the journal International Polymer Processing Volume 12 Issue 4

Abstract

Of the different mixing modules contained within the closely intermeshing, co-rotating twin-screw extruder (CICo-TSE), the trilobal elements and mixing discs are of major importance to the mixing efficiency. These two types of mixing element impose contrasting mixing behaviour on the viscous melt and are thus used selectively to perform differing mixing tasks. Problems encountered when solving the flow problem within these two mixing element zones arise from both the complex 3D geometry and the time dependent flow boundaries as each respective element type rotates about its fixed axes. Following on from the 2D results reported, the computational fluid dynamics package, Polyflow, was employed to investigate the mixing mechanisms exhibited by both a set of three trilobe element pairs and by a pair of staggered mixing discs, as utilised within the Betol BTS40 CICo-TSE. The flow fields were simulated using the ideal rheological properties of polypropylene and characterised in terms of velocity vectors, shear stresses generated and a mixing parameter λ, which quantifies the elongational and rotational flow components. Each flow field exhibited different characteristics for the configurations investigated and it has been found that the average flow field parameter values for the trilobe elements change periodically, whereas minimal changes are observed as the mixing discs rotate.

* Mail address: Dr. S. Generalis, Division of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK
Received: 1997-9-18
Published Online: 2013-06-04
Published in Print: 1997-12-01

© 1997, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Editorial
  4. Editorial
  5. Screw Extrusion/Mixing
  6. Melt Temperatures and Residence Times in an Extruder by Infrared Spectroscopy
  7. Continuous Mixing of Low Viscosity and High Viscosity Polymer Melts in a Modular Co-Rotating Twin Screw Extruder
  8. Flow Field Analysis of Both the Trilobal Element and Mixing Disc Zones within a Closely Intermeshing, Co-Rotating Twin-Screw Extruder
  9. A Composite Model for Solid Conveying, Melting, Pressure and Fill Factor Profiles in Modular Co -Rotating Twin Screw Extruders
  10. Temperature Rise in the Extrusion of Highly Viscous Composite Materials
  11. Simulation of Free Surface Flow in Partially Filled Internal Mixers
  12. Die Extrusion
  13. Processing of Sheath-Core and Matrix-Fibril Fibers Composed of PP and a TLCP
  14. Fibers and Films
  15. Experimental and Theoretical Study of Rectangular Fiber Melt Spinning
  16. Distributed Crystallinity Control during Cast Film Extrusion
  17. Application of Neural Networks to Analyze the Drawing Process of PET Films
  18. Molding
  19. Physically-Based Adaptive Control of Cavity Pressure in Injection Molding: Filling Phase
  20. In-Mould Shrinkage Measurements of PS Samples with Strain Gages
  21. The Occurrence of Flow Marks during Injection Molding of Linear Polyethylene
https://doi.org/10.3139/217.970323

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Editorial
  4. Editorial
  5. Screw Extrusion/Mixing
  6. Melt Temperatures and Residence Times in an Extruder by Infrared Spectroscopy
  7. Continuous Mixing of Low Viscosity and High Viscosity Polymer Melts in a Modular Co-Rotating Twin Screw Extruder
  8. Flow Field Analysis of Both the Trilobal Element and Mixing Disc Zones within a Closely Intermeshing, Co-Rotating Twin-Screw Extruder
  9. A Composite Model for Solid Conveying, Melting, Pressure and Fill Factor Profiles in Modular Co -Rotating Twin Screw Extruders
  10. Temperature Rise in the Extrusion of Highly Viscous Composite Materials
  11. Simulation of Free Surface Flow in Partially Filled Internal Mixers
  12. Die Extrusion
  13. Processing of Sheath-Core and Matrix-Fibril Fibers Composed of PP and a TLCP
  14. Fibers and Films
  15. Experimental and Theoretical Study of Rectangular Fiber Melt Spinning
  16. Distributed Crystallinity Control during Cast Film Extrusion
  17. Application of Neural Networks to Analyze the Drawing Process of PET Films
  18. Molding
  19. Physically-Based Adaptive Control of Cavity Pressure in Injection Molding: Filling Phase
  20. In-Mould Shrinkage Measurements of PS Samples with Strain Gages
  21. The Occurrence of Flow Marks during Injection Molding of Linear Polyethylene
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