Mixing ability examination of three different rotor cross sections and rotor geometry quantification with pressurization coefficient

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe geometry of rotor cross section would affect the velocity profile of circumferential flow in continues mixer, which further dominated the mixing ability of rotor. To reveal the relationship between the geometry and mixing ability of rotor cross section, three rotor cross sections with different geometries were chosen, and the POLYFLOW simulations were applied to analyze the velocity profile and the flow stretching. The distribution for three rotors was evaluated both numerically and experimentally with the particle tracking technology. Then, the rotor geometry was quantified with pressurization coefficient S, which is a geometric parameter considering the wedge angle α, width of wing tip e, tip clearance h and the maximum clearance H0 between rotor and chamber wall. The results showed that the mixing ability and S for three rotor cross‐sections would vary with the rotor geometry changing, furthermore, the rotor cross‐section with larger S would have stronger mixing ability. Decreasing α or e, as well as increasing the H0, would induce the increase of S, and further resulting in the improvement of the mixing ability. Rotor geometry quantification with S would intuitionally reveal the relationship between rotor geometry and the mixing ability, and would contribute to the rotor cross‐section design and optimization. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46623.