Stochastic diffusion model of non-ideal mixing in a horizontal drum mixer

Abstract

Since a non-ideal solid particle system contains particles of different sizes and/or densities, mixing of non-ideal particle systems in a horizontal drum mixer is complex and stochastic in nature. In the present work such non-ideal mixing process has been modeled by the Kolmogorov diffusion equation. Two parameters appearing in the Kolmogorov diffusion equation, the diffusion coefficient and drift velocity, have been determined in this work from one-step tracer experiments, and their physical significances have been discussed. The convective or drift velocity, which varies with respect to the axial position of the mixer, appears to be important in illucidating the non-ideal mixing characteristics. A good agreement between the model and the experimental data has been observed.