Enhancing Mixture Homogeneity in Centrifugal Mixers: A LabVIEW-Based and Numerical Simulation of Bulk Material Particle Dynamics

Abstract

The goal of the present study was to enhance the homogeneity of mixtures produced in centrifugal mixers. Attention was devoted to the analysis of particle movements and interactions within the mix, with an intention to mitigate segregation phenomena and contribute to the refinement of mixer design. By understanding and predicting the behavior of medium components within the working chamber of the mixer, a qualitative improvement in the production of bulk mixtures can be achieved. A simulation was conducted of dry powder mixing at a ratio of 1:100 in a continuous centrifugal apparatus equipped with a disk-shaped rotor and a thin-walled truncated cone. LabVIEW software was employed to estimate the motion and velocity of particles within the rotor. Findings from the study provided a detailed portrayal of a material particle's trajectory within the mixer. Immediately upon entry into the apparatus, the particle's velocity on the rotor disk was observed to increase rapidly within an initial two-second period, followed by uneven acceleration. This inconsistency was attributed to the pulsating nature of the particle's motion, along with its shape and surface roughness. Near the rotor disk's periphery, more systematic movement was observed among particles of varying densities within the medium flow. From this study, differential equations were derived and a mathematical model was developed to illustrate changes in speed and trajectory of particles with different densities. The model aligns well with calculations from numerical methods, offering a high degree of accuracy for theoretical descriptions and calculations pertaining to bulk mixture production processes. Therefore, this study offers a significant tool for future improvements in the design and utilization of centrifugal mixers.