Modeling Non-isothermal Mixing in a Rotor Mixer

Abstract

Abstract A mathematical model of the mixing process in a two-rotor mixer is proposed. The model developed takes into account the interrelations among the following essential features of the process: non-isothermal effects due to heat exchange and energy dissipation in flow, non-Newtonian behavior of a material and dependence of its properties on temperature and the degree of filler agglomerate destruction, kinetics of changing carbon agglomerate sizes due to mechanical distraction. The system of governing equations is formulated and the procedure of its solution is described. The theoretical model is compared with experimental data obtained in real technological process of mixing of a rubber compound. In all cases quite satisfactory results of comparison were obtained. It means that the model proposed can be used for analysis of real technological processes of mixing and choice of optimal technological regime and geometrical sizes of a mixer (primarily size of the gap between a rotor and the wall of a chamber) as well.