New Dimensionless Power Number Equation for Horizontal Agitated Drum

Abstract

In dryers where mechanical mixing is applied, it is necessary to know the motor power requirement in order to design the dryer correctly. The power requirement of the motor can be traced back to the no-load power requirement and the mixing power requirement. In this study, a new dimensionless power number equation has been introduced to determine the mixing power requirement of horizontal agitated drums. A simplified form of the dimensionless power equation for the investigated agitated drum and granular material was created. The equation took into account the effect of the mixing Froude number. The values of the equation’s unknown parameters were determined by a nonlinear solver using laboratory measurements. A new dimensionless number was introduced which contains the mixing power requirement and was named cohesive power number. This dimensionless number determines the relationship between the mixing power requirement and the bulk cohesion by taking into account the typical size of the mixer and the rotational speed.