Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol.40, No.2, 365-375, 2000
Numerical simulation and experimental verification of nonisothermal flow in counter-rotating nonintermeshing continuous mixers
We have developed non-Newtonian and nonisothermal flow simulation codes in twin screw extruders using the finite element method. These codes can simulate the fully filled part of several kinds of screw elements, such as full flight screws, kneading discs, rotors, and their combinations. In this paper, we describe how we applied them to simulate a counter-rotating nonintermeshing continuous mixer, LCM100G, by Kobe Steel, Ltd. The LCM100G is a Farrel-type continuous mixer that has two mixing stages. We focused on the second mixing stage, since the flow domain of this stage is almost filled by polymer melts. Numerical simulations at various flow rates were performed. We also carried out experimental observations to verify the numerical simulations. Pressure and temperature profiles from the simulations were found to be in good agreement with the experimental results.