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Two‐Phase Flow in Single‐Screw Extruders
Author(s) -
Lübke Martin,
Wünsch Olaf
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pamm
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1617-7061
DOI - 10.1002/pamm.201210243
Subject(s) - volume of fluid method , plastics extrusion , mechanics , free surface , materials science , viscosity , work (physics) , flow (mathematics) , computer simulation , capillary action , mechanical engineering , phase (matter) , composite material , engineering , physics , quantum mechanics
This work concerns numerical simulation of free‐surface flows of highly viscous liquids in single‐screw extruders.The numerical treatment of a partially filled extruder is a challenging task due to the complex geometry and the large differences in density and viscosity between the two phases, e.g. polymer melt and air. Furthermore, the rotation of the screw leads to a continuous renewing of the free‐surface. For this purpose the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is used. First a simplified two‐dimensional model of a single‐screw extruder is considered. Good agreement is obtained between the numerical results and experimental data. Finally, the three dimensional free‐surface flow in a partially filled single‐screw extruder with dynamic mesh motion is presented. In addition, the power characteristics of a conveying screw element with varying degree of filling is discussed. (© 2012 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)