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Flow field analysis of an intermeshing counterrotating twin screw extruder
Author(s) -
Li Tao,
ManasZloczower Ica
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760340703
Subject(s) - shearing (physics) , materials science , plastics extrusion , mechanics , extrusion , rheology , finite element method , flow (mathematics) , power law fluid , rotational speed , shear (geology) , mechanical engineering , composite material , structural engineering , engineering , physics
The intermeshing counterrotating twin screw extruder is widely used for compounding, devolatilization, blending, and reactive extrusion. A fluid dynamics analysis package‐FIDAP, using the finite element method, was implemented to simulate the 3‐D flow patterns in the region of conveying elements and shearing discs of a Leistritz LSM30.34 twin screw extruder. The rheological behavior of the fluid was described by a power law model. The flow fields were characterized in terms of velocity profiles, pressure distributions, shear stresses generated, and a parameter λ quantifying the elongational flow components. The influence of screw rotational speed and axial pressure difference on the flow characteristics was also analyzed. A comparison between the flow characteristics in the shearing discs operated in a corotating or counterrotating mode was also presented.