Hydrodynamic analysis of a Banbury mixer

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Abstract
A fluid dynamics analysis package—FIDAP—using a finite element method was employed to simulate the flow patterns in a Banbury mixer. The flow simulations were carried out only for the intensive mixing region, and they were limited to a two‐dimensional analysis. A Lagrangean point of view was adopted and 18 different geometries were selected to represent one revolution of the rotor. A power‐law model with time and temperature dependent parameters was used to characterize the rheological behavior of the mixture. Steady‐state, isothermal flow simulations as well as a transient, non‐isothermal flow analysis were performed for a Banbury B mixer. The results of the analysis show good agreement with experimental observations regarding the development of vortices, the pressure, and the temperature profiles.