Mixer

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Kinds of Mixer

  • batch mixer
  • internal mixer
  • jet mixer
  • micro mixer
  • static mixer

  • Terms modified by Mixer

  • mixer design

  • Selected Abstracts


    Genomic profiling of Mixer and Sox17, targets during Xenopus endoderm development

    DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 2 2006
    Kari Dickinson
    Abstract The transcription factors Mixer and Sox17, have well-characterized roles in endoderm specification during Xenopus embryogenesis. In order to more thoroughly understand the mechanisms by which these endodermal regulators act, we expressed Mixer and Sox17, in naïve ectodermal tissue and, using oligonucleotide-based microarrays, compared their genomic transcriptional profile to that of unaffected tissue. Using this approach, we identified 71 transcripts that are upregulated by Mixer or Sox17,, 63 of which have previously uncharacterized roles in endoderm development. Furthermore, an in situ hybridization screen using antisense probes for several of these clones identified six targets of Mixer and/or Sox17, that are expressed in the endoderm during gastrula stages, providing new and regional markers of the endoderm. Our results contribute further insight into the functions of Mixer and Sox17, and bring us closer to understanding at the molecular level the pathways that regulate endoderm development. Developmental Dynamics 235:368,381, 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    A comparative study of dispersing a polyamide 6 into a polypropylene melt in a Buss Kneader, continuous mixer, and modular intermeshing corotating and counter-rotating twin screw extruders

    POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 4 2008
    Keungjin Shon
    We have made a study of the development of phase morphology of an immiscible blend(75/25)(polypropylene,polyamide-6) for different types of continuous mixers including (i) Buss Kneader, (ii and iii) modular intermeshing corotating and counter-rotating twin screw extruders, and (iv) NEX-T Kobelco Continuous Mixer. Comparisons are made using different screw configurations for each machine. Generally, in comparison of the different machines, the intermeshing counter-rotating twin screw extruder produced the finest dispersed morphology. Using a droplet breakup kinetic model, we interpreted the blend dispersed phase droplet breakdown rate and coalescence rate. In comparison with our earlier study of the continuous mixing of agglomerates of CaCO3 particles the polymer droplet breakup rate was smaller than that of the particle agglomerates and the coalescence rates of droplets were many times greater than the particle reagglomerates rates. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


    Drop Size Distribution in a Standard Twin-Impeller Batch Mixer at High Dispersed-Phase Volume Fraction

    CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 8 2009
    A. EL-Hamouz
    Abstract The preparation of concentrated aqueous silicone oil emulsions has been investigated with particular attention to the effect of the dispersed-phase volume fraction , from 0.01 to 0.5 for a wide range of oil viscosities (50 to 1000 cSt). Oil was added on the top surface of a 6-L vessel. Drop size distribution and Sauter mean diameter, d32, measurements were carried out over 24 h mixing time. Emulsification was found to be relatively sensitive to the oil phase viscosity, ,d, for the same , yielding a narrower drop size distribution for low oil viscosity (50 cSt) and a wider drop size distribution for the highly viscous oil (1000 cSt). For the same ,, increasing ,d resulted in increasing d32. The equilibrium d32 was found to be well correlated to the viscosity number by for , = 0.5. For the same oil viscosity, d32 was found to increase with increasing ,. A multiregression of d32 with both , and Vi for various silicone oil viscosity grades was successfully correlated by with a regression coefficient (R2) of 0.975. This shows a very weak dependence of the equilibrium d32 on ,. [source]


    An analysis of liquid CO2 drop formation with and without hydrate formation in static mixers

    AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 10 2010
    Hideo Tajima
    Abstract The formation process of CO2 drops in various types of Kenics Static Mixers was analyzed from the perspective of energy dissipation in the mixer, focusing on the formation of drop surfaces. Experimental studies on CO2 drop formation were conducted under varying temperatures, pressure, and flow rates, with and without hydrate formation. Analysis of the CO2 drop size and distribution at several locations within the static mixer was conducted, as of pressure drop in the mixer, to determine dissipation energies. In all the experimental conditions, by considering the surface energy for hydrate formation, the energy required for the formation of CO2 drops correlated well with total energy dissipation by mixer flow, which is represented by a pressure drop along the mixer. This process has important applications to the formation of liquid CO2 for ocean disposal as a countermeasure to global warming. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010 [source]


    Using a New Interfacial Area Transport Equation to Predict Interfacial Area in Co-current Jet Mixers

    THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2002
    Stephen L. Yarbro
    Abstract In multiphase operations, such as liquid-liquid or gas-liquid systems, the interfacial area affects the interfluid heat, mass and momentum transfer and ultimately, the overall equipment performance. To better understand the mixing process, we developed a multi-fluid model that predicts interfacial area for kerosene-water mixtures in co-current jet mixers. The model has ensemble-averaged conservation equations for each fluid and includes a transport equation, derived from an overall energy balance, for the interfacial area concentration. In the model, the mechanical energy of the continuous phase creates interfacial area. Comparing the final, one-dimensional model to experimental data proved the model is accurate. Over 93% of the calculated and experimental data obtained from 0.027 inch and 0.041 inch diameter co-current jet mixers compared within 15%. Dans les opérations polyphasiques, comme les systèmes liquide-liquide ou gaz-liquide, la surface interfaciale influe sur les transferts inter-fluides de chaleur, de matière et de quantité de mouvement et donc sur la performance globale des équipements. Pour mieux comprendre le procédé de mélange, nous avons mis au point un modèle multifluide qui prédit la surface interfaciale pour des mélanges kérosène-eau dans des mélangeurs cocourants à jets. Le modèle comprend des équations de conservation globalement moyennées pour chaque fluide ainsi qu'une équation de transport, établie à partir d'un bilan énergétique global, pour la concentration de la surface interfaciale. Dans ce modèle, l'énergie mécanique de la phase continue crée la surface interfaciale. La comparaison entre le modèle unidimensionnel final et les données expérimentales démontre la bonne précision du modèle. Plus de 93 % des données calculées et expérimentales obtenues pour des mélangeurs cocourants à jets de 0,027 à 0,041 pouces de diamètre sont comparables à 15 % près. [source]


    Steering of Liquid Mixing Speed in Interdigital Micro Mixers , From Very Fast to Deliberately Slow Mixing

    CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 3 2004
    P. Löb
    Abstract Very fast mixing in the range of milliseconds as well as deliberately slow mixing was realized by specially adjusted interdigital micro mixers made of glass or stainless steel. The corresponding micro mixers are presented including experimental and theoretical investigations of the respective mixing process. Fast mixing was realized by combination of flow multilamination by interdigital microstructured feeding structures with geometric focusing. Details on the microfabrication, achievable throughputs and hydrodynamics are discussed. To prevent clogging of microsized feeding structures in the case of precipitation reactions, mixing was deliberately slowed down by separating the reactant solutions at the outlet by additional layers of inert liquids. [source]


    Mischer mit mikrostrukturierten Folien für chemische Produktionsaufgaben

    CHEMIE-INGENIEUR-TECHNIK (CIT), Issue 5 2004
    B. Werner
    Abstract Seit etwa 10 Jahren beschäftigt sich die Institut für Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH (IMM) mit der Nutzung von Mikrostrukturen im Bereich der Mikroverfahrenstechnik. Deren Vorteile , effizienterer Wärmeaustausch und Massentransport , bewirken u.,a. Steigerung von Ausbeute und Selektivität bei gleichzeitiger Ressourcenschonung. Die Entwicklung von mikrostrukturierten Mischern war dabei ein Schlüssel zu verbesserten Feinchemikaliensynthesen sowie zur Herstellung von Dispersionen, Cremes, Schäumen und Emulsionen. Bislang waren diese mikrostrukturierten Mischer im Wesentlichen auf Labor- oder bestenfalls Pilotanlagen-Maßstab festgelegt , typische Maximalflussraten lagen bei 2,, 100,L/h für wasserähnliche Fluidsysteme. Mit der Einführung der StarLaminatoren StarLam300 und StarLam3000, konnte diese Grenze jetzt auf weit über 300,L/h bis in den m3/h-Bereich angehoben werden. Beide Apparate zeigen gute Mischgüten bei hohen Flüssen, die durchaus an die sehr guten Werte von bisher bekannten Niederdurchsatz(L/h)-Mikromischer heranreichen. Damit ist eine Kontinuität von ,wirklichen" Mikromischern über die hier beschriebenen Hochdurchsatz-Tools bis zu statischen Mischern mit noch höheren Durchsätzen gegeben. Eine Klassifikation der Mischeffizienz nach dem Leistungseintrag bestätigt ebenso diese Kontinuität. Mixers with Microstructured Foils for Chemical Production Purposes Since about 10 years the Institut für Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH (IMM) is engaged with the application of microstructures for chemical micro process engineering. Their advantages , more efficient heat exchange and mass transport , lead to, among other things, an increase in yield and selectivity even while saving resources. The development of microstructured mixers thereby played a key role for carrying out advanced syntheses of fine chemicals as well as for the generation of dispersions, creams, foams, and emulsions. So far, microstructured mixers were mainly limited for laboratory-scale or at best pilot plant-scale , typical maximum flow rates were from 2 , 100 L/h for watery fluid systems. With the introduction of the StarLaminators StarLam300 and StarLam3000 this barrier could be lifted far beyond 300 L/h up to the m3/h domain. Both apparatus yield at high flow rates a mixing efficiency which reaches the high performance of today's low-capacity (L/h) micro mixers. Therefore, continuity from the "real" micro mixers over the herein described high-throughput tools to conventionally manufactured static mixers with even higher flow rates is given. [source]


    Simulation of compression refrigeration systems

    COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 3 2006
    Jaime Sieres
    Abstract This study presents the main features of a software for simulating vapor compression refrigeration systems that are self designed by the user. A library of 10 different components is available: compressor, expansion device, condenser, evaporator, heat exchanger, flash tank, direct intercooler flash tank, indirect intercooler flash tank, mixer, and splitter. With these components and a library of different refrigerants many different refrigeration systems may be solved. By a user-friendly interface, the user can draw the system scheme by adding different components, connecting them and entering different input data. Results are presented in the form of tables and the cycle diagram of the system is drawn on the logP,h and T,s thermodynamic charts. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 14: 188,197, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20075 [source]


    A novel microfluidic mixer utilizing electrokinetic driving forces under low switching frequency

    ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 9 2005
    Lung-Ming Fu
    Abstract This paper presents a novel technique in which low-frequency periodic electrokinetic driving forces are utilized to mix electrolytic fluid samples rapidly and efficiently in a double-T-form microfluidic mixer. Without using any additional equipment to induce flow perturbations, only a single high-voltage power source is required for simultaneously driving and mixing the sample fluids which results in a simple and low-cost system for the mixing purpose. The effectiveness of the mixer as a function of the applied electric field and the periodic switching frequency is characterized by the intensity distribution calculated downstream from the mixing zone. The present numerical and experimental results confirm that the proposed double-T-form micromixer has excellent mixing capabilities. The mixing efficiency can be as high as 95% within a mixing length of 1000 ,m downstream from the secondary T-junction when a 100 V/cm driving electric field strength and a 2 Hz periodic switching frequency are applied. The results reveal that the optimal switching frequency depends upon the magnitude of the main applied electrical field. The rapid double-T-form microfluidic mixer using the periodic driving voltage switching model proposed in this study has considerable potential for use in lab-on-a-chip systems. [source]


    Microfluidic tectonics platform: A colorimetric, disposable botulinum toxin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system

    ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 10-11 2004
    Jaisree Moorthy
    Abstract A fabrication platform for realizing integrated microfluidic devices is discussed. The platform allows for creating specific microsystems for multistep assays in an ad hoc manner as the components that perform the assay steps can be created at any location inside the device via in situ fabrication. The platform was utilized to create a prototype microsystem for detecting botulinum neurotoxin directly from whole blood. Process steps such as sample preparation by filtration, mixing and incubation with reagents was carried out on the device. Various microfluidic components such as channel network, valves and porous filter were fabricated from prepolymer mixture consisting of monomer, cross-linker and a photoinitiator. For detection of the toxoid, biotinylated antibodies were immobilized on streptavidin-functionalized agarose gel beads. The gel beads were introduced into the device and were used as readouts. Enzymatic reaction between alkaline phosphatase (on secondary antibody) and substrate produced an insoluble, colored precipitate that coated the beads thus making the readout visible to the naked eye. Clinically relevant amounts of the toxin can be detected from whole blood using the portable enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system. Multiple layers can be realized for effective space utilization and creating a three-dimensional (3-D) chaotic mixer. In addition, external materials such as membranes can be incorporated into the device as components. Individual components that were necessary to perform these steps were characterized, and their mutual compatibility is also discussed. [source]


    Hyperchaotic signal generation via DSP for efficient perturbations to liquid mixing

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIRCUIT THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, Issue 1 2009
    Zhong Zhang
    Abstract This paper presents the design, simulation, hardware implementation and an application in liquid mixing of some hyperchaotic circuits, based on the digital signal processing (DSP) technology. The hyperchaotic Chen's system is used as an example to show the system discretization and variable renormalization in the design process. Numerical simulation is given to verify the hardware signal generator. The implemented hardware of Chen's system generates outputs in good agreement with the numerical simulation. The hyperchaotic signal output from the DSP is applied to generate complex perturbations in liquid mixing experiments. Dye dispersion experiments show that the induced hyperchaotic motion effectively helps enhance the mixing homogeneity in the stirred-tank-based mixer in our laboratory. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Nonlinear simulation of mixers for assessing system-level performance

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RF AND MICROWAVE COMPUTER-AIDED ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2005
    Nuno B. Carvalho
    Abstract This article deals with nonlinear simulation methods intended to evaluate the impact of mixer nonidealities on the performance of a wireless system. Behavioral models capable of accurately describing the mixer's nonlinear dynamic features at the system level are currently unavailable. The possibility of using alternative circuit analysis techniques to reach this goal is discussed. After a brief review of existing mixer analysis methods, the focus is directed to the techniques amenable to efficiently handling periodic carriers modulated by complex stochastic signals. In particular, it is shown how multi-envelope transient methods coupled with a three-dimensional harmonic-balance engine can model a nonlinear dynamic mixer excited by a modulated RF signal accompanied by a strong adjacent channel interferer and with a local oscillator corrupted by phase noise. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2005. [source]


    Rheological properties of LDPE processed by conventional processing machines

    ADVANCES IN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2003
    Masayuki Yamaguchi
    Abstract The impact of applied processing history and the postprocessing annealing on the rheological properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) have been studied employing various kinds of conventional processing machines. Processing by a corotating twin-screw extruder (Co-TSE) and an internal batch mixer depressed the drawdown force, one of the elastic properties of a melt, to a great extent, even though molecular weight and the polydispersity did not change. On the other hand, the sample processed by a two-roll mill exhibited the drawdown force as high as the original pellets, which is owing to the intermittent stress history instead of the relentless one in the Co-TSE and the internal batch mixer. Furthermore, the effect of screw configuration in the Co-TSE has also been investigated. It was found that the processing by conveying screws depressed the drawdown force and melt fracture more than that by kneading blocks as long as the torque and the residence time are the same. The large, abrupt, and frequent change in flow direction in the Co-TSE with kneading blocks prohibits the molecular orientation, which leads to disentanglement associated with long-chain branches. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 22: 179,187, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/adv.10047 [source]


    2-D numerical simulation of differential viscoelastic fluids in a single-screw continuous mixer: Application of viscoelastic finite element methods

    ADVANCES IN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2003
    Robin K. Connelly
    Abstract Viscoelastic effects on mixing flows obtained with kneading paddles in a single-screw, continuous mixer were explored using 2-D finite element method numerical simulations. The single-mode Phan,Thien Tanner nonlinear, viscoelastic fluid model was used with parameters for a dough-like material. The viscoelastic limits of the simulations were found using elastic viscous stress splitting, 4 × 4 sub-elements for stress, streamline upwind, and streamline upwind Petrov,Galerkin (SUPG). Mesh refinement and comparison between methods was also done. The single-screw mixer was modeled by taking the kneading paddle as the point of reference, fixing the mesh in time. Rigid rotation and no slip boundary conditions at the walls were used with inertia taken into account. Results include velocity, pressure, and stress profiles. The addition of viscoelasticity caused the shear and normal stresses to vary greatly from the viscous results, with a resulting loss of symmetry in the velocity and pressure profiles in the flow region. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 22: 22,41, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/adv.10038 [source]


    Modification of polypropylene by melt vibration blending with ultra high molecular weight polyethylene

    ADVANCES IN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2002
    Kejian Wang
    Abstract A novel vibration internal mixer was used to prepare polypropylene/ultra high molecular weight polyethylene PP/UHMWPE blends with two additional adjustable processing parameters (vibration frequency and vibration amplitude) as compared with those prepared in the steady mode. Microscopy, mechanical tests, and differential scanning calorimetry showed that vibration influenced the blend morphology and the product properties. The good phase homogeneity of the blends might be due to the variation of shear rate either spatially or temporally in blending. Additionally, the vibration internal mixer could be used to analyze the dependency of viscosity on the shear rate. Vibration enhanced the interpenetration of UHMWPE into PP and vice versa. Subsequently, the formed crystals of two components were connected, and there was epitaxy between PP and UHMWPE crystals. Moreover, the crystalline aggregates, with the amorphous UHMWPE, formed a complex network-like continuous structure, which improved the elongation ratio at the break and the yield strength. The higher the vibration frequency and/or the larger the vibration amplitude at a fixed average rotation speed of the mixer, the more significant these effects were. The larger amount of the connected crystals, especially of , form of PP in the bulk , form PP as well as with the continuous phase structure, led to a higher tensile properties of PP/UHMWPE vibration blended. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 21: 164,176, 2002; Published online in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/adv.10020 [source]


    Reinforcement and antioxidation effects of fullerenol-containing natural rubber

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2010
    Hiroaki Kondo
    Abstract Natural rubber (NR) containing fullerenol, C60-OH, was prepared by two methods; one by mixing C60-OH aqueous solution to NR latex followed by coagulation (wet method) and the other by mixing C60-OH powder with solid rubber by an open roll mixer (dry method). C60-OH mixed by wet method was homogeneously dispersed in the rubber, while one mixed by dry method was particles in the size up to 70 ,m. The former exhibited large reinforcing and antiaging effect than the latter. The large antiaging effect was explained by the finding that C60-OH had large radical scavenging ability and gel forming ability during heat treatment. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010 [source]


    Modification of cellulose acetate with oligomeric polycaprolactone by reactive processing: Efficiency, compatibility, and properties

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2009
    Szilvia Klébert
    Abstract Oligomeric polycaprolactone (oPCL) was used for the modification of cellulose acetate by reactive processing in an internal mixer at 180°C, 50 rpm, 60 min reaction time, and 45 wt % caprolactone (CL) content. The product of the reaction was characterized by several analytical techniques and its mechanical properties were determined by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and tensile testing. The synthesized oPCL contained small and large molecular weight components. The small molecular weight fraction plasticized cellulose acetate externally and helped fusion. Although composition and structure did not differ considerably from each other when CL monomer or polycaprolactone oligomer was used for modification, the grafting of a few long chains had considerable effect on some properties of the product. The large molecular weight chains attached to CA increased the viscosity of the melt considerably and resulted in larger deformability. oPCL homopolymer is not miscible with cellulose acetate and migrates to the surface of the polymer. Exuded polycaprolactone oligomers crystallize on the surface but can be removed very easily. More intense conditions may favor the grafting of long chains leading to polymers with advantageous properties. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009 [source]


    Poly(lactic acid) properties as a consequence of poly(butylene adipate- co -terephthalate) blending and acetyl tributyl citrate plasticization

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 2 2008
    Maria-Beatrice Coltelli
    Abstract This study was aimed at the modulation of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) properties by the addition of both a low-molecular-weight plasticizer, acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), and a biodegradable aliphatic,aromatic copolyester, poly(butylene adipate- co -terephthalate) (PBAT). PLA/PBAT, PLA/ATBC, and PLA/PBAT/ATBC mixtures with 10,35 wt % ATBC and/or PBAT were prepared in a discontinuous laboratory mixer, compression-molded, and characterized by thermal, morphological, and mechanical tests to evaluate the effect of the concentration of either the plasticizer or copolyester on the final material flexibility. Materials with modulable properties, Young's modulus in the range 100,3000 MPa and elongation at break in the range 10,300%, were obtained. Moreover, thermal analysis showed a preferential solubilization of ATBC in the PBAT phase. Gas permeability tests were also performed to assess possible use in food packaging applications. The results are discussed with particular emphasis toward the effects of plasticization on physical blending in the determination of the phase morphology and final properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source]


    Determination of twin-screw extruder operational conditions for the preparation of thermoplastic vulcanizates on the basis of batch-mixer results

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2008
    F. Goharpey
    Abstract In this study, we attempted to prepare a thermoplastic vulcanizate in a twin-screw extruder by determining the screw configuration on the basis of batch-mixer results. In this regard, two sets of information were used: (1) the time length, power consumption, and filling factor of different stages of the reactive blending process in the internal mixer and (2) the mean residence time and power consumption of the twin-screw extruder. Morphological features of the samples taken from the melt-mixing and dynamic vulcanization zones of the extruder with the selected screw configuration were found to be comparable with corresponding samples taken from an internal mixer reported in our previous study. The rheological and mechanical properties could provide valuable information to support the reliability of this study. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source]


    EXTRUSION COOKING OF BLENDS OF SOY FLOUR AND SWEET POTATO FLOUR ON SPECIFIC MECHANICAL ENERGY (SME), EXTRUDATE TEMPERATURE AND TORQUE

    JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 4 2001
    M. O. IWE
    Defatted soy flour and sweet potato flour containing 18% moisture were mixed in a pilot mixer, and extruded in an Almex-Bettenfeld single-screw extruder operated at varying rotational speed and die diameter. A central composite, rotatable nearly orthogonal design, which required 23 experiments for three factors (feed composition (fc), screw speed (ss) and die diameter (dd)) was developed and used for the generation of response surfaces. Effects of the extrusion variables on specific mechanical energy (SME), extrudate temperature (ET), and torque (T) were evaluated using response surface analysis. Results showed that product temperature increased with increases in die diameter, screw speed and feed composition. However, the effect of die diameter was greater than those of screw speed and feed composition. Decrease in die diameter with increase in sweet potato content increased torque. Screw speed exhibited a linear effect on torque. [source]


    An analysis of liquid CO2 drop formation with and without hydrate formation in static mixers

    AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 10 2010
    Hideo Tajima
    Abstract The formation process of CO2 drops in various types of Kenics Static Mixers was analyzed from the perspective of energy dissipation in the mixer, focusing on the formation of drop surfaces. Experimental studies on CO2 drop formation were conducted under varying temperatures, pressure, and flow rates, with and without hydrate formation. Analysis of the CO2 drop size and distribution at several locations within the static mixer was conducted, as of pressure drop in the mixer, to determine dissipation energies. In all the experimental conditions, by considering the surface energy for hydrate formation, the energy required for the formation of CO2 drops correlated well with total energy dissipation by mixer flow, which is represented by a pressure drop along the mixer. This process has important applications to the formation of liquid CO2 for ocean disposal as a countermeasure to global warming. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010 [source]


    The effect of mixer properties and fill level on granular flow in a bladed mixer

    AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010
    Brenda Remy
    Abstract The discrete element method was used to study the effect of mixer properties and fill level on the granular flow of monodisperse, cohesionless spheres in a bladed mixer. For fill levels just covering the span of the blades, a three-dimensional (3-D) recirculation zone develops in front of the blades, which promotes vertical and radial mixing. Increasing fill level reduces the size of the recirculation zone, decreases bed dilation and hinders particle diffusivities. However, above a critical fill level, the behavior of the particles within the span of the blade is found to be invariant of fill level. At low-fill levels, the pressure within the particle bed varies linearly with bed height and can be approximated by hydrostatics. At higher fill levels, a constant pressure region develops within the span of the blades due to the angled pitch of the blades. Cylinder wall friction is shown to significantly influence granular behavior in bladed mixers. At low-wall friction, the 3-D recirculation zone observed for high-wall friction conditions does not develop. High-wall friction leads to an increase in convective and diffusive particle mixing. Shear stresses are shown to be a function of wall friction. Blade position along the vertical axis is shown to influence flow patterns, granular temperature and stress. The effect of increasing the mixer diameter at a constant particle diameter was also studied. When the mixer diameter is larger than a critical size such that wall effects are minimized, the observed granular behavior follows simple scaling relations. Particle velocities and diffusivities scale linearly with mixer size and blade speed. Normal and shear stress profiles are found to scale linearly with the total weight of the particle bed. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010 [source]


    Continuous process for production of hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber using a Kenics® KMX static mixer reactor

    AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 11 2009
    Chandra Mouli R. Madhuranthakam
    Abstract A continuous process for hydrogenating nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) was developed and its performance was experimentally investigated. A Kenics® KMX static mixer (SM) is used in the process as a gas,liquid reactor in which gaseous hydrogen reacts with NBR in an organic solution catalyzed by an organometallic complex such as an osmium complex catalyst. The Kenics® KMX SM was designed with 24 mixing elements with 3.81 cm diameter and arranged such that the angle between two neighboring elements is 90°. The internal structure of each element is open blade with the blades being convexly curved. The dimensions of the SM reactor are: 3.81 cm ID 80 S and 123 cm length and was operated cocurrently with vertical upflow. The NBR solutions of different concentrations (0.418 and 0.837 mol/L with respect to [CC]) were hydrogenated by using different concentrations of the osmium catalyst solution at various residence times. The reactions were conducted at a constant temperature of 138°C and at a constant pressure of 3.5 MPa. From the experimental results, it is observed that a conversion and/or degree of hydrogenation above 95% was achieved in a single pass from the designed continuous process. This is the first continuous process for HNBR production that gives conversions above 95% till date. Optimum catalyst concentration for a given mean residence time to achieve conversions above 95% were obtained. Finally, a mechanistic model for the SM reactor performance with respect to hydrogenation of NBR was proposed and validated with the obtained experimental results. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source]


    Analysis and optimization of low-pressure drop static mixers

    AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 9 2009
    Mrityunjay K. Singh
    Abstract Various designs of the so called Low-Pressure Drop (LPD) static mixer are analyzed for their mixing performance using the mapping method. The two types of LPD designs, the RR and RL type, show essentially different mixing patterns. The RL design provides globally chaotic mixing, whereas the RR design always yields unmixed regions separated by KAM boundaries from mixed regions. The crossing angle between the elliptical plates of the LPD is the key design parameter to decide the performance of various designs. Four different crossing angles from 90° to 160° are used for both the RR and RL designs. Mixing performance is computed as a function of the energy to mix, reflected in overall pressure drop for all designs. Optimization using the flux-weighted intensity of segregation versus pressure drop proves the existence of the best mixer with an optimized crossing angle. The optimized angle proves to be indeed the LLPD design used in practice: the RL-120 with , = 120°, although RL-140 , = 140° performs as good. Shear thinning shows minor effects on the mixing profiles, and the main optimization conclusions remain unaltered. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source]


    NETmix®, a new type of static mixer: Modeling, simulation, macromixing, and micromixing characterization

    AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 9 2009
    Paulo E. Laranjeira
    Abstract NETmix® is a new technology for static mixing based on a network of chambers connected by channels. The NETmix® model is the basis of a flow simulator coupled with chemical reaction used to characterize macro and micromixing in structured porous media. The chambers are modeled as perfectly mixing zones and the channels as plug flow perfect segregation zones. A segregation parameter is introduced as the ratio between the channels volume and the whole network volume. Different kinetics and reactants injection schemes can be implemented. Results show that the number of rows in the flow direction and the segregation parameter control both macro and micromixing, but the degree of micromixing is also controlled by the reactants injection scheme. The NETmix® model enables the systematic study of micromixing and macromixing for different network structures and reaction schemes, enabling the design of network structures to ensure the desired yield and selectivity. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source]


    Discrete element simulation of free flowing grains in a four-bladed mixer

    AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 8 2009
    Brenda Remy
    Abstract Numerical simulations of granular flow in a cylindrical vessel agitated by a four-blade impeller were performed using the discrete element method. Velocity, density, and stress profiles within the mixer displayed a periodic behavior with a fluctuation frequency equal to that of the blade rotation. Blade orientation was found to affect flow patterns and mixing kinetics. For an obtuse blade pitch orientation, a three-dimensional recirculation zone develops in-front of the blade due to formation of heaps where the blades are present. This flow pattern promotes vertical and radial mixing. No recirculation zone was observed when the blade orientation was changed to an acute blade pitch. The system's frictional characteristics are shown to strongly influence the granular behavior within the mixer. At low friction coefficients, the 3-D recirculation in front of the obtuse blade is not present reducing convective mixing. Higher friction coefficients lead to an increase in granular temperature which is associated with an increase in diffusive mixing. Normal and shear stresses were found to vary with mixer height with maximum values near the bottom plate. Additionally, a strong dependence between the magnitude of the shear stresses and the friction coefficient of the particles was found. The stress tensor characteristics indicate that the granular flow in our simulations occurs in the quasi-static regime. At the same time, the averaged pressure was found to vary linearly with bed height and could be predicted by a simple hydrostatic approximation. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source]


    Agglomeration modeling of small and large particles by a diffusion theory approach

    AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 5 2009
    Alvaro Realpe
    Abstract The interaction particle-binder during the wet granulation process plays a major role in the agglomeration of particles. This interaction has been modeled by a force balance acting on the particle where the binder's viscous force increases the strength of liquid bridge and facilitates the particle agglomeration. In this work, agglomeration kernels based on Brownian movement approach of small particles in the binder layer, the size ratio between particles (monodispersed and polydispersed), and binder's viscous forces were considered to model the wet granulation process of pharmaceutical powders in a laboratory-scale high shear mixer. The assumptions of no-stationary and pseudostationary behavior were suitable to describe the growth kinetics of the two stages (fast and slow) observed. A volume ratio of 150 between large and small particles produces the most effective granulation growth. The developed kernels were tested simulating experimental data obtained from a high shear mixer. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source]


    Hydrogenation of 2-ethylanthraquinone under Taylor flow in single square channel monolith reactors

    AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009
    Dingsheng Liu
    Abstract The hydrogenation of 2-ethylanthraquinone (EAQ) to 2-ethylanthrahydroquinone (EAHQ) was carried out under Taylor flow in single square channel monolith reactors. The two opening ends of opaque reaction channel were connected with two circular transparent quartz-glass capillaries, where Taylor flow hydrodynamics parameters were measured and further used to obtain practical flow state of reactants in square reaction channels. A carefully designed gas-liquid inlet mixer was used to supply steady gas bubbles and liquid slugs with desired length. The effects of various operating parameters, involving superficial gas velocity, superficial liquid velocity, gas bubble length, liquid slug length, two-phase velocity and temperature, on EAQ conversion were systematically researched. Based on EAQ conversion, experimental overall volumetric mass transfer coefficients were calculated, and also studied as functions of various parameters as mentioned earlier. The film model, penetration model, and existing semi-empirical formula were used to predict gas-solid, gas-liquid, and liquid-solid volumetric mass transfer coefficients in Taylor flow, respectively. The predicted overall volumetric mass transfer coefficients agreed well with the experimental ones. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source]


    Poster Sessions AP13: Novel Techniques and Technologies

    JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 2002
    J. K. Yao
    Studies of the antioxidant defense system and the monoamine metabolic pathways are often complicated by cumbersome analytical methods, which require separate and multistep extraction and chemical reaction procedures. Thus, measurements of multiple parameters are limited in relatively small biological samples. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with a Coulometric Multi-Electrode Array System (CMEAS) provides us a convenient and most sensitive tool to measure low molecular weight, redox-active compounds in biological sample. The deproteinized sample was analyzed on a HPLC coupled with a 16-channel CMEAS, which incremented from 60 to 960 mV in 60 mV steps. Each sample was run on a single column (Meta-250, 4.6 × 250 mm) under a 150-minute complex gradient that ranged from 0% B (A: 1.1% pentane sulfonic acid) to 20% B (B: 0.1 m lithium acetate in mixture of methanol, acetonenitrile and isopropanol), with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. We have developed an automated procedure to simultaneously measure various antioxidant, oxidative stress marker, and monoamine metabolites in a single column with binary gradient. No other chemical reactions are necessary. In order to reduce the running time and yet achieve a reproducible retention time by the autosampler injection, our gradient elution profile was modified to produce a shorter equilibration time and to compensate for the initial contamination of mobile phase B following the first injection. Without the use of two columns in series and peak suppresser/gradient mixer, we have simplified the previously published method to measure over 20 different antioxidants, oxidative stress markers and monoamine metabolites simultaneously in biological samples. [source]


    Characterization of granular flow of wet solids in a bladed mixer

    AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 8 2006
    Azzeddine Lekhal
    Abstract In this study, we measure instantaneous, average, and fluctuating velocity fields at exposed surfaces for dry and wet grains in a vertical cylindrical mixer, agitated by four pitched blades. When the material is dry, the free surface of the granular bed deforms, rising where the blades are present, and falling between blade passes. Although average velocities are predominantly azimuthal, instantaneous velocities tracked in time reveal three-dimensional particle circulations, including significant periods of particle motion in the opposite direction to that of the blades, indicative of bed penetration. When moisture is added to the solid particles, the flow dynamics change from a regime dominated by the motion of individual grains to a regime controlled by the motion of small clumps that form as a result of the cohesive forces. This transition is characterized by a reduced particle,particle collision frequency and exhibits a sharp decrease in the granular temperature at the free surface. This transition is also characterized by an increase in bed porosity, which is attributed to increased cohesiveness arising from liquid bridges. A Fourier transform analysis conducted on the tangential component of the velocities (dominant flow) shows that a group of high frequencies exceeding the blade rotation frequency become significant with added moisture. These are characteristics of the large number of wet agglomerates flowing between successive blade passes. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006 [source]