Modelling the effect of continuous mixer operating parameters on mixture quality

The aim of the research was to obtain a regression model of the influence of some structural and kinematic parameters of a continuous mixer working element on the quality of the prepared mixture. The research methodology included the analysis of the design of the mixing unit and the identification of factors that could significantly affect the quality of the mixture. Later, on the basis of the experimental studies, the quality of the mixture at given values of factors was determined and a regression model was established. The developed functional diagram of a continuous mixing unit made it possible to establish factors that most intensively affected the quality of the prepared mixture. The obtained adequate regression model of the coefficient of variation of the content of the control component in the samples of the mixture indicated an improvement in the quality of the mixture with an increase in the frequency of rotation of the mixers and the number of the arms levels. In terms of quality indicators, a rotation frequency of about 1500 rpm was most preferable with a number of mixer levels of at least 5

Regression model of the influence of the height of drum mixer blades on the quality of mixture

The aim of the research was to establish the influence of the number and height of blades of a drum mixer on the quality of the prepared mixture of concentrated feed. The research method of the drum mixer provided for the experimental determination of the coefficient of variation (unevenness) of the mixture with a three-level combination of the blades height and their number. The absence of an extremum according to the obtained data required the use of a fourth level of the number of blades. Computer processing of the results made it possible to establish a functional dependence of the influence of design factors on the quality of the mixture. The implementation of the used research methodology for the operation of the drum mixer made it possible to establish an adequate functional dependence of the influence of the number of blades and their height on the quality of the mixture. The number of blades used practically does not affect the coefficient of variation of the content of the control component. The values change less than experimental error. However, existing trends indicate a slight (about 1%) decrease in the coefficient of variation of the mixture with an increase in the number of blades from 2 to 8 pcs. For 50 kg of feed in a drum capacity of 0.26 m3, the height of the blades is about 0.15 m. The increase or decrease in the height to 0.125 m or 0.175 m affects the quality of the mixture, increasing the coefficient of variation from 20.6% to 34-50% at the proportion of the control component of 1% and the mixing time of 200 seconds