Numerical analysis of internal flow and mixing performance in polymer extruder I: single screw element

We analyzed the non-Newtonian and non-isothermal flow in a single screw extruder system and investigated the mixing performance with respect to the screw speed and the screw pitch. The viscosity of polymer melt was described with Carreau-Yasuda model. The mixing performance was computed numerically by tracking the motions of particles in the screw element system. The extent of mixing was characterized in terms of the deformation rate, the residence time distribution, and the strain. The results revealed that the high screw speed reduces the residence time but increases the deformation rate while the small screw pitch increases the residence time. It is concluded that the high screw speed increases the dispersive mixing performance and the small screw pitch increases the distributive mixing performance.