Modelling transverse mixing in a rolling drum

In this paper, a new model of transverse mixing in a rotating drum is derived from dynamic data collected from an experimental rig. Since the active layer has often been declared as the zone that is responsible for the mixing of solids in a rolling bed, the active layer was characterized so that its properties could be predicted for a wide range of experimental conditions. The mixing model consisted of two correlations, one to predict the mixing rate in the drum and the other to predict the final contact between the two materials. These correlations were linked back to the operational variables of the drum, such as the drumis loading, size and rotational velocity. By combining these two correlations the time required to fully mix the material in the drum could be predicted. The mixing model was tested against independent data and good agreement was observed between the experimentally derived results and those predicted by the mixing model. Furthermore, this mixing model was designed such that it would be easily applicable to different sized drums. The extrapolation ability was tested on different smaller-sized drums and found to agree considerably with experimental results.