NUMERICAL NONISOTHERMAL FLOW-ANALYSIS OF NON-NEWTONIAN FLUID IN NONINTERMESHING COUNTER-ROTATING TWIN-SCREW EXTRUDER

A simulation technique for nonisothermal flow analysis of non-Newtonian fluid in a nonintermeshing counter-rotating twin screw extruder was developed by modifying the flow analysis network (FAN) method. The local shear viscosity in the flow field was calculated by an iteration method combing the three types of mean shear rate functions. The modified Cross model and an Arrhenius-type function for temperature dependence were also introduced. Streamlines in the flow field are represented by computing the movements of fluid particles based on the flux fields. The computed residence time from the streamlines led us to solve the energy equation by replacing the coordinate system. The profiles of pressure, shear rate, shear viscosity, temperature, and residence time were simulated. The influence of operating and geometrical parameters on the screw characteristics are discussed. Further, residence time distribution (RTD), strain distribution function (SDF), and interfacial area growth are predicted from the computation of streamlines to analyze the mixing capabilities of the extruder.