| Abstract |
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The aim of this work is to evaluate the homogeneity degree of powder mixtures by studying axial and radial profiles, which are developed on a cylinder rotating under cascading regime, and two conditions of initial loaded distribution. The quantification of the internal composition of the mixture over time was obtained by solidification technique coupled to the image processing and analysis. Two sand types with similar properties, except for color, were mixed according to the experimental design. After, a binder was added to solidify sample when the mixing reaches homogeneity, and then it was sliced for taking pictures. The concentration and the homogeneity degree were calculated by statistical analysis based on the standard deviation using image processing and analysis. The fraction of orange particles in the radial zone of each slice is close to 0.5, while increasing the mixing time for both vertical and horizontal distributions, which is the desired value for a mixture having the same amount of two types of particles. The homogeneity degree in the radial profile of mixing with initial horizontal distribution is stabilized at about 30 seconds of operation for all the slices, but the region of radius 4 has lower value of RSD by continuous exchange of particles in this zone. On another hand, the homogeneity degree in the axial profile increases with increasing the mixing time; initially, the particle distribution is bimodal due to segregation of components and finalizing with unimodal particle distribution. |
