Blending performance of the coupled Ross static mixer and vertical feed mixer - Discrete element model approach

The mixing quality of the pigeon diet mix was studied after the mixing in the Ross-type static mixer (pre-mixer) and the vertical feed mixer (final mixer in the line). Three different experiments were performed: firstly, the possibilities of static mixer were investigated, secondly the blending performance of the vertical feed mixer, and the combination of these approaches in the third experiment. The Discrete Element Method was used in numerical modelling of granular flow in the pre-mixer and the vertical feed mixer, to predict the inter-particle mixing quality, and the results of the mixing. The results of the model were compared with appropriate experiments. The main goal was to foresee the behaviour of mixture in two type of mixers and to evaluate the combined mixing action of these two mixers, in order to explore the possibilities to increase the mixing quality, shorten the mixing time and to reduce the energy consumption.