Title: Reduction of Mixture Property Variation Through Control on Initial Mixing Dynamics
Author: Marcelo Arispe-Guzman
Date/Time: November 20, 2020 9:00am-11:00am
Examining Committee:
Professor David Bigio, Chair
Professor Balakumar Balachandran
Professor Peter Chung
Professor Ryan Sochol
Zoom Link: https://umd.zoom.us/j/5898885184
Abstract: Blend homogenization of a liquid-solid mixtures is achieved through mixer agitation which disperses the liquids and breaks up the agglomerates. Creating energetic or pharmaceutical blends requires a very low degree of mixture variation in the final product. Initial solid-liquid feeding protocols into the mixer greatly affect the ability to achieve low variation at minimal energy input. Experiments in a vertically oscillating mixer using dyed silicon oil and glass beads examined the effect of feed protocols, while varying acceleration and the number of cycles. A Central Composite Design (CCD) DOE revealed that the percent homogeneity and coefficient of variation measures of mixing are linearly dependent on acceleration and number of cycles. Experimental observations lead us to redefine the model for breakup of wet agglomerates. This study offers a starting point to developing feed protocols to improve the efficiency of oscillating mixers, such as the resonant acoustic mixer (RAM), for liquid-solid mixing.