Three Dimensional Numerical Study of Flow Fields in Parallel Arranged Tri-screw Extruders

摘要

The flow of polyethylene melt in new parallel arranged tri-screw extruder (PATE) is analyzed by using finite element method (FEM). The pressure, velocity and viscosity fields in conveying element of PATE are calculated. Based on above results, the post-processing program is employed to calculate the extrusion characteristics of the PATE. The results show that the polymer melt in intermeshing regions of the PATSE have relative big pressure and velocity gradients and flows through two intermeshing regions with the screws rotation a circuit. It makes the PATSE has higher efficiency of plasticization and mixing than traditional twin screw extruder. The PATE has excellent applied abilities in the aspect of material transportation, distributive and dispersive mixing ability.