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Abstract
The impact of the length of axially segmented lifters, as used in industrial rotary drums, on their process behavior and in particular the axial solids transport is analyzed in this study. Experimental measurements of residence time distributions are carried out with a bare drum, with continuous rectangular lifters and with associated short rectangular lifters. Data analysis is performed with respect to mean residence times, drum capacity or drum load limit (back spillage) and axial dispersion. A significant impact of the axial lifter length was found and a different flow pattern with short lifters including a proposed “pseudo back flow” was observed. In addition to the experimental part, a first calculation approach to estimate the impact of the axial lifter lengths with a proposed efficiency factor is presented as a link to cross sectional considerations from the literature. Finally, first and novel design recommendations regarding the axial lifter length and the installation of front side walls at the lifter blades are derived from these findings.