Evaluation of the lubrication mechanism at various rotation speeds and granule filling levels in a container mixer using a thermal effusivity sensor

Abstract

To research the detailed mechanism of the lubrication process using the thermal effusivity sensor, the relationships of the lubrication progress with the pattern of powder flow, the rotation speed and the filling level were investigated. The thermal effusivity profile was studied as a function of the number of rotations at various rotation speeds. It was observed that at lower rotation speeds, the profiles of the lubrication progress were almost the same, regardless of the rotation speed. In this region, the highest speed was defined as the critical rotation speed (CRS), which was found to be one of the important factors. The CRS had close relations with avalanche flow in the blender. The first and the second phases were observed in the lubrication process. The first phase was influenced by the CRS and the filling level in the blender. The second phase was influenced by the rotation speed. The mechanism of two-phase process was proposed as a macro progression of the dispersion of the lubricant (first phase) and micro progression of the coating of the powder particles with lubricant (second phase). The accurate monitoring by the thermal effusivity sensor was able to help a better understanding in the lubrication process.

• Magnesium stearate
• mechanism of lubrication process, monitoring lubrication process
• process analytical technology
• thermal effusivity

Aknowledgements

We are grateful to Higuchi Inc. for its offer of Thermal Effusivity Sensor, and Nihon Rufuto Co., Ltd. for its offer of REVOLUTION® Powder Analyzer.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.