Mixing hydrodynamics in a double planetary mixer

The mixing hydrodynamics in a double planetary mixer is investigated numeri cally and experimentally over the course of a cross-linking reaction. Using various visualization techniques, it is shown that this mixer provides goo d radial dispersion capabilities but poor axial (top-to-bottom) pumping, ir respective of the viscosity level. The power drawn by the mixer evolves dra matically from about 180 W m(-3) at 40% conversion up to approximately 4 kW m(-3) at 85% conversion. Overall, the numerical predictions and the experi mental results exhibit good agreement although at 85% conversion, the numer ical model is not accurate enough to predict adequately the power consumpti on due to physical phenomena not considered in the computations.