Method for the Optimisation of Screw Elements for Tightly Intermeshing, Co-rotating Twin Screw Extruders

Abstract

Demanding mixing tasks are usually solved through the use of tightly intermeshing, co-rotating twin screw extruders. Since both the barrel and the screw are of a modular design, the extruder can be optimised for a given task. In the framework of this investigation, the screw-element geometry for tightly intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruders is optimised in order to achieve specific aims. The threaded elements have been optimised for different materials and operating conditions.The investigation set out to achieve a screw-element geometry that would generate the maximum pressure gradient while, at the same time, ensuring that the temperature increase and the power consumption were kept to a minimum. The pressure profile, the temperature progression and the power consumption have been calculated on the basis of one-dimensional models of the type used in the SIGMA process simulation software. The geometrical data of the individual elements was varied with the aid of non-linear algorithms, and the quality of an individual geometry was assessed on the basis of quality functions. Subsequent to the theoretical optimisation, experimental analyses were performed for purposes of verifying the optimisation method used.

Optimization of Polymer Processing: A Review (Part I—Extrusion)

“…Potente and Thümen [ 74 ] applied a gradient method to optimize the radial and flight clearances of conveying screw elements in order to maximize the pressure gradient and minimize the temperature gradient and power consumption.…”

Multi-objective ant colony optimization for the twin-screw configuration problem

“…The authors are unaware of other attempts to develop a scientific methodology to solve the TSCP. Still, Potente et al (2006) addressed the problem of optimizing the geometry of individual screw elements (but not locating them spatially in the shaft) making use of an aggregation of quality functions.…”