Publication Date

2022

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Pohlman, Nicholas A.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

Rotating tumblers are used in a wide variety of industrial applications from mixing anddeburring to flow regulation and storage. Almost all model tumblers previously analyzed, both theoretically and experimentally, had circular cross sections that produced consistent flowing layer dimensions and steady state flow. In contrast, tumblers with triangular cross sections produced unsteady flow as a direct result of the dynamic dimensions of the flowing surface. Although unsteady, the flow produced in triangular tumblers is periodic every 120◦ of rotation after an initial mixing period. The mechanisms by which the flow characteristics vary as a triangular tumbler rotates and the number of tumbler walls in contact with the flowing layer change, is poorly understood. The primary objective of this work is to determine the effect of orientation, fill level, and tumbler size on flow velocities and flowing layer dimensions. High speed imaging with particle tracking velocimetry is the basis for the experimental data collection. Results indicate that fill level has a dominating effect on the velocity profile while tumbler size has a dominating effect on flow dimensions and velocity amplitudes. Normalization of various flow characteristics reveals a phase shift relation for velocity as a function of tumbler orientation as both fill level and tumbler dimension change.

Extent

184 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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