Using discrete element method to analyze the mixing of the solid particles in a slant cone mixer

Snapshots of the simulated solid mixture for the side-side initial loading in a slant cone mixer. •Discrete element method (DEM) was employed to explore the mixing of solid particles in a slant cone mixer.•DEM results were validated successfully with the experimental data.•Lacey index was utilized to assess the efficiency of the slant cone mixer.•Mixing efficiency was calculated as a function of the design parameters.•Mixing quality achieved in the co-rotating mode was higher than that in the counter-rotating mode. The slant cone mixer with an intensifier bar is an advanced type of the powder mixer which is a combination of the tumbling and agitator blenders. In this study, the discrete element method (DEM) was employed to investigate the mixing of solid particles in a slant cone mixer. To achieve this goal, the effects of initial loading (side-side, top-bottom, and back-front), drum speed, fill level, and agitator speed on the mixing rate were explored. In addition, the effect of the rotational direction of the agitator in relation to the direction of the drum (co-rotating and counter-rotating) on the mixing performance of the slant cone mixer was studied. In order to provide a mathematical understanding of the mixing rate, Lacey index was utilized. DEM results were validated using experimental data obtained from both sampling and image techniques. DEM simulation results were in good agreement with the experimentally determined data, both qualitatively and quantitatively.