Passive acoustic emissions application to a segregation prone mixture in a V-blender

Powder mixing is an important manufacturing step in many industries. The quality of the end product critically depends on mixing the powders to a specified degree of uniformity. Segregation due to particle size has been observed in V-blenders. Vibrations from passive acoustic emissions were measured during rotations of a V- blender using both glass beads and starch granules of different sizes. The vibrations from particle collisions with the V-shell lid, measured by an accelerometer attached to the lid, provided information about particle movement within the V-shell. The vibrations identified “left-right” segregation by 50 rotations, with the smaller particles segregated into the outer arm and the larger particles into the inner arm. This pattern was attributed to a trajectory segregation mechanism. The profile created from the vibrations of the passive acoustic emissions also identified the point at which the mixture becomes stable, which is important in optimizing mixing processes. [Display omitted] •Passive acoustic emissions are measured by a sensor on the lid of a V-blender.•Passive acoustic emissions from collisions reflect particle size and flow.•Left-right pattern of segregation by size occurs in the V-blender.•Passive acoustic emissions identify segregation and mixing time.