• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.549-556
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• 2005

Effects of the dimensionless variables on the heat transport phenomena in the extrusion process of a single screw extruder have been studied numerically. Based on the understanding of the solids conveying related to the geometrical structure and characteristics of the screw, the heat balance equation for the solids conveying zone was established and normalized. The finite volume method and power-law scheme were applied to derive a discretized equation and the equation was solved using the alternating direction iterative method with relaxation. Effects of the dimensionless parameters, Biot and Peclet numbers, that define the heat transfer characteristics of the solids conveying zone have been investigated with respect to the temperature of the feeding zone and the length of the solids conveying zone. As the Biot number is increased, the heat loss by cooling dominates to decrease the temperature of the barrel but it has little effects on the temperature of the solids bed and the length of the solids conveying zone. On the other hand, if the Peclet number is increased, the convection term dominates to decrease the temperature of the solids bed and it results in an increase in the length of the solids conveying zone.