Bladed mixers are widely used for processing granular materials where
significant mechanical energy is required to produce the desired blend.
Some mechanical energy is dissipated within the granular medium,
generating heat during this process. However, our knowledge of the heat
generation mechanisms without external thermal loads is still lacking.
This study uses an overhead stirrer to mix granular materials and
investigate heat generation by monitoring the temperature changes in the
granular bed. Additionally, first-order kinetic equations are used to
extrapolate the experimental data to a thermal equilibrium where the
heat generation and heat loss rates are equal. Lead, steel, and glass
particles are used under various operating conditions. It is observed
that metallic particles heat up faster owing to their lower heat
capacity. Also, increasing the rotation speed, fill ratio and particle
size result in a greater temperature increase. Moreover, flat blades
induce more heat generation compared to tilted blades.