The mesh superposition technique in our POLYFLOW software is used to simulate the action of a planetary mixer. The equipment, which consists of a 250 mm diameter tank and two counter-rotating blades (265 mm high by 135 mm wide), is used to mix dough. Each blade rotates at 15 rpm, as does the upper support that holds them. The animation shows the trajectories of massless particles during several turns of the blades. From these particle trajectories, POLYFLOW can calculate the distributive mixing index (a quantitative measure of mixing efficiency). A comparison of the equipment performance using straight blades (shown) and twisted blades determined that the twisted blades provide better distributive mixing over time.

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