Optimization of 2K-mixer for Paint

Abstract

This work presents a parametric study of a 2K-mixer for paint application that utilizes static mixers for mixing two component paint applied on a car body. The mixers is installed in a specialized valve block giving it the ability to mix together two component paint by cutting, folding, twisting and recombining the the fluid elements in the direction transverse to the main flow. The specialized block valve has the ability to quickly change the color if the next car body requires a different paint color. It is done by a cleaning process, where the mixed paint inside the mixer is wasted. To limit the waste of paint, this paper investigates the improvements that can be done to the block valve to ensure satisfactory mixing quality and less paint waste