Fully-3D DEM simulation of fluidised bed spray granulation using an exploratory surface energy-based spray zone concept

David Kafui, Colin Thornton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An exploratory spray-zone modelling concept which uses energy of adhesion at the contact of particles has been incorporated in a fully-3D Discrete Element Method (DEM)-based granular dynamics fluidised bed model and applied to fluidised bed spray granulation. In this 'proof-of-concept' spray model, simple functional relationships are used to notionally model surface energy pick-up by particles traversing the spray zone and an increase in energy of adhesion at drying interparticle bonds. The formation and breakage of interparticle bonds is thus governed by theoretical contact mechanics. Early-stage granulation simulation results provide qualitatively realistic granule size evolution trends. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)177-188
Number of pages12
JournalPowder Technology
Volume184
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2008

Keywords

  • discrete element method
  • fluidised bed
  • spray zone
  • granulation

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