Mathematical Modelling of Granulation Processes

ISBN-13: 9783639019773 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 188 str.

Patrick Rynhart

Opis

This thesis studies wet granulation on threedifferent levels. First, micro-level investigationsof liquid bridges between two and three particles areperformed. For the two-particle case, the fluidprofile of static (stationary) and dynamic (moving)liquid bridges are investigated. Static liquidbridges between three equally sized primary particlesare then studied; the symmetry of the problem is usedto obtain a numerical solution to the Young-Laplaceequation. Secondly, a model to estimate thestickiness (fractional wet surface area) ofagglomerates is proposed. The model includesparameters to control the inter-particle separationdistance and the fluid saturation state.Computational geometry is used to obtain resultswhich relate the number of particles and the volumeof binder fluid to the stickiness of theagglomerates. Finally, a population balance model forwet granulation is developed by extending an earliermodel to incorporate the effects of binder fluid. Themodel is solved numerically for a range ofcoalescence kernels and results are presented whichshow the effect of binder volume and the drying rate.

O autorze

Patrick completed BSc(Hons) and PhD degrees in Mathematical
Physics at Massey University, New Zealand and later worked as a
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Institute of Fundamental Sciences,
Massey University. Patrick has a range of technical expertise in
the areas of parallel/high performance computing and scientific
software.