Technical Report 158, c4e-Preprint Series, Cambridge
Compartmental residence time estimation in batch granulators using a colourimetric image analysis algorithm and Discrete Element Modelling
Reference: Technical Report 158, c4e-Preprint Series, Cambridge, 2016
- An experimental method/colourimetric algorithm for the estimation of coloured particle volume fractions in regions of a batch granulator is presented.
- The algorithm is coupled with a mixing model to obtain residence times within key regions of system.
- The performance of the combined algorithm/model is assessed using three distinct granular test cases.
In this paper we present an experimental technique and a novel colourimetric
image analysis algorithm to economically evaluate particle residence times within
regions of batch granulators for use in compartmental population balance models.
Residence times are extracted using a simple mixing model in conjunction with
colourimetric data. The technique is applied to the mixing of wet coloured gran-
ules (binary and tertiary systems) in a laboratory scale mixer. The resulting particle
concentration evolutions were in qualitative agreement with those from the mixing
model. It was seen that the algorithm was most stable in the case of the binary colour
experiments. Lastly, simulations using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) were
also performed to further validate the experimental results. Particle concentrations
from the simulations were in good agreement with the experimental results.
Material from this preprint has been published in Advanced Powder Technology.
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