Application of population balance to modelling particle breakdown in batch homogenizers

Authors:

• Krzysztof Wojtas,
• Radosław Krzosa,
• Radosław Adamek,
• Wojciech Orciuch,
• Łukasz Makowski

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to present a new model that describes particle breakdown in homogenizers with high shear stress. The studies were carried out in a batch tank mixer, both experimentally and using computational fluid dynamics. Homogenizers of this type are characterized by high energy consumption, which is influenced mainly by the process time and system geometry. The research allowed to determine the necessary parameters of the theoretical model, such as starting values (e.g. initial particle size distributions), instantaneous and final values (e.g. particle sizes during and after the homogenization process) or parameters characterizing particles. The developed breakdown kinetics model, which takes into account the suspension rheology, enabled to identify key process parameters and to determine favourable conditions of the homogenization process, and therefore, can be considered as a useful tool in real-life engineering applications.