Modeling Fluid Dynamics and Growth Kinetics in Fluidized Bed Spray Granulation

Abstract

Fluidized bed spray granulation is used to produce spherical granules from suspensions, solutions and melts. Experimental investigations revealed that fluid dynamics in the granulator plays a crucial role, in particular in the jet. The jet causes the particle movement as well as drop propagation and deposition on the particles. In this work the “Two Fluid Model” (TFM) is used to simulate the multiphase fluid dynamics in the fluidized bed. The results of simulations were validated by measuring the particle velocity using Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV). From the TFM-simulations with implemented growth mechanisms the growth kinetics is obtained and is used to describe the transient states of various granulation processes by solving the appropriate population balances.