Passage® DEM - Granulation Process Capabilities
For modeling approach for granulation process, a practical solution may
require computation of motion of billions of particles. Just using DEM
models are not practical for full scale modeling. We use both DEM Models
(micro-scale) and Continuum Models (macro-scale) for granulation. We predict
macroscopic material properties of from microscopic properties.
Technalysis offers engineering services and software for both
fluidized bed granulation and high shear granulation processes:
Fluidized Bed Granulation
- In the fluidized bed granulation, the powder to be granulated is
suspended in the heated air of a fluid bed, and a liquid binder sprayed from
nozzles positioned above.
- An impeller is used for agitation of particles.
- Agglomeration or layering of particles provide granule growth which
occurs in following steps:
- A wet particle collides with another particle and a bound is formed
by a liquid bridge.
- Bond is solidified during the subsequent drying period.
- A two-fluid-nozzle can spray upwards into the fluidized bed, and wetted
particles may be transported pneumatically by the nozzle air.
- Particles dry and fall down in the outer regions of the bed. Hence, a
drying zone above the fluidized bed is formed.
- The high-shear granulation process combines the active powder with a
binder solution using a high-speed mixing blade and chopper.
- Extremely high shear forces compared with other granulators.
- It may be applicable to powders which can not be processed
in low shear mixers/fluid bed granulators.
- An impeller is used for mixing, a chopper is used for chopping of
particles. Liquid is added to the container.
- Drying process follows the wet granulation process.
Passage DEM granulation process capabilities
- Mixing of dry and wet particles
- Chopping and agglomeration of particles
- Multi-phase flows with liquid and solid.
- Containers with multiple impellers with complex shapes
Steps for Modeling of Granulation
- Run simple computational experiments with DEM models using the
material properties required for DEM analysis,
- Run continuum models for the same simple experiments,
- By comparing two solutions determine the material properties for the
- Run the continuum model with these properties.
- These simple numerical experiments can also be supported with
to learn more about