Fully-3D DEM simulation of fluidised bed spray granulation using an exploratory surface energy-based spray zone concept

摘要

An exploratory spray-zone modelling concept which uses energy of adhesion at the contact of particles has been incorporated in a fully-3D Discrete Element Method(DEM)-based granular dynamics fluidised bed model and applied to fluidised bed spray granulation.In this'proof-of-concept'spray model,simple functional relationships are used to notionally model surface energy pick-up by particles traversing the spray zone and an increase in energy of adhesion at drying interparticle bonds.The formation and breakage of interparticle bonds is thus governed by theoretical contact mechanics.Early-stage granulation simulation results provide qualitatively realistic granule size evolution trends.