Numerical investigation of droplet pre-dispersion in a monodisperse droplet spray dryer--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Xiao, J., Li, Y., George, O. A., Li, Z., Yang, S., Woo, M. W., . . . Chen, X. D. (2018). Numerical investigation of droplet pre-dispersion in a monodisperse droplet spray dryer. Particuology, 38, 44-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2017.04.008

Numerical investigation of droplet pre-dispersion in a monodisperse droplet spray dryer

Jie Xiao ^a *, Yang Li ^a, Oluwafemi Ayodele George ^{a 1}, Zhihao Li ^{a 1}, Shujun Yang ^a¹, Meng Wai Woo ^b, Winston Duo Wu ^a, Xiao Dong Chen ^a *

a Suzhou Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province 215123, China
b Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Victoria, Australia

10.1016/j.partic.2017.04.008

Volume 38, June 2018, Pages 44-60

Received 16 February 2017, Revised 5 April 2017, Accepted 22 April 2017, Available online 18 August 2017, Version of Record 2 April 2018.

E-mail: jie.xiao@suda.edu.cn; llj.xiao@gmail.com; xdchen@mail.suda.edu.cn

Highlights

• Droplet dispersion in the dispersion chamber of a monodisperse droplet spray dryer was analyzed.

• The influence of operational conditions on droplet dispersion was investigated.

• Simulated data may be useful for improving design of dispersion chamber and operating conditions.

Abstract

Monodisperse droplet spray dryers have great advantages in particle formation through spray drying because of their ability to produce uniform sized particles. Experimental analyses of this system have shown that droplets atomized through the piezoceramic nozzle need to be sufficiently well dispersed before entering the drying chamber to achieve sufficiently dried particles. However, the dispersion dynamics cannot be readily observed because of experimental limitations, and key factors influencing the dispersion state currently remain unclear. This study carried out numerical simulations for droplet dispersions in the dispersion chamber, which allow this important process to be visualized. The systematic and quantitative analyses on the dispersion states provide valuable data for improving the design of the dispersion chamber, and optimizing the spray drying operation.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Spray drying; Monodisperse droplet spray dryer; Droplet dispersion; CFD simulation; Reaction engineering approach (REA); Discrete phase model (DPM)

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