Control of particle size distributions in spray dryers with two-fluid nozzles

dc.contributor.authorBakker, H. H. C.en
dc.date.accessioned2013-05-14T02:23:59Z
dc.date.available2013-05-14T02:23:59Z
dc.date.issued1988en
dc.description.abstractA tall-form spray dryer, equipped with a Spraying Systems ¼ J, full-cone, two-fluid nozzle, was instrumented and commissioned for the purpose of investigating control of the spray droplet size distribution and the effect of such control on the product powder properties. A Malvern Instruments Particle Sizer provided online measurement of the droplet size distribution. The volume-surface mean diameter of pure water and 2wgt% sodium nitrate sprays was successfully controlled by a software-based, proportional-integral controller. Electron microscope photographs indicated that control of the powder volume-surface mean diameter might be achieved but was not attainable with the available equipment. The distribution log span measurement proved too noisy to control adequately. A theoretical model of the variation in droplet volume concentration and droplet diameter as functions of radial distance from the spray axis was developed using laser-obscuration data from the Particle Sizer. Errors in the measured volume-surface mean diameter and log span of up to 50% were predicted as a result of radial non-homogeneities in the spray. Use of the model in a control algorithm would allow control of the true volume-surface mean diameter and log span. The evolution of the volume-surface mean diameter and the log span, as functions of axial distance from the atomizing nozzle, were measured. The volume-surface mean diameter was found to decrease as droplet breakup occurred, pass through a sharp minimum and increase with droplet agglomeration. The distribution log span increased with droplet breakup, decreased as droplets agglomerated and increased again with drying. Electron micrographs of dried sodium nitrate sprays showed evidence of two distinct drying mechanisms resulting in predominantly porous spheres or dense, crystalline particles.The crystalline particles were thought to be produced by a mechanism similar to the graupel formation of snowflakes.en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10092/7703
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.26021/1538
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of Canterbury. Chemical Engineeringen
dc.relation.isreferencedbyNZCUen
dc.rightsCopyright H. H. C. Bakkeren
dc.rights.urihttps://canterbury.libguides.com/rights/thesesen
dc.titleControl of particle size distributions in spray dryers with two-fluid nozzlesen
dc.typeTheses / Dissertations
thesis.degree.disciplineChemical Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Canterburyen
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen
uc.bibnumber237730
uc.collegeFaculty of Engineeringen
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