A Novel Method for Predicting Product Properties in Fluidized Bed Spray Granulation

Fluidized bed spray granulation is a process that facilities particle size enlargement by injecting solids in the form of a suspension, solution or melt. The produced particles are often of high value due to their highly specific, functionalized nature. This work provides a method for utilizing particle-scale simulations method like the coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) to predict the properties of particles produced in scaled-up apparatuses based on laboratory-scale experiments by correlating the conditions that particle experience to the properties they develop. Furthermore, a method for calibrating DEM models of weakly wetted particle systems by utilizing a novel, probabilistic liquid bridge state model is proposed.