4-way coupling CFD-DEM simulation of particle breakage and classification in a spiral jet mill: A critical analysis

Abstract

Jet-milling is a particle engineering process widely adopted in industrial manufacturing to reduce the particle size of powders. Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations (CFD) coupled with Discrete Element Modelling (DEM) proved to be a valuable tool to tackle the complexity and the non-linearity of particle breakage and classification occurring in mills. To date however, they have been employed to address only single aspects of process design being unable to reproduce it completely. The coupled CFD-DEM simulations presented in this work are for the first time capable of simultaneously describe particle fragmentation, particle-gas interaction and classification. Through coarse-graining, realistic amounts of powder can be simulated allowing to demonstrate/study how the hold-up mass slows down the milling gas affecting classification and thus the milling performance. Bottlenecks/limitations of model and methodology are critically examined to understand what is currently preventing us from creating a digital twin of the milling process.