Crystal growth rate models and similarity of population balances for size-dependent growth rate and for constant growth rate dispersion

Abstract

It is shown that the population balance in a mixed suspension mixed product removal crystallizer (MSMPRC), for the case of constant (initial) crystal growth rate dispersion mechanism, can be transformed into a form similar to that valid for the size-dependent growth rate mechanism. This allows one to interpret the experimental crystal size distribution data resulting from the dispersion in terms of size-dependent mean growth rate. An example of fitting several empirical models of constant growth rate dispersion and of size-dependent growth rate to series of experimental data for aluminum ammonium alum crystallizing from its water solution in the MSMPRC is presented and discussed.