Effect of droplet size on particle-particle adhesion of colliding particles through droplet

Abstract

In a fluidized bed spray granulation, a particle-particle adhesion by a liquid bridge, which shows dynamic motion due to moving particles, is the most fundamental phenomenon. Therefore, understanding of the particle-particle adhesion by such a dynamic liquid bridge is very important to elucidate mechanisms of particle agglomeration phenomenon in the wet granulation. In this study, the particle-particle adhesion phenomenon at the individual particle scale was analyzed using a direct numerical simulation. Collision of two particles mediated by binder droplets on a particle surface was simulated. In particular, the effect of droplet size under constant total liquid volume on adhesiveness of two colliding particles was investigated. In the present simulation, multiple liquid bridges were simultaneously formed, and these liquid bridges coalesced into single liquid bridge. The simulation results exhibited that the adhesiveness of particles increased with a decrease in the droplet diameter under a constant total liquid volume. In an initial stage of the particle growth in a fluidized bed spray granulation, the tendency of the calculations was consistent with experimental results. We revealed that the capillary pressure force and shapes of the liquid bridge are key factors for particle-particle adhesion at different droplet sizes under constant total liquid volume.