Studies on population balance equation involving aggregation and growth terms via symmetries

Abstract

Abstract The population balance equation (PBE) is one of the most popular integro-differential equations modeled for several industrial processes. The solution to this equation is usually solved using a numerical approach as the analytical solutions of such equations are not obtained easily. Typically, the available analytical solutions are limited and are based on momentous Laplace transform. In this study, the reduced equations of the PBE are obtained via the group analysis method. Two particulate cases involving aggregation, growth and nucleation are selected, the determining equations are solved and the reduced equations are solved via approximate methods. The approximate method involves the target solution of the nonlinear evolution equation, here the PBE, to be expressed as a polynomial in an elementary function which satisfies a particular ordinary differential equation termed as an auxiliary equation.