Particle Technology and Fluidization

A general procedure for obtaining the evolving particle-size distribution of flocculating suspensions

  1. Y. Leong Yeow1,*,
  2. Jong-Leng Liow2,
  3. Yee-Kwong Leong3

Article first published online: 14 DEC 2011

DOI: 10.1002/aic.13710

Issue

AIChE Journal

AIChE Journal

Volume 58, Issue 10, pages 3043–3053, October 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Yeow, Y. L., Liow, J.-L. and Leong, Y.-K. (2012), A general procedure for obtaining the evolving particle-size distribution of flocculating suspensions. AIChE J., 58: 3043–3053. doi: 10.1002/aic.13710

Author Information

  1. 1

    Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia

  2. 2

    School of Engineering and Information Technology, Australian Defence Force Academy, The University of New South Wales, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

  3. 3

    School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia

*Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 10 SEP 2012
  2. Article first published online: 14 DEC 2011
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 28 NOV 2011 12:31PM EST
  4. Manuscript Revised: 22 NOV 2011
  5. Manuscript Received: 24 JUN 2011

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (559K)

Keywords:

  • flocculation;
  • particulate processes;
  • particle-size distribution;
  • integro-differential equation;
  • Method of Lines

Abstract

A numerical procedure has been developed to solve the population balance equation (PBE) for the flocculation of colloidal suspensions. It has the flexibility to cope with different flocculation kinetics and spread in particle volume. The two key steps in this procedure are the adoption of the logarithm of particle volume as the independent variable and the implementation of uniform discretization in the logarithmic domain. Together they allow the PBE to be represented accurately over the entire particle range overcoming the failure of the popular geometric discretization scheme to represent the PBE satisfactorily for large particles. The Method of Lines is used to convert the PBE from an integro-differential equation into a set of first-order ordinary differential equations, which is then integrated using commercial scientific computing software. The procedure has been tested for different kinetics and initial particle distributions. Preservation of particulate volume of between 1 and 8% is consistently observed. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 58: 3043–3053, 2012

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (559K)