Incipient spray fluidized bed agglomeration at the border to coating

The project aims to track the border between spray fluidized bed agglomeration and coating, which are the important key processes for advanced particle engineering. We will investigate experimentally agglomeration in the vicinity of this border (borderline agglomeration), focusing on the starting period of it (incipient agglomeration), in which dimers (to single particles stacked together) are formed from primary particles. The main focus is on simplest agglomerate structure and clearest conditions of spray fluidized bed agglomeration process. The process will also be described by modeling. Here, we can capitalize on own Monte Carlo models, which are stochastic and discrete, able of representing micro-scale events and processes. The goal is to radically improve these models. So the crucial model constituents will be revised, namely the sub-models for breakage and drying, based on separate experiments without spraying (for breakage) or without binder in the spray (for drying). The criterion for aggregation or rebound after wet collision will also be revisited, though still based on normal momentum dissipation. The improved model will provide direct and unconditional access to the agglomeration-coating border, making regime maps obsolete.