Physics-Based Spray Dryer model, to help tune parameters and guide spray dryer design Started from a droplet heat model I made for Chad Curtis' University of Washington Chemical Engineering Graduate Mathematics class.
There will be several functionalities of the model, so that it can take either experimental empirical data to generate a matching performance model, or else to generate a predictive model to guide design from first principles.
Similarly, there are several use-cases and purposes that will process and use data for various inputs/outputs, such as guiding overall spray dryer design and purchasing, or improving slurry formulation to acheive a desired outcome, or even tuning control parameters to design a process control and automation setup. Here are just a list of possibly important design inputs needed to make a physics model of the system:
- Dimensions (Width, Cylinder Height, Cone Height)
- Flow profile (Cocurrent, Countercurrent, Fountain...)
- Spray Input Location
- Spray Type and Cone-Shape / velocity calculation profile
- Collection Mechanism (Cyclone Design?) and location...
- Gas flow design and baffles/controls
- Temperature control mechanism and feedback loop timing (delay parameters)
- Thermal insulation (across various locations)
- Solids Content %wt
- Solid materials, or else the bulk parameters of the finished material
- Solvent type (Water, Ethanol...)
- Slurry viscosity + thinning properties
- Material thermal and chemical stability (sugars etc to react?)
- Final PSD Desired (?)
- Sub-particle size and type (?)
- dry material "stickiness?"
- pH (?)
- Gas content (Air, N2...)
- Gas flow rate and control mechanism
- Internal gas pressure (Pos Pressure, Neg Pressure flow)
- Inlet heating source/type
- Spraying Pump Type + Flow Rate control
- Spray Nozzle Setup + Process parameters (RPM for spinning disc)