颗粒形状对包衣设备内药片颗粒运动特性影响的数值模拟

为研究颗粒形状对包衣设备内药片颗粒运动特性的影响,基于离散单元法及自行编写的喷雾区颗粒检测算法,采用数值模拟的方法对五种不同形状(棒状、长椭球、扁椭球、双凸形和球形)的药片颗粒在包衣设备内的运动行为规律进行了研究。分析了颗粒形状对颗粒系统的能量、床面颗粒平动速度、颗粒温度及颗粒流在喷雾区域停留时间的分布及其相对标准差的影响。结果表明,颗粒形状对颗粒的平均动能、颗粒床面速度、颗粒温度、喷雾区域停留时间分布及颗粒间包衣均匀性有重要影响。除双凸形颗粒系统外,对于其他四种形状的颗粒系统,随着颗粒球形度增大,颗粒系统具有的动能、床面速度和颗粒温度均呈减小趋势。除棒状颗粒系统外,对于其余四种形状的颗粒系统,随着颗粒球形度增大,颗粒系统在包衣喷雾区域内平均停留时间减小,平均停留时间的相对标准差增大,包衣均匀性变差。与球形颗粒系统相比,非球形颗粒系统的包衣均匀性更好;药片颗粒形状对包衣设备内颗粒运动特性及颗粒之间的包衣均匀性有重要影响。     

A new approach for scale-up of bubble column reactors

The reactor of choice for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is a slurry bubble column. One of the few disadvantages of bubble columns is the difficulties associated with their scale-up. The latter is due to complex phases’ interactions and significant back-mixing.     

Steady states in granulation of pharmaceutical powders with application to scale-up

Theoretical and experimental evidence is given to show that steady states can be reached during agglomerate growth and break-up in high-shear granulation of fine powders. An earlier theoretical model [G.I. Tardos, I.M. Khan and P.R. Mort, Critical parameters and limiting conditions in binder granulation of fine powders, Powder Technology, 94, 245-258 (1997).], based on simple energy-dissipation considerations hinted at the existence of these states at the point where growth is counterbalanced by breakage. Further theoretical evidence is obtained from molecular dynamic simulations of wet and dry particles situated in a constant shear field [I. Talu, G.I. Tardos and M.I. Khan, Computer simulation of wet granulation, Powder Technology, 110, 59-75 (2000).], where the size distribution of initially identical particles, shifts in time to reach a dynamic steady state. Under the conditions of this steady state, the number of breaking agglomerates approximately equals the number of forming ones to yield a time independent final-size distribution.Experimental evidence to support the theoretical findings is obtained during the present research by measuring particle size distributions at line at crucial points during granulation of a typical pharmaceutical powder in a high-shear mixer. In order to reach a steady state, binder addition has to be slow enough and wet massing has to be long enough so that neither has an influence on the final properties of the granules. We show experimentally that if binder is spread properly and homogeneously in the powder and continuous shearing of the wet mass ensures homogeneous, equal growth of the granules, the steady state will only be a function of the total amount of fluid added provided that the shear forces in the machine are maintained constant.These findings are important in that they show that under carefully controlled conditions of binder addition and shear in the mixer, the granulation process is robust and controllable and can, in principle, be scaled up with ease once the powder ingredients and the total amount of binder are fixed.     

Investigation and scale-up of hot-melt coating of pharmaceuticals in fluidized beds

This study was performed to investigate and scale-up the hot-melt coating process in fluidized beds. A series of well-designed experiments was carried out in a pilot scale unit with 20 kg product capacity to investigate the effects of process variables on the efficiency of the coating of Cefuroxime Axetil with stearic acid. Results showed that the efficiency is at the highest when the fluidization air flow rate is adjusted by considering the changes in the amount of materials present in the unit as well as the changes in the terminal velocities of particles during the process.With the objective to scale-up the hot-melt coating process from pilot to production scale, a dynamic thermodynamic model based on conservation equations of mass and energy was developed. Predictive accuracy of the model was assessed by applying it to the pilot scale unit and comparing its predictions with the online measurements taken on the same unit. Results showed that the predictions of the model agree well with the measurements. Utilizing this model and taking several experiments performed in the pilot scale unit as a basis, scaling up of the hot-melt coating process was carried out. Comparisons of the model predictions with the measurements taken on the production scale unit (200 kg product capacity) revealed that the model is able to reproduce the product attributes and the outlet air temperatures across scales. Therefore, it proves to be a promising tool that can be used in the scale-up of the hot-melt coating processes in fluidized beds.     

Prediction of minimum fluidization velocity for fine tailings materials

The suitability of several minimum fluidization velocity correlations has been investigated for fine zinc slime, iron ore tailings, both pre and post hydro-cyclone uranium tailings, and a relatively coarse grade of fly ash. It has been found that most of the published correlations significantly underestimate the value of minimum fluidization velocity for the four different tailings materials. Predictions due to Van Heerden et al. (1951) [45], Noda et al. (1986) [76], Coltters and Rivas (2004) [39], and Xu and Zhu (2009) [93], agree reasonably with the experimental data, whereas the fly ash, which belongs to Geldart Group B materials, has shown a large deviation. Thus these correlations could be used for the fine tailings materials that comprise a variety of constituents and possess a degree of cohesiveness. A modification of Coltters and Rivas correlation has also been suggested to assess the combined effect of particle size and density on minimum fluidization velocity.     

Improved power and mass transfer correlations for design and scale-up of multi-impeller gas-liquid contactors

The impeller power and volumetric mass transfer coefficient were measured in a pilot-plant single-, double- and triple-impeller vessels of inner diameter 0.6 m. The experimental conditions corresponded with those used earlier in geometrically similar laboratory scale vessel of inner diameter 0.29 m [Fujasová et al., 2007, Chem. Eng. Sci. 62, 1650-1669]. The same impeller types and their combinations were used as well as the experimental techniques and forms of the data treatment/correlations, which distinguish bottom and upper section behaviour. Concretely, 23 combinations of the following impeller types were used: Rushton turbine (RT), six-pitched-blade impeller pumping upwards (PBU) and downwards (PBD), Lightnin A315 (LTN) impeller, and Techmix 335 pumping upwards (TXU) and downwards (TXD). Distilled water, representing a low-viscosity coalescent batch, was used as the liquid phase.It was found that the correlations established on the basis of the laboratory scale data might be used to describe the transport characteristics in the pilot-plant vessel. The more precise correlations, based on the data from both the laboratory and the pilot-plant scale vessels have also been established. The specific powers dissipated by impellers under gassed conditions (P_g) were within the interval from 10 to 8500 W m⁻³ in the experiments. General correlations of the relative power down under aeration (P_g/P₀) are presented separately for the bottom and upper sections of the vessel. k_La were measured by dynamic pressure method in the individual vessel sections simultaneously. Their values moved within the interval from 0.002 to 0.21 s⁻¹. The best fit provided correlating the single- and the multi-impeller (double and triple) vessels data separately. Correlation of the k_La data measured in the middle height of the triple-impeller vessel, the method often used in literature, is also included.Of the triple-impeller configurations, 3RT gave the best mass transfer performance. The configurations utilizing the same impeller type have shown that the radial flow impellers provide higher (20 up to 50%) mass transfer coefficients than the axial flow impellers. The combined configurations (i.e., those with an RT impeller in the bottom section) do not achieve the mass transfer performance of 3RT. The k_La values produced by RT+2PBD and RT+2PBU were only 15-20% lower than those achieved using 3RT at the same power input. The 3LTN and RT+2LTN configurations provided the poorest mass transfer coefficients at the same power input, both being up to 40% lower than those of 3RT.     

A scale-up strategy for low-temperature methanol synthesis in a circulating slurry bubble reactor

Slurry bubble column reactors are being increasingly utilized in the large-scale conversion of coal or natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons and alcohols. A new suite of tools for developing low-temperature methanol synthesis in circulating slurry bubble reactors is explored in this study. The scale-up strategy consisting of hydrodynamics in cold flow units, catalyst performance evaluation in an autoclave, and process investigation in a pilot-scaled circulating slurry bubble reactor is presented. This methodology should be helpful for designing and scaling-up the low-temperature methanol synthesis and other related processes in slurry bubble column reactors, which will enhance and speed them towards commercial application.     

Prediction of bubble terminal velocity in surfactant aqueous solutions

Bubble terminal velocity has a significant effect on gas holdup, residence time, and efficiency of the interface transfer. Surfactant is often required to generate small and stable bubbles in gas-liquid two-phase devices. In this paper, bubble terminal velocities were obtained for different surfactant aqueous solutions using high-speed CCD (charged couple device) system and digital image analysis technology. Experimental results showed that available correlations were not able to accurately predict terminal velocity of bubbles rising in surfactant aqueous solutions. Thus, a new correlation is proposed based on experimental data and it provides an accurate approximation of bubble terminal velocity. The average relative error for the proposed correlation is determined to be 7.2% in MIBC aqueous solutions, 4.5% in OP-10 aqueous solutions, and 4.6% in 2-octanol aqueous solutions. The proposed correlation agrees well with experiment data from literate within ranges of the Morton number, Mo, the bubble Reynolds number, Re, and the Eötvös number, Eo: 3.29 × 10⁻¹¹<Mo<4.29 , 0.08<Re<1062 , 0.04<Eo<91.16 .     

Fluid mixing in shaken bioreactors: Implications for scale-up predictions from microlitre-scale microbial and mammalian cell cultures

Pressures on pharmaceutical companies to speed bioprocess development have led to significant interest in small scale, parallel experimentation. A particular focus is cell cultivation and the optimisation of protein synthesis because of the number of biological and engineering variables involved. In this work, we briefly review the current understanding of mixing and mass transfer phenomena in shaken bioreactors with a view to defining criteria for the scale-up of results obtained in shaken microwell systems to conventional laboratory scale. Scale-up approaches are illustrated for two different cell cultures. The first involves an automated microscale process for the aerobic fermentation of E. coli JM107:pQR706 overexpressing transketolase (TK) which is subsequently used for asymmetric carbon-carbon bond formation. The kinetics of both the fermentation and bioconversion stages are first quantified as a function of fermentation medium composition (LB or LB-glycerol) and shaking frequency with oxygen transfer rates being identified as rate limiting in certain cases. Successful scale-up of the microwell process (in terms of maximum cell growth rate, biomass yield and specific TK activity) to a 1.4 l scale mechanically stirred bioreactor is then demonstrated based on experiments performed at constant k_La values. The second process investigated involved antibody production in suspension cultures of VPM8 hybridoma cells. Initial results suggest that experiments performed at constant mean energy dissipation rates provide a satisfactory basis for scale translation from shaken microwells to conical flasks (100 ml) and are indicative of results obtained in a mechanically stirred bioreactor (3.5 l). Overall this work provides an initial insight into the engineering characterisation of shaken bioreactors and how key parameters may be used to define suitable scale-up criteria for different cell cultures.     

Prediction of minimum fluidization velocity for vibrated fluidized bed

The prediction of minimum fluidization velocity for vibrated fluidized bed was performed. The Geldart group A and C particles were used as the fluidizing particles. The method based on Ergun equation was used to predict the minimum fluidization velocity. The calculated results were compared with the experimental data.The calculated results of minimum fluidization velocity are in good agreement with experimental data for Geldart group A particles. For group C particles, the difference between the calculated results and experimental data is large because of the formation of agglomerates. In this case, the determination of agglomerate diameter is considered to be necessary to predict the minimum fluidization velocity.     

Prediction of axial velocity profiles and solids hold-up in a rotary kiln

Axial bed depth profiles were experimentally measured in a rotary kiln containing ilmenite particles under steady state and transient conditions. The variables include feed rate of solids, inclination and rotational speed of the kiln. and dam height. The variation of the axial velocity with kiln axis was estimated. The semi-experimental model proposed by Perron and Bui (1990) was modified to include the effect of the variables of the present study. The mean residence time of solids was estimated from the fractional hold-up and expressed in terms of the process variables. The transients induced by a step change in any of the operating conditions were measured as variation of discharge rate of solids with time.     

Experimental study on the scale-up effect of gas storage in the form of hydrate in a quiescent reactor

This paper presents the experimental study on the scale-up effect of natural gas storage in the form of hydrates in a quiescent reactor. The hydrate formation experiments with respect to gas storage in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were initially performed in a 10 L reactor to study the scale-up effect by adjusting the mass of water loaded. The results demonstrated that the scale-up effect was very obvious, i.e., the specific hydrate formation rate, the moles of gas consumed per unit mass of water and time, decreased rapidly with the increasing mass of water loaded in the reactor. A multi-deck cell-type vessel was devised as the internals of the reactor to eliminate the scale-up effect, where water was loaded in each cell of the vessel instead of being loaded in the reactor directly and the hydrate formed in all cells of the vessel simultaneously. A double-deck cell-type vessel was set-up and a series of hydrate formation experiments were performed to study the influence of the number of deck and the size of each cell upon the specific formation rate and the storage capacity. The experimental results proved the feasibility of the multi-deck cell-type vessel. The influence of water quality was also studied and the results demonstrated that tap water could be used instead of the expensive distilled water in the formation of hydrates and the most suitable concentration of SDS in tap water was 2000 mg/L.     

Model for seawater fouling and effects of temperature,flow velocity and surface free energy on seawater fouling☆

A kinetic model was proposed to predict the seawater fouling process in the seawater heat exchangers.The new model adopted an expression combining depositional and removal behaviors for seawater fouling based on the Kern–Seaton model.The present model parameters include the integrated kinetic rate of deposition(k d)and the integrated kinetic rate of removal(k r),which have clear physical signi ficance.A seawater-fouling monitoring device was established to validate the model.The experimental data were well fitted to the model,and the parameters were obtained in different conditions.SEM and EDX analyses were performed after the experiments,and the results show that the main components of seawater fouling are magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide.The effects of surface temperature,flow velocity and surface free energy were assessed by the model and the experimental data.The results indicate that the seawater fouling becomes aggravated as the surface temperature increased in a certain range,and the seawater fouling resistance reduced as the flow velocity of seawater increased.Furthermore,the effect of the surface free energy of metals was analyzed,showing that the lower surface free energy mitigates the seawater fouling accumulation.     

Hydrodynamics and scale-up of liquid-solid circulating fluidized beds: Similitude method vs. CFD

Hydrodynamics and scale-up of liquid-solid circulating fluidized beds (LSCFBs) are investigated using similitude method and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. Similitude method is applied to establish the dynamic similarity among LSCFBs by tuning physical properties of liquids and solids, operating conditions and bed dimensions to match several scaling sets of dimensionless groups. The hydrodynamic behaviors in these constructed LSCFBs are simulated by a validated CFD model [Cheng, Y., Zhu, J., 2005. CFD modeling and simulation of hydrodynamics in liquid-solid circulating fluidized beds. Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering 83, 177-185] and compared in terms of the axial and radial flow structures characterized by the solids fraction, particle and liquid velocities and solids mass flux. The results demonstrate that only the full set scaling parameters obtained from similitude method, i.e., five dimensionless groups together with fixed bed geometry, particle sphericity, particle size distribution as well as particle collision properties, can ensure the similarity of hydrodynamics in the fully developed region of different LSCFBs. Developing flow structures in LSCFBs are strongly influenced by some parameters such as turbulent kinetic energy at the inlet so that the proposed similitude method may not always be applicable.     

Modeling and scale-up simulation of U-tube ozone oxidation reactor for treating drinking water

In the present study, we developed a novel simulation model of the U-tube reactor for treating drinking water, which is composed of a coaxial inner tube serving as an efficient concurrent down-flow ozone dissolver and an outer column carrying out reactions between ozone and organic substances including odorous materials (2-methylisoborneol: 2-MIB) dissolved in the raw water. We assume that the U-tube is composed of a plug flow section (inner tube) followed by a tanks-in-series section (outer bubble column) and take into account the effect of the hydrostatic pressurization on the flow and absorption equilibrium for the gaseous components including ozone and other inactive species in developing the mass balance models. An algorithm is constructed of the differential multiple mass balance equations for the inner tube sections and multiple difference mass balance equations in the series tanks in the outer column section to enable the scale-up from a pilot plant to a full-scale plant. The gas holdup and gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient were measured in a model reactor and correlated for the use of the simulation calculation. Available literature data and correlations on the rates of reactions between ozone and organic substances including odorous material 2-MIB, gas-liquid equilibrium for active and inactive gases and axial fluid mixing properties are also incorporated in the simulation calculation. The simulation results well explained the available data of the ozone absorption efficiency and the removal efficiency of the odorous material in a pilot U-tube reactor. The simulation procedure was also successfully extended to verify the performance of a full-scale U-tube reactor. It is shown that the ozone absorption is practically a single function of the gas/liquid ratio while the removal efficiency of the odorous material is a single function of the ozone dose for a specified U-tube configuration.     

Influence of shear on particle size and fractal dimension of whey protein precipitates: implications for scale-up and centrifugal clarification efficiency

Whey protein fractionation was carried out at laboratory scale by applying the required temperature and pH conditions in a standard configuration batch agitated vessel to cause selective precipitation and aggregation of proteins. Scale-up of this operation to pilot scale was achieved on the basis of impeller power input per unit volume resulting in similar particle sizes. Separation was subsequently achieved by high-speed disc-stack centrifugation.Processing of precipitates in pumps, valves and at the centrifuge inlet zone can lead to substantial breakage, depending on the strength of the precipitates formed and aged in the batch vessel. Such turbulent processing was mimicked at lab scale by passing the precipitate solution through a ball-valve rig while monitoring the effects on particle size and fractal geometry. Measurement of fractal dimension were used to assess the compactness of precipitates. Precipitates subjected to higher batch vessel impeller shear-rates during formation and ageing were found to be smaller, more compact and better able to resist turbulent breakage and thus should provide better feed-stock for disc-stack centrifugation at pilot scale. Clarification efficiency curves obtained for pilot-scale disc-stack centrifugation confirmed these lab-scale predictions. Recommendations for improved process design in terms of selecting suitable batch vessel shear-rates that ultimately lead to improved separation efficiencies have been made.     

Understanding the scale-up of fermentation processes from the viewpoint of the flow field in bioreactors and the physiological response of strains

The production capability of a fermentation process is predominately determined by individual strains, which ultimately affected ultimately by interactions between the scale-dependent flow field developed within bioreactors and the physiological response of these strains. Interpreting these complicated interactions is key for better understanding the scale-up of the fermentation process. We review these two aspects and address progress in strategies for scaling up fermentation processes. A perspective on how to incorporate the multiomics big data into the scale-up strategy is presented to improve the design and operation of industrial fermentation processes.     

Industrial experience in the scale-up of reactive distillation with examples from C4-chemistry

The objective of this paper is to illustrate process design from the industrial point of view for a heterogeneous reactive distillation exemplified by the decomposition of MTBE. Based on thermodynamics a plausible column concept is suggested. Open questions concerning scale-up of structured catalytic packings are discussed on the basis of experiments in the lab and pilot plant scale. Lab scale experiments were modelled satisfactorily with an equilibrium stage approach. In order to perform the scale-up from lab to pilot scale with the equilibrium stage approach the reaction rate constant had to be reduced significantly. Incomplete catalyst wetting due to maldistribution effects or mass transfer phenomena might be possible reasons.     

Low frequency macroinstabilities in a stirred tank: scale-up and prediction based on large eddy simulations

In this work, the effect of scale on the macroinstability is examined using data from a diameter tank. In a previous study coherent macroinstabilities (MI) in a stirred tank agitated with a pitched blade turbine were captured in a small tank of diameter . Exactly the same dimensionless frequency (f_MI=0.186N) or Strouhal number (St=f_MI/N=0.186) is observed at both scales, with greater coherence over a wider range of off-bottom clearances and Reynolds numbers at the large scale. Large eddy simulations (LES) successfully predict the same frequency. The mechanism driving the macroinstabilities is compared to the feedback mechanism driving coherent frequencies for a range of other confined jet geometries. In plant scale vessels, coherent frequencies such as this force cyclic loading on solid surfaces, which can result in mechanical failure of baffles, coupling bolts and even impeller shafts. They can also cause vibrations of equipment so severe that units must be shut down.