Modeling and simulation of a fully air swept ball mill in a raw material grinding circuit

A raw material grinding circuit was modeled using plant data. Samples were collected from around the circuit and, following a crash stop, from inside the mill. The size distributions of the samples were determined down to a few microns. Using the data from inside the mill a modeling approach, based on perfect mixing, was developed. The modelling approach implicitly assumes that the mixture of feed materials broken is homogenous from the breakage point of view. The air classification around the circuit was modeled using the efficiency curve approach. In order to measure the success of the method the circuit performance was predicted by simulation studies while it was operating at different conditions. The results were then compared with the measured data. It is concluded that modeling gives a useful quantitative indication of what may occur in fully air swept mills.     

Numerical study on PEMFC’s geometrical parameters under different humidifying conditions

Steady-state and three-dimensional simulations were carried out to study the influences of geometrical parameters on the performance of PEMFC under different hydrating conditions. Flow fields, species transport, transport of water in polymer membrane and movement of liquid water in cathode and anode porous layers were determined, in order to accomplish a complete estimation of ohmic and concentration losses of PEMFC power. The geometrical parameters were thickness of the polymer membrane, cathode catalyst layer as well as gas channel to rib width ratio. Every simulation was made under different relative humidities of inlet flows (50 and 100%) for every change of characteristic length. Results show that the influence of the geometrical parameters on ohmic and concentration losses is of considerable importance. The performance of PEMFC is seriously affected under dehydrating conditions. However, such performance may be considerably improved by using suitable geometrical parameters. Cathode and anode liquid saturation may not only affect the transport of species, but also the polymer electrolyte water content. These results show the importance of simultaneously calculating both the water absorption and desorption through the polymer electrolyte and the liquid saturation in the cathode and anode porous mediums to obtain an actual view of ohmic and concentration losses of the PEMFC performance.     

A Model for Through Drying of Tissue Paper at Constant Pressure Drop and High Drying Intensity

A mathematical model for through drying of paper at constant pressure drop was developed. The model is based on physical properties; hence, basis weight, pressure drop, drying air temperature, pore size distribution, initial gas fraction, and tortuosity are important input parameters to the model. The model was solved for different combinations of the variables basis weight, drying air temperature, and pressure drop corresponding to industrial conditions and the results were compared with data from bench-scale experiments. The simulations show that the drying rate curve is very sensitive to the air flow rate and that correctly modeling the correlation between pressure drop and air flow rate is the most important factor for a successful model for through drying. The model was tuned by adjusting the parameters initial gas fraction and tortuosity in order to give the best possible fit to experimental data. For a given basis weight and pressure drop, different drying air temperatures resulted in relatively constant values of the fitted parameters. This means that the model can well predict the effects of changes in drying air temperature based on a tuning of the model performed at the same basis weight and pressure drop. However, for a given basis weight, an increase in pressure drop yielded fitted parameters that were somewhat different; i.e., a lower initial gas fraction and a higher tortuosity, a change that increases the resistance to air flow. This implies that the correlation between pressure drop and air flow rate in the model does not quite capture the nonlinear relationship shown by the experiments.     

Kinetics of catalytic reactions with two types of sites: nonuniform surfaces

Several aspects of heterogeneous catalytic kinetics over induced nonuniform surfaces are considered. The reaction mechanism is thought to occur through a surface collision of species, adsorbed on two distinct surface sites, which display nonuniform behavior. The expressions for rates of elementary reactions have been deduced within the framework of the surface electronic gas model, which accounts for the case of inhomogeneous surface. Equations for catalyst activity in the range of medium coverage have been derived and compared with the power-law model.     

Evolution of BET internal surface area in glassy carbon powder during thermal oxidation

It is demonstrated that glassy carbon powder can be thermochemically activated. During activation, a film with open pores is created on the glassy carbon particles. This film has a large internal surface area, which is accessible to liquids and gases. A simple model for the evolution of the internal surface area in glassy carbon powder during thermochemical gas-phase oxidation is also presented and compared with experimental data. Experimental results are in qualitative agreement with the model. We found that a sharp particle size distribution is desirable with regard to potential technical applications.     

Modeling flotation separation in a semi-batch process

A model for a semi-batch flotation separation process has been developed, based on available microprocess probabilities, and compared to experimental data obtained using a WEMCO laboratory flotation cell. In general, the model predicts the correct experimental trends. In many cases, the model also predicts removal efficiency very well. Parametric studies reveal that the model predictions are sensitive to a stability parameter, the turbulent energy density in the flotation cell, the contact angle between the solid particle and fluid, and the ratio of initial-to-critical film thickness.     

Modeling Condensation and Evaporation on Fruit Surface

Rewarming of fruits and vegetables after cooling is characterized by heat and mass transfer processes, which leads commonly to condensation of water on the produce surface at temperatures below the dew point. This effect may affect the produce quality due to microbial growth at unfavorable environmental conditions. The amount of condensed water is a function of the produce surface temperature and of the surrounding conditions as air temperature, air humidity, and air flow. Under practical conditions, both the warming and the condensation are strongly affected by the packaging system used. Depending on the flow conditions close to the produce surface, parameters of heat and mass transfer under laboratory conditions were measured. A mathematical model was developed for the determination of the amount of condensed water on fruit surfaces, its reevaporation, and its total dwell time dependent on the environment air conditions. The model describes the heat and mass transfer processes on single fruits. The process of diffusion of humidity in air and proceed of surface temperature is the basis for the model.     

Atmospheric Freeze Drying—Modeling and Simulation of a Tunnel Dryer

Drying is an important unit operation in processing of foods and other biotechnological products. Vacuum freeze drying is said to be the best drying technology regarding product quality of the end product, but the disadvantages are, among others, expensive operational costs and batch drying. Atmospheric freeze drying was introduced to lower the production costs of high-quality dried foods, and the need of simulation tools became important in estimations of the industrial drying processes.

A simplified mathematical model (AFDsim) is developed based on uniformly retreating ice front (URIF) considerations. The model is used to calculate theoretical drying curves of atmospheric freeze dried foods in a tunnel dryer. Studies of thermal and mass transfer properties during drying are essential for understanding the changes in product quality and for designing and dimensioning the drying process. The model can be used to simulate industrial atmospheric freeze drying of different foodstuff in a tunnel. The results from AFDsim modeling are in good accordance with the experimental results.