Model-Based Scale-up of Impact Milling

The Vogel & Peukert model uses separate material properties and mill parameters determined from bench top experiments to predict the particle size distribution of the output of impact mills. This turns mill modeling into a tool that can be used every day at P&G. This talk covers our implementation of this model and use within the gSOLIDS environment (Process Systems Enterprise, UK).  We determined the material properties for an absorbent gelling material used in diapers from sieving and single impact milling experiments.  We successfully deployed the population balance model of Vogel and Peukert that predicts the output of our bench top pin mill in gSOLIDS.  The gSOLIDS tool allowed us to perform parameter estimation of this highly nonlinear model which gave us distinct material and mill properties.  We then made successful model predictions of mill scale-up using these same parameters. This method could potentially save millions annually in experimental costs as we can generalize this method to any powder that is broken in an impact mill.   We have thus developed a model-based work process for impact mill scale-up that uses gSOLIDS at its core.

References:

L. Vogel, W. Peukert (2005) From single impact behaviour to modelling of impact mills. Chemical Engineering Science 60, 5164-5176.