Drying Projects

Particle Design research projects: Tony Howes

Title: 'Drying kinetic modelling of multiphase solutions' ( with Drs. Bhesh Bhandari, and Yinghe He )

In 2002 a PhD project was completed by Benu Adhikari looking at the drying of sugar rich solutions. This study had a modelling and experimental component. An important limitation of the modelling was that multi-component (two or more solutes) systems were treated as pseudo-binary. Segregation of solutes within a particle can play an important role in both the surface and bulk properties of the particles. The opportunity exists for a project carrying out this extension, and performing validation experiments on the existing apparatus.

[Click the picture to view the animation]

Drying of a 200 micron diameter 40% sucrose droplet in 95oC air moving at 0.58 m/s. Note how moisture gradients inside the droplet/particle are established, with the formation of a close to dry shell at the particle's surface.

Single droplet drying apparatus. A droplet is suspended in a controlled air flow and its temperature and mass monitored with time. Visualisation of the droplet is used to assess morphology development.

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