Influence of breakage on crystal size distribution in a continuous cooling crystallizer

Abstract

A detailed two-dimensional population balance model of continuous cooling crystallization, involving nucleation, growth of the two characteristic crystal facets and binary breakage along the length of needle-shape crystals is presented and analysed. The population balance equation is reduced into a moment equation model of the joint moments of crystal size variables. The dynamic behaviour of the crystallizer and the effects of kinetic and process parameters on the characteristics of crystal size distribution are studied by simulation. The observations and analysis have revealed that there exist strong interactions between the breakage and the product properties.