Particle Technology and Engineering: An Engineers Guide to Particles and Powders: Fundamentals and Computational Approaches

Particle Technology and Engineering presents the basic knowledge and fundamental concepts that are needed by engineers dealing with particles and powders. The book provides a comprehensive reference and introduction to the topic, ranging from single particle characterization to bulk powder properties, from particle-particle interaction to particle-fluid interaction, from fundamental mechanics to advanced computational mechanics for particle and powder systems.

The content focuses on fundamental concepts, mechanistic analysis and computational approaches. The first six chapters present basic information on properties of single particles and powder systems and their characterisation (covering the fundamental characteristics of bulk solids (powders) and building an understanding of density, surface area, porosity, and flow), as well as particle-fluid interactions, gas-solid and liquid-solid systems, with applications in fluidization and pneumatic conveying. The last four chapters have an emphasis on the mechanics of particle and powder systems, including the mechanical behaviour of powder systems during storage and flow, contact mechanics of particles, discrete element methods for modelling particle systems, and finite element methods for analysing powder systems.

This thorough guide is beneficial to undergraduates in chemical and other types of engineering, to chemical and process engineers in industry, and early stage researchers. It also provides a reference to experienced researchers on mathematical and mechanistic analysis of particulate systems, and on advanced computational methods.

Provides a simple introduction to core topics in particle technology: characterisation of particles and powders: interaction between particles, gases and liquids; and some useful examples of gas-solid and liquid-solid systemsIntroduces the principles and applications of two useful computational approaches: discrete element modelling and finite element modellingEnables engineers to build their knowledge and skills and to enhance their mechanistic understanding of particulate systems

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Chapter 2 - Bulk solids Characterisation
Density
Surface area
Porosity (Mercury porosimetry & XRCT)
Flowability
Compressibility; (Heckal, Kawikital, adams equations)
Compactibility (Tensile strength; Ruckorth equations)

Chapter 3 - Particle Characterisation
Size & Size distribution
Shape

Chapter 4 - Particles in fluids 
Drag forces
Settling

Chapter 5 - Gas solid systems
Fluidisation
Pneumatic conveying

Chapter 6 - Liquid solid systems
Slurry
Paste
Wet granulation

Chapter 7 - Hopper flow
Flow patterns
Velocity distribution
Discharge rate (Beverloo equations)

Chapter 8 - Particle Interaction
Dry particles (Hertz, Mindlin theory)
Adhesive particle (von der waals forces, JKR theory)
Wet particles (Liquid bridge forces, impact with liquid layers)

Chapter 9 - Discrete Element Methods
History
Governing Equation
Contact detection
Contact force
Applications

Chapter 10 - Finite Element Methods
Materials Models (cam-clay, DPC et al)
Application