Title
The stokes number approach to support scale-up and technology transfer of a mixing process
Author
Willemsz, T.A.
Hooijmaijers, R.
Rubingh, C.M.
Frijlink, H.W.
Vromans, H.
van der Voort Maarschalk, K.
Publication year
2012
Abstract
Transferring processes between different scales and types of mixers is a common operation in industry. Challenges within this operation include the existence of considerable differences in blending conditions between mixer scales and types. Obtaining the correct blending conditions is crucial for the ability to break up agglomerates in order to achieve the desired blend uniformity. Agglomerate break up is often an abrasion process. In this study, the abrasion rate potential of agglomerates is described by the Stokes abrasion (Stokes number of the system. The Stokes number equals the ratio between the kinetic energy density of the moving powder bed and the work of fracture of the agglomerate. In this study, the Stokes approach demonstrates to be a useful tool to predict the abrasion of agglomerates during blending when technology is transferred between mixer scales/types. Applying the Stokes approach revealed a transition point between parameters that determined agglomerate abrasion. This study gave evidence that (1) below this transition point, agglomerate abrasion is determined by a combination of impeller effects and by the kinetic energy density of the powder blend, whereas (2) above this transition point, agglomerate abrasion is mainly determined by the kinetic energy density of the powder blend. © 2012 The Author(s).
Subject
Life
QS - Quality & Safety
EELS - Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences
Biomedical Innovation
Biology
Healthy Living
dry mixing
scale-up
stokes number
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:450d694e-4d90-464e-ac06-6998cd0df70c
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-012-9818-z
TNO identifier
464280
ISSN
1530-9932
Source
AAPS PharmSciTech, 13 (3), 928-933
Document type
article