Research

The Solids Processing Group investigates processes for the design of particulate products involving heat and mass transfer, especially drying processes. Central to this task is the development of new and optimisation of existing process chains to obtain tailored product properties — on single particle level as well bulk properties.

The current work focuses on
– Functional particulate materials for additive manufacturing;
– Product design for food and feed by spray drying;
– Formulation of added-value products in solid-state fermentation;
– Dynamic analysis, optimisation and control of particulate processes;
– Numerical methods for efficient simulation of particulate processes

To obtain results, the group employs a variety of theoretical/numerical methods, among others
– First principles modelling (mass, momentum, energy balances),
– Population balance modelling,
– Computational fluid dynamics (CFD; coupled to DEM),
– Discrete element methods (DEM; coupled to CFD)
– Particle tracking velocimetry.

Main experimental equipment available to the group includes
– Fluidised beds (batch, riser-downer, up to 850 °C, non-atmospheric operating pressure)
– Spray dryer (lab-scale, production scale (co-flow))
– PIV/PTV equipment (planar, semi-cylindrical geometry)
– Product characterisation (PSD, surface properties, mechanical properties, etc.)