COMPUTER-SIMULATION OF AGITATION FLUIDIZED-BED GRANULATION BY A 2-DIMENSIONAL RANDOM ADDITION MODEL

Computer simulation by a two-dimensional random addition model was pro posed to elucidate the mechanisms of granule growth and compaction pro cess of agitation fluidized bed granulation. In this paper, adhesion f orce by liquid bridge and separation force by agitator rotation were t aken into consideration for adhesion probability of colliding granules . Effects of moisture content and agitator rotational speed on granule diameter, shape and internal structure were investigated theoreticall y. This simulation was applied to actual granulation, in which lactose and corn starch mixed in a weight ratio of 7:3 were granulated by an aqueous solution of hydroxypropylcellulose. Close agreement between si mulated and experimental results was obtained.