Powder Flow I
Powder Flow I: Measuring Powder Flowability & Its Applications
– A Hands-On Design-Oriented Workshop
An intense 2-day powder flow & solids handling workshop, for those involved in industrial chemical, pharmaceutical or solids processing issues in which powder flow properties are critical, including material transfer/handling, segregation, fluidized powder handling, feeding and filling operations, encapsulation, roll pressing and tabletting.
This course lays the groundwork for understanding the unique nature of powder flow properties, and its impact on processing and compaction, through team design problems and first hand powder flow lab measurements by shear cell, permeability cell, fluidization and segregation testing.
The course is equally of interest to those involved in formulations, bulk drug production, or quality control, who wish to engineer or control powder flow properties to minimize handling problems or improve product quality
Typical participants include those from pharmaceutical processing, excipient and chemical manufacture, food and consumer product production, and a variety of advanced material processes.
Course content addresses powder flowability & process applications, shear cell measurements & supporting characterization methods, hopper design & material handling issues, fluidized behavior, segregation, implications for roll compaction & tabletting, and the impact of particle properties on bulk flowability.
As a unique pedagogical hands-on approach, participants are divided into small teams which directly measure flow properties by automated shear cell and fluidized-bed permeability cell for a supplied powder, and then apply the determined properties to their own hopper, feed rate, and compaction design problems. Thought provoking homework is supplied to elucidate key concepts and develop participant discussion.
Methodologies, measurements, and concepts presented are based on sound engineering principles (consistent with Process Analytical Technology efforts), drawing on the latest advances in powder mechanics & ASTM test methods (Section 19: Solids-Solids Processing (Solids Handling-8th ed.), Ennis (Section Editor) and Section 20: Size Enlargement (Powder Mechanics & Compaction-7th ed.), Ennis et al., Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook; ASTM Method: D 6682).
Sample Schedule:
| Day 1: | |
| 7:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:00 AM | Morning Lecture: Powder flow basics, Flow patterns, Segregation, demixing & feeding, Automated shear cell measurements, Powder cohesion, friction & flow indices, Historical engineering basis, Examples of representative behavior, Hopper & bin design to prevent arching & ratholing. |
| 10:30 | Hand-on Session: Team measurements of powder flow properties by shear cell. Mass flow design problem to prevent arching. Team discussion of homework. Flow indices problems and implications for formulation. |
| 12:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00 PM | Afternoon Lecture: Impact of particle properties on bulk flowability, Particle property characterization methods of surface chemistry, hardness, & particle size. Advances in particle sizing. |
| 2:00 | Hand-on Session: Fluidized-bed permeability characterization, Team measurements of aerated powder cohesion and permeability. Completion of flow measurements and flow design work. Shared team discussion of design & homework problems. |
| 4:00 | Afternoon Break |
| 5:30 | Dinner |
| 7:00 PM | Evening Session: Segregation mechanisms and connect to flow properties. Impact of segregation on NIR and process measurements. Monitoring segregation. Shear cell & particle sizing access for client samples. Offered on first come/first serve basis w/prior arrangements.(Requires prior MSDS review & approval with E&G Associates.) |
| 8:30 | Evening hors d’oeuvres & social time (Lodge) |
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Day 2: |
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| 7:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:00 AM | Morning Lecture: Tabletting and roll press design based on powder properties. Impact of wall and powder friction on stress transmission, die forces, and tablet ejection forces. Connection to other compaction methods such as encapsulation and ram extrusion. Team measurements of particle size. |
| 9:00 | Hand-on Session: Tabletting stress transmission & roll press team design problems. Additional powder flow and particle size measurements for client samples. |
| 12:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00 PM | Afternoon Lecture: Compaction design revisited. Simulations. Additional compaction methods. Heistand indices, fracture mechanics, heckle profiles, permeability. Fluidization methods of powder cohesion. |
| 3:00 PM | Course conclusion |