Size Enlargement

Equipment
By: ANGELES, Katrina
ZARRAGA, Christina
 Size Enlargement
Process where small particles are brought together to
form lumps of a desired size

Original particles can still be distinguished

To improve handling properties

To reduce caking and lump formation

To improve flow properties

To increase bulk density for storage and tableting feeds

To control solubility, porosity, surface-to-volume ratio

Size Enlargement
GRANULATION
Size Enlargement
 Tumbling Granulators
Particles are set in motion by the tumbling action
caused by gravity and centrifugal forces

Continuous feed

Generally produce 1-20 mm granules, not suitable for

making granules less than 250μm

Can run at large scale

Disc granulators, drum granulators

Disc
Granulator
o also: pelletizer (iron ore
industry), pan granulator
agricultural chemical
industry)
o Made of a rotating tilted
disc or pan with a rim
Disc Granulator
Disc Granulator
 Disc Granulator
Size classification/segregation:
Small granules, ungranulated feed are thrown high on
the disc by centripetal forces
Large granules remain in the eye and exit as product
 Drum Granulator
Used for large-scale
productions

Common in
metallurgical, fertilizer
industries

No output size
classification  high
recycle rates of off-size
product
Drum Granulator
Drum Granulator
Drum Granulator
Tumbling Granulators
Mixer Granulators
Low-Speed Mixers
Low-Speed Mixers
Low-Speed Mixers
Low-Speed Mixers
 Continuous Shaft Mixers
Consist of blades/pins rotating at high speed on a
central shaft

Operate at high speeds of 200-3500 rpm

Produces granules of 0.5-1.5 mm

Granulated product is generally fine, irregular, with

low bulk density

Applications: detergents, agricultural chemicals,

clays, ceramics, foodstuffs, carbon black
Continuous Shaft Mixers
Batch High-Speed Mixers
Plow-shaped mixers rotate on a horizontal shaft at 60-
800 rpm

Most have an off-center high-speed cutter/chopper

rotating at 500-3500 rpm  breaks down overwetting
powder mass and limits the maximum granule size

Granulation times range from 5-10 min

Batch High-Speed Mixers
Lodige horizontal plough Gral designs
shear design
Batch High-Speed Mixers
Fielder designs Diosna designs
Batch High-Speed Mixers
Eirich mixer granulator
Both chopper and
impeller blades rotate
on eccentrically
mounted vertical
shafts, cylindrical
bowl also rotates
Hybrid of mixer and
tumbling granulation
More spherical
granules are produced
than those in other
batch mixer processes
Batch High-Speed Mixers
 Fluidized Bed Granulator
Particles are set in motion by air rather than
mechanical agitation

Produces high-porosity granules and high-strength,

layered granules
Fluidized Bed Granulator
Batch Fluid-Bed Granulator
Batch Fluid-Bed Granulator
Continuous Fluid-Bed
Granulator
Spouted-Bed Granulator
Spouted-Bed Granulator
Centrifugal Granulators
Centrifugal Granulators
Centrifugal Granulators
COMPACTION
Size Enlargement
 Piston & Molding Press
Used to create uniform
and intricate compacts

Consists of a
mechanical/hydraulic
press

Due to pressure and heat,

the particulate charge
causes it to flow and take
the shape of the mold
 Tableting Press
Used for applications
with strict specifications
for weight, thickness,
hardness, density,
appearance of
agglomerate

Produces simpler shapes

at higher production rates
than molding presses
 Roll Press
Compresses raw material as
it is carried into the gap
between two rolls rotating
at equal speeds

Size and shape of

agglomerates are
determined by the geometry
of the roll surfaces

Can produce large

quantities of materials at
low cost

Product is less uniform

Pellet Mills
Moist plastic feed is
pushed through the holes
in dies of various shapes

Friction of material in the

die holes provides the
resistance needed for
compaction

Adjustable knives shear

the product into pellets of
desired length
Screw and Other Paste
Extruders
Uses a screw to force
material in a plastic state
continuously through a
die

Shape of the die hole

determines the shape of
the compact
Round hole: rod-shaped
Thin slit: film/sheet