DYNAMIC MODELING OF MAIZE BREAKAGE IN HAMMER MILLS OF DIFFERENT SCALES THROUGH A POPULATION BALANCE APPROACH

FERNÁNDEZ, MARÍA PAZ; PIÑA, JULIANA; QUEZADA HENRY, MANUELA; COTABARREN, IVANA MARÍA; DI BATTISTA, AGUSTINA

Santa Fe

Congreso; Congreso Argentino de Ingeniería Química; 2019

Asociación Argentina de Ingeniería Química

Even if maize is the most commonly used cereal in poultry diets worldwide, the grinding process of its grains in hammer mills is complex and not yet completely understood. Indeed, the resulting particle size distribution depends not only on material properties but also on design and operating variables of the mill. Therefore, and taking into account that mills integrate continuous manufacturing processes, in this contribution a dynamic model of maize breakage in hammer mills of different scales is proposed through a population balance approach. The results of the pilot-scale experiments were used to fit the parameters of the breakage and classification functions, considering the effects of rotor speed and screen opening size. The model was validated with both pilot- and industrial- scales data, which also included variations in feed rates. The results are highly valuable since they indicate the feasibility of using the fitted model to predict with confidence new operating points, study industrial milling performance and optimize hammer mill operation reducing the need to carry out expensive and time-consuming experimental tests.