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

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

Santa Fe

Congreso; CAIQ2019 X Congreso Argentino de Ingeniería Química; 2019

Asociación Argentina de Ingenieros Químicos

Even if maize is the most commonly used cereal in poultry diets worldwide, thegrinding process of its grains in hammer mills is complex and not yet completelyunderstood. Indeed, the resulting particle size distribution depends not only on materialproperties but also on design and operating variables of the mill. Therefore, and taking intoaccount that mills integrate continuous manufacturing processes, in this contribution adynamic model of maize breakage in hammer mills of different scales is proposed througha population balance approach. The results of the pilot-scale experiments were used to fitthe parameters of the breakage and classification functions, considering the effects of rotorspeed and screen opening size. The model was validated with both pilot- and industrialscalesdata, which also included variations in feed rates. The results are highly valuablesince they indicate the feasibility of using the fitted model to predict with confidence newoperating points, study industrial milling performance and optimize hammer mill operationreducing the need to carry out expensive and time-consuming experimental tests.