화학공학소재연구정보센터
Chemical Engineering & Technology, Vol.27, No.9, 1039-1047, 2004
A novel granulation technology for producing spherical wax particles
A novel granulation technology for producing spherical wax particles that makes use of the insolubility of wax and water is developed. The granulation is stably performed in a granulator with a water-cooling tower. The granulation process is analyzed and the influences of key factors on the process are studied. Experiments are carried out with 58(#) semi-refined wax and 70(#) crystallitic wax in an experimental granulator which has 118 nozzles (D-i = 0.96 mm, D-o = 1.28 mm). The process capacity and the corresponding particle diameter are 55-60 kg/h and 4-5 mm, respectively. Using the modified correlation of Scheele and Meister, suitable operation flow rates and the corresponding particle diameters for different nozzles can be predicted. This technology has the following advantages: good particle shape with excellent fluidity, high process capacity and heat-transfer efficiency, and a small space for the granulator. It is also suitable for producing spherical particles of other materials, which have similar physical properties to wax.