Phenomenologically based modeling for ATM-52 spray dryer employed on the ceramic production process

Abstract

This article contains a verbal and mathematical description of the drying process inside the ATM-52 spray dryer for ceramic paste production. By applying a modeling methodology, the objective was defined as describing, using a phenomenological basis, the temporal variation of humidity in the outlet stream of the ATM-52 spray dryer. This variable is the most critical in the process, and it’s the most fluctuating to measure in real-time, and only laboratory methods are available to obtain measurements. A series of assumptions were made to achieve the objective, allowing the model's description by a set of differential ordinary equations; the most critical assumption is that the mass transfer phenomena are significant when stream flow is in co-current. Once the set of equations was obtained, parameter values were assigned through the physical-chemical relations of the process, and computational verification was applied. The model was validated using the values in the steady state obtained from the actual process.