(45c) Theoretical Breakage Distribution Functions

A variety of different breakage distribution functions have been proposed for population balance models.  Although particle breakage is dependent on both particle size and shape, initial functions only considered the particle size but not particle shape.  Later approaches accounted for the volume of a crystal removed with each impact, assumed an initial particle shape (such as a cube) for all of the initial crystals, and/or assumed that all of the particles break in the same way.  For example, the corners of cuboid particles were removed.  The overall goal was to determine how the particle size and shape changed with repeated impacts. 

Newly developed breakage distribution functions will be presented that remove the limitation that all particles break in the same way.  The effect of the model parameters on the particle size and shape will be presented.  In all cases the models conserve mass while accounting for the number of particles generated.  Comparisons will be made with existing theoretical models.  Although developed for modeling breakage of crystals during solution crystallization, these models are general and can be applied to other unit operations.