Development of a semi-empirical model for droplet size determination of a three-channel spray nozzle for pellet coating based on the optical method concept

Vidovič, Sara (author), Bizjak, Alan (author), Sitar, Anže (author), Horvat, Matej (author), Janković, Biljana (author), Golobič, Iztok (author)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the droplet size obtained with a three-channel spray nozzle typically used in fluid bed devices and to construct a semi-empirical model for prediction of droplet size. With the aid of a custom-made optical method concept, the impact of the type of polymer and solvents used through dispersion properties (viscosity, density, and surface tension), dispersion flow rate, atomization pressure, and microclimate pressure on droplet size was investigated. A semi-empirical model with adequate predictability for calculating the average droplet size (R$^2$ = 0.90, Q$^2$ = 0.73) and its distribution (R$^2$ = 0.84, Q$^2$ = 0.61) was constructed by employing dimensional analysis and design of experiments. Newtonian and non-Newtonian dispersion and process parameters on laboratory and on production scale were included, thereby enabling constant droplet size irrespective of the scale. Based on the model results, it would be possible to scale-up the atomization process (e.g., coating process) from laboratory to production scale in a systematic fashion, regardless of the type of solvent or polymer used. For the system investigated, this can be performed by understanding the dispersion properties, such as viscosity, density, and surface tension, as well as the following process parameters: dispersion flow rate, atomization, and microclimate pressure.

• Language: English
• Keywords: three-channel nozzle, fluid bed pellet coating, scale-up, droplet size, design of experiments, dimensional analysis
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy; FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 19 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 10, iss. 1, art. 86
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-134336
• UDC: 66.02:615
• ISSN on article: 2227-9717
• DOI: 10.3390/pr10010086
• COBISS.SI-ID: 92405763
• Publication date in RUL: 07.01.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Processes
• Shortened title: Processes
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• ISSN: 2227-9717
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523353113

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 01.01.2022

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: trokanalna šoba, vrtinčnoslojno oblaganje pelet, prenos z laboratorijskega na industrijski nivo, velikost kapljic, načrtovanje poskusov, dimenzijska analiza

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P2-0223
• Name: Prenos toplote in snovi

• Funder: Other - Other funder or multiple funders
• Funding programme: Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d.