Abstract: | In jet agglomeration plants, powders are agglomerated to obtain good instant properties. The free-falling initial material is wetted in a spray cone by droplets or in a steam jet by condensation at the particle surface. In a subsequent region of high particle concentration, collision between particles occurs and agglomerates form, if the forces of adhesion are strong enough. A commercial measurement device, working according to the principle of Fraunhofer diffraction, was modified for in-line application. It was used to measure particle size distributions and concentrations of solid particles and droplets in jets. A model is presented to calculate local particle sizes by means of mass balances from integral measurements over large volumes. The results of in-line particle size and agglomerate size analyses show the practical importance of dry agglomeration during transport and lead to a better understanding of the subsequent wet agglomeration process. |