Analysis of the Fluid-Dynamic and Thermal Performance of Equipment Used in Operations Involving Particulate Systems

 

Particulate systems are present in most mechanical operations and consist of populations of solid particles in continuous contact with a fluid, interacting primarily through mechanical mechanisms. These systems are fundamental in chemical engineering operations such as solid-liquid and solid-gas separation, flow through porous media, fluidization, and particle transport in suspension.

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Understanding the physical characteristics of particulate materials and fluids, as well as the forces governing solid-fluid interactions, is essential for the design, evaluation, and optimization of industrial equipment used in processing these systems.

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At the Chemical Engineering Laboratory of the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Alegre campus, research focuses on particulate systems, including material characterization, development of experimental analysis methodologies, and the study of associated processes and equipment.

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Experimental activities utilized various laboratory equipment, including a filter press, fluidized bed, jet bed, fixed bed, convective tunnel dryer, and shell-and-tube heat exchanger, allowing investigation of particulate material behavior under different operating conditions.

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The main objective of this project was to analyze the fluid-dynamic, thermal, and mass transfer performance of equipment used in solid-liquid and solid-gas separation operations, including filtration, sedimentation, fluidization, and centrifugation, contributing to scientific and technological advancement in particulate system processing.

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Status: Completed
Nature: Research

Members: Robson Costa de Sousa (Coordinator); Alexandra de Oliveira Vieira Martins; Yuri Alves de Carvalho

Associated Scientific Production: 3 publications (C, T & A).