Identification of the influence of the rotational motion of a vibropriller basket on melt jets and droplets of mineral fertilizers in a prilling tower
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2026.353110Keywords:
prilling tower, vibropriller, basket, melt plume, rotational motion, relative velocityAbstract
This study investigates the motion of melt jets, droplets, and prills of mineral fertilizers in the working space of a prilling tower. A specific feature of the process is the presence of a rotational velocity component caused by the rotation of the vibropriller basket.
At the design stage of prilling equipment, the influence of basket rotation on the motion of jets, droplets, and prills, as well as their aerodynamic interaction with the air flow. is considered only to a limited extent in most existing models of prilling systems.
A prilling tower with an internal diameter of 24 m, a prill flight height of 80 m, and a melt load of 175 t/h was adopted as the calculation model. The results showed that a basket rotation speed of 180 rpm provides the most effective radial expansion of the melt plume. Droplet trajectories were constructed; the horizontal and vertical velocity components were determined for different vibropriller basket configurations.
The results were obtained by numerically solving a system of differential motion equations considering initial melt outflow conditions, geometric parameters, and basket rotation speed. A quantitative relationship between basket rotation parameters and aerodynamic conditions of particle motion through changes in relative phase velocity was established.
The adopted approach could be applied at the design stage of high capacity prilling equipment to select basket configuration and rotation regimes. The resulting correlations make it possible to predict prill trajectories and prevent adhesion of non-crystallized melt to the internal tower surfaces. Elimination of secondary droplet breakup conditions reduces dust formation and stabilizes the particle size distribution of the product
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