Granulator: Equipment Tab

Variable Definitions, Ranges and Default Values

The following table shows the meaning of the variables appearing in this tab, as well as their default values and their generally acceptable range. Note that due to the manner by which the variables are used by the sizing and costing equations, the range of acceptable values may be further reduced.

Variable	Default Value	Range

◙ Bowl Volume The total volume of the dryer.	1000.0 L	Positive
◙ Max Bowl Volume The maximum volume that a unit of this type is available for purchase in the market	1560.0 L	Positive
○ Max Allowable Working/Bowl Volume The maximum ratio of working (liquid) volume of material to total bowl volume allowed.	85%	(0,100]

Symbol Key: ○ User-specified value (always input); ● Calculated value (always output); ◙ Sometimes input, sometimes output

Sizing: Design Mode

The equipment is sized based on its volume. In Design Mode, the user specifies the maximum equipment volume and the maximum allowable working to vessel volume. The user specified Final Solids Bulk Density (see Mixing & Drying Operations: Volumes Tab) is used to calculate the dried solids volume (working volume). This is divided by the operation’s working to vessel volume ratio to convert it into vessel volume demand. If the vessel volume demand exceeds the maximum volume per unit, the system assumes multiple identical units operating in parallel with a total volume equal to the vessel volume demand.The equipment’s max allowable working to vessel volume ratio acts as constraints on the operation’s working to vessel volume ratio (i.e., the operation’s working to vessel volume ratio must not exceed the equipment’s max working to vessel volume ratio).

Sizing: Rating Mode

In Rating Mode, the user specifies the number of parallel units, their volume, and the maximum allowable working to vessel volume ratio. The program also calculates exactly as in the design mode case the demand on vessel volume by the operation carried out as part of the unit procedure(s) hosted by the equipment resource, and if the operation’s vessel volume demand of exceeds the actual vessel volume, it generates a warning.

Costing

The equipment purchase cost is estimated using built-in correlations derived from vendor data. The equipment cost is a function of the dryer volume with a minimum volume of 100 L.

For more information on this equipment, see Granulator.

For information on the left-hand side variables and options, see Equipment Data Dialog: Equipment tab.