MORE | Spring 2023

Flowability of Microcrystalline Cellulose in MFiX Simulations

This study presents an evaluation of predicted flow behavior and the minimum outlet diameter in a computationally simulated hopper. The Department of Energy’s MFiX software was used to create an industrial stainless-steel hopper using experimental data from an FT4 Rheometer, in accordance with Jenike’s hopper design methodology. A total of five size fractions and twelve moisture levels of MCC were simulated in MFiX. Predictions from MFiX were compared to current literature. As anticipated, the optimal mass flow was more closely resembled in the smaller size fractions with less water than in the larger ones.