Monitoring high-shear granulation using sound and vibration measurements

Sound and vibration measurements were investigated as monitoring methods for high-shear granulation. Five microphones and one accelerometer were placed at different locations on a 10 and a 251 granulator and compared to find the optimum location and the effect of scale. The granulation process could be monitored using the mean frequency and root mean square sound pressure levels from acoustic emissions measured using a microphone in the filtered air exhaust of the granulators. These acoustic monitoring methods were successful for both the 10 and the 251 granulation scales. The granulation phases, however, were more clearly defined for the larger scale granulation. The root mean square acceleration level from vibration measurements was also able to monitor the granulation, but only for the larger 251 granulator. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.