Segregation & Blending Selection or Design- Kerry Johanson, COO, Material Flow Solutions, Inc.

Blending of powder material is an important unit operation used in many industries.
This workshop will introduce the basics of blend theory as it applies to powders and will look at blender selection based on key flow properties. Segregation in blenders will also be a focus of this discussion. Segregation occurs due to a variety of mechanisms. The fines may sift through a coarse matrix resulting in size separation of particles. The fines may also be carried by air currents and deposit in process vessels where entrainment velocities decrease below some minimum value. These and other mechanisms cause different segregation patterns in process equipment. The solution to a general segregation problem often requires knowledge of the cause. This is especially true when approaching the problem from a product design point of view. Attendees will learn about basic flow properties that influence segregation and the role they play in processing and blender selection and design. Discussion will also be focused on product design to prevent segregation from occurring as well as process design to minimize its effects.