COCO: Continuous processing, monitoring and control in pharmaceutical applications
- CFD modeling of continuous granulation

Modern pharmaceutical applications rely heavily on batch type of processes, which has been possible due to the high profit marginal of pharmaceutical products. This study focuses on changing the granulation phase from batch to continuous one. Continuous production line has benefits to produce more and products of more uniform quality with lower costs than batch type processes.

Continuous granulation process is investigated in this research with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The goal is to develop a model, which describes the flow fields inside the granulator. The model can then be used to find problematic features of the process. This can then be used to develop the process and investigate the granulated products with different operating conditions.

CFD modeling focuses on High Shear Ringlayer Corimix CM granulator from Maschinengebau Lödige. The granulator is going to be operated in University of Eastern Finland and experiments are going to be performed in order to validate the model. The goal is to develop a model, which would predict the behavior of the mixture, moisturizing and the end products.

The project is funded by Tekes and it is done in co-operation with national and international universities and companies.

Researchers: M.Sc.(Phys) Timo Kulju, M.Sc.(Eng) Tiina Pääkkönen

Advisors: D.Sc.(Tech.) Esa Muurinen, Prof. Riitta Keiski