Evaluation of the Parallel Parent and Daughter Classes Technique (PPDC) for Solving Population Balance Equations by Discretization: Aggregation and Breakage

An evaluation of the parallel parent and daughter classes (PPDC) algorithm for solving population balance equations (PBEs) by discretization is presented. By using this technique, the discretized form of the PBE, accounting for breakage and agglomeration, can easily be split into aggregation and breakage part. Numerical solutions of the PBE on simultaneous aggregation and breakage processes with different kernels, obtained by using the PPDC technique, show good agreement with solutions obtained by standard method of classes, on a linear grid, and by the quadrature method of moments (QMOM). Numerical investigations have shown the ability of the PPDC technique to predict the moments with high accuracy by using only a few classes (2–4 classes). The PPDC technique is then one of the best candidates for CFD applications involving PBEs as polymerization and de-polymerization processes, aerosol dynamics, bubbly flows etc.