New numerical method for solving the dynamic population balance equations

Abstract

Abstract A new numerical scheme is proposed for solving general dynamic population balance equations (PBE). The PBE considered can simultaneously include the kinetic processes of nucleation, growth, aggregation and breakage. Using the features of population balance, this method converts the PBE into a succession of algebraic equations which can be solved easily and accurately. The new method is free from stability and dispersion problems of general numerical techniques. Some benchmark problems with analytic solutions were tested. In all cases tested this method gave accurate results with very few computational requirements. For nucleation and size‐independent growth without aggregation and breakage, the numerical method gives exactly the same result as analytic solution. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005