Operating conditions for the formation of pellets.

The effects of the operating variables of the dish pelletiser on pellet formation and pellets so formed were studied. Pellet growth was found to be so sensitive to the amount of binding liquid incorporated, that a small variation of it could bring about changes in surface plasticity and ability to deform and coalesce through surface moisture bonds. Increasing the amount of binding liquid led to the formation of pellets with flattened facets instead of being well-rounded. Increase in agitation speed led to a reduction in the average pellet diameter. This could be due to increasing inertial forces which far exceeded the cohesive forces present in the nucleus of the pellet, thus resulting in split pellets. A longer residence time in the dish rendered the pellets more round and smooth but of lower strength. Increasing the load of charge in the pelletiser increased average pellet diameter, due to the size of the load pressing on the feed material. No definite relationship between angle of inclination of pelletiser and average pellet diameter was observed.