Lecture Notes: Size Reduction of Solids
Midterm Presentation
Group Members: [Your Names]
Course: [Your Course]
Date: August 29, 2025
1. Introduction
Size reduction, also known as comminution, refers to the process of breaking down
large solid materials into smaller pieces.
It is widely applied in industries such as mining, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and
cement manufacturing.
2. Objectives of Size Reduction
Increase surface area to enhance physical and chemical processes (e.g., reaction, drying,
extraction).
Improve material handling and processing efficiency.
Achieve uniform product size suitable for further operations.
3. Mechanisms of Size Reduction
Compression – material is crushed by applying pressure.
Impact – particles are broken by sudden force or collision.
Attrition – rubbing or scraping action between surfaces causes breakdown.
Cutting – sharp edges are used to shear materials.
4. Laws of Comminution
Rittinger’s Law: Energy required is proportional to the new surface area generated.
Kick’s Law: Energy required is proportional to the size reduction ratio.
Bond’s Law: Energy requirement is proportional to the crack length produced.
Each law applies within specific size ranges and has practical limitations.
5. Equipment for Size Reduction
Crushers: Jaw crusher, Gyratory crusher, Roll crusher.
Grinders: Hammer mill, Ball mill, Rod mill, Attrition mill.
Cutters: Knife cutter, Slicer, Dicer.
6. Factors Affecting Size Reduction
Material properties: hardness, toughness, abrasiveness, stickiness, and moisture
content.
Machine design: geometry, operational speed, and energy input.
Operating conditions: feed size, load, and desired product size.
7. Industrial Applications
Mining & metallurgy: ore crushing and mineral processing.
Food processing: grinding grains, sugar, spices.
Pharmaceuticals: powder preparation and drug formulation.
Cement & ceramics: raw material preparation and blending.
8. Conclusion
Size reduction is a vital operation across multiple industries.
Proper selection of equipment improves efficiency and reduces energy costs.
Balancing energy consumption with desired particle size is crucial for sustainable
operations.
9. References
McCabe, W.L., Smith, J.C., & Harriott, P. (2005). Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering.
McGraw-Hill.
Coulson, J.M., & Richardson, J.F. (2002). Chemical Engineering (Vol. 2). Butterworth-
Heinemann.
Lecture Materials.
