Analysis, modelling and simulation of the fragmentation of agglomerates

•Discrete element model (DEM) study of agglomerate fragmentation due to impact.•Effects of agglomerate size, adhesion strength and impact velocity have been considered.•Results are fitted using dimensional parameters.•Discrete fragmentation model (DFM) build based upon dimensionless parameter study.•DFM applicable to wide range of challenges in process engineering. Discrete element simulations of agglomerates impacting other agglomerates and agglomerates impacting a wall have been carried out. The agglomerates consist of multiple, small primary particles. In the simulations, we have varied the adhesiveness of the primary particles, the agglomerate size, as well as the impact velocity of the impact. The quantitative trends in the results from the simulations have been captured by a dimensional analysis of the problem, and the resulting fit of a resolved, micro-scale modelling of the impacts has been used to construct a macro-scale discrete fragmentation model to describe agglomerate fragmentation using the framework of the discrete element model, but without the necessity of elucidating the behaviour of each individual primary particle. The working of the discrete fragmentation model has been validated with the results from the detailed micro-scale simulations.