Abstract
Numerical simulation of the particulate flows has become possible by using discrete element method (DEM) with high performance computers. Calculations of particle motion in three kinds of pharmaceutical apparatus done by the author are reviewed. A centrifugal tumbling granulater, a rotating vessel type mixer and a screw feeder are dealt with. The present simulations predict well the realistic particulate flows. Pharmaceutical industries manufacture products which affect human life. Therefore it is necessary to make the process validation which guarantees the security of life and the effect of a medicine. It is important to know the behavior of particles in detail in order to control the quality 01 pharmaceuticals. The numerical simulation makes it possible to know the detailed information such as the three dimensional particle behavior, the interaction between particles and the effect of condition of equipment. These information is helpful in deepening out understanding powder processes.
