Principle

The GranuCharge measures automatically and precisely the quantity of electrostatic charges created inside a powder during a flow in contact with a selected material. The powder sample flows inside a vibrating V-tube and falls in a uniquely designed Faraday cup connected to an electrometer. The electrometer measures the charge acquired by the powder during the flow inside the V-tube. To obtain reproducible results, a rotating or a vibrating device is used to feed the V-tube regularly.

The V-tube geometry has been selected to combine the different mechanisms leading to triboelectrification:

• friction between the grains
• friction between the grains and the wall
• impact of the grains on the wall at the connection between the two tubes.

Therefore, the V-tube charges the powder more in comparison to a single tube geometry and reproduces more accurately industrial processes.

Applications

The GranuCharge is compatible with a large range of powders and used in many applications:

• Powder’s process-ability classification for the galenic formulation.
• Mimic electrostatic behavior of powder in mixers, silos, or conveyor systems.
• Recycling process optimization in Additive Manufacturing, GranuCharge can predict the flowability deterioration during processing therefore the aging of a recycling powder can be quantified precisely.
• Charge build-up quantification in continuous manufacturing (Pharmaceutical).
• Quantifying the effect of anti-static agents by allowing to measure the exact impact of the anti-static agent on the chargeability of the mix.
• Improving the pneumatic vacuum conveying process, with the selection of optimal tube materials combination. Therefore, it will be possible to avoid particle agglomeration and powder sticking on the surface of the pipes.
• Powder processing operations can generate vast quantities of electrostatic charge via the movement of powders which may lead to dust explosions, Granucharge can help the safe processing of powders.