Premium
Thickening theories—an analysis
Author(s) -
Fitch Bryant
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690390105
Subject(s) - consistency (knowledge bases) , credibility , relevance (law) , conformity , thickening , computer science , mathematical model , mathematical theory , mathematical economics , calculus (dental) , scientific theory , work (physics) , mathematics , epistemology , management science , artificial intelligence , psychology , engineering , philosophy , physics , mechanical engineering , medicine , social psychology , statistics , dentistry , pulp and paper industry , quantum mechanics , political science , law
There is as yet no theoretically sound and empirically proven procedure that is fully reliable for the design of thickeners. From a logical standpoint, a sound procedure is one correctly deduced from valid premises or assumptions. As noted in Fitch's earlier work(979), there is no reason to believe that existing mathematical models are based on uniformly valid assumptions. There is also much reason to believe that they are not. Therefore existing mathematical models or “theories” of thickening are analyzed for mathematical consistency, scientific credibility, and relevance to chemical engineering. Domains in which the models are useful approximations of reality and thus are relevant to chemical engineering practice are identified. Emendations or alternatives are suggested to bring the models more nearly into conformity with empirical results. Design procedures are suggested that, although involving assumptions that cannot be uniformly valid, would seem more reasonable than existing ones.