The Concept of Disperse Systems in Mechanical Process Engineering

2 The Concept of Disperse Systems in Mechanical Process Engineering 

Disperse systems consist normally of two or more phases in which the continuous phases are intermixed. If, in a continuous phase (the dispersion medium), the elements of the disperse matter are embedded such that they can be individually distinguished, the system is called discretely disperse, A coherent disperse phase, which may also consist of well-defined elements adhering to or intermixed with each other, is called compact disperse. 

The discrete elements are called particles their sizes range from large pieces with linear dimensions of several meters through millimeter-sized grains to submicrometer dust. Therefore, the descriptive term particle technology is often applied to large areas of mechanical process technology. 

---