An investigation into pressure fluctuations for fluidized dense-phase pneumatic transport of fine powders

• Investigation into flow mechanism while conveying fine powders has been carried out.
• Different techniques of pressure signal analysis have been applied.
• All the applied techniques show similar trend on changing flow mechanism.
• Flow behaviour becomes more complex and turbulent towards the exit of the pipeline.

This paper presents results of an ongoing investigation into the flow mechanism for the pneumatic conveying of fine powders conveyed from fluidized dense phase mode to dilute-phase. Three different techniques of signal analysis (i.e. rescaled range analysis, phase space method and technique of Shannon entropy) have been applied to the pressure fluctuations obtained during the solids–gas flow of fly ash (median particle diameter 30 μm; particle density 2300 kg m− 3; loose-poured bulk density 700 kg m− 3) through a 69 mm I.D. × 168 m long pipeline and also white powder (median particle diameter 55 μm; particle density 1600 kg m− 3; loose-poured bulk density 620 kg m− 3) through a 69 mm I.D. × 148 m long test rig. Results show that with increasing conveying distance (and conveying velocity in the direction of flow), there is an overall decrease in the values of Hurst exponent, an increase in the area covered by the phase-space diagram and an increase in the Shannon entropy values, indicating an increase in the degree of complexity of flow mechanism (or turbulence) along the length of the conveying pipeline. All the three methods have revealed that the closely coupled bends reverse the trend of change of Hurst exponent, phase-space diagram area and Shannon entropy values. This is due to the slowing down of particles caused by the friction of particles along the bend wall resulting in dampened particle turbulence.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide