CFD modeling and analysis of dense phase pneumatic conveying of fine particles including particle size distribution

• Particle size distribution has been taken into account in the model.
• Using CFD it is possible to predict upper dilute and lower dense mode of flow.
• CFD model predicts the pressure drop with acceptable error margin.

The process of pneumatic conveying is widely used in industries for conveying materials such as cement, fly ash, alumina etc. Modeling of dense phase or non-suspension flow of fine particles is complex due to several interactions among the carrier gas, particles and the pipe wall. In the present study, dense phase conveying experiment was conducted using alumina as conveying material. The pressure data were recorded at the inlet and the outlet section of the pipeline under different flow conditions. A model of section of pneumatic conveying pipeline was developed in the commercial CFD software Fluent 6.3 Particle size distribution of conveying material has been included in the model in terms of number of solid phases of different mean particle diameters. Simulations were performed by means of Fluent software using the Euler–Euler approach, accounting for four-way coupling. The predicted pressure drop values were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. Variations of important parameters such as solids volume fraction, gas/solids velocity across the pipe cross-section were analyzed.

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