Voidage Measurement for a Moving Plug in Dense Phase Pneumatic Conveying Using Two Different Methods

Two simple ways to measure voidage in a moving plug in dense phase pneumatic conveying have been explored, along with voidage behavior and other parameters. The first method (bulk solid method) determines the average voidage for a single plug, by measuring the length and the weight of the plug, while the second method (Ergun's method) determines the voidage along the plug length from plug head to tail by using the Ergun equation. The experiments were performed under different experimental conditions of plug lengths, gas velocities, and materials. The results from both methods showed varying degrees of agreement, depending on the material transported. The measurements also found that the voidage varied only slightly with the plug velocity. However, it did vary more within the plug (e.g., plug head, middle of plug, and plug tail).