Flow Channel Boundaries in Silos

The critical slip planes at the silo filling state are compared with the flow channel boundary during silo discharge for semi‐mass flows. The static critical slip planes are determined by using the dynamic programming method based on the stress field of granular solids stored in silos at the filling state. The flow channel boundary is estimated through the finite element analysis of the silo discharge. The results indicate that the critical slip line lies above the flow channel boundary. This characteristic can be attributed to the changeover of major principal stress directions of granular solids from the silo filling to the silo discharge. The analysis demonstrates that the silo wall friction tends to lift up the critical slip plane and flow boundary. A simple correlation is developed between the positions of critical slip planes and flow boundaries and is experimentally verified.     

Numerical analysis of silo behavior using non-coaxial models

Granular solids in silos experience considerable principal stress rotations, which result in the non-coaxiality between principal stresses and plastic strain rates. This paper discusses the influences of the use of elastoplastic non-coaxial models for granular solids on predictions of wall pressure distributions in silos by using the finite element method. A well established non-coaxial model in geomechanics, the yield vertex model, is employed. Simulations are performed on a steep hopper characterized with a mass flow and a flat-bottomed silo with a semi-mass flow. The simulations indicate that the non-coaxiality does not influence predictions of wall pressures after filling. On the other hand, the predicted discharge wall pressures with non-coaxial considerations are larger than those without it. Its mechanism is discussed in this paper. The suppressed shear-dilatancy of granular solids in silos leads to a larger increase of normal stress with non-coaxial models.     

料仓流型及改善贮料流动性分析

本文介绍了各种料仓流型,并详细分析了影响料仓流型的因素,尤其是装料形式、改流体对料仓流型的影响,为料仓设计、选择流型和改善散体流动措施提供了参考。     

Numerical study on the behavior of funnel flow silos with and without inserts through a continuum hydrodynamic approach

In this paper the results from simulations performed using a hydrodynamic model proposed by Artoni et al. [Chem. Eng. Sci. 64 (2009a) 4040–4050] have been compared with published data of an extensive experimental investigation carried out at the Tel-Tek Research Institute in Porsgrunn, Norway. The experiments collected several data and observations on the wall stresses and the flow patterns observed during discharge of a full-scale funnel flow silo with and without inserts. The comparison between simulation and experiments showed the ability of the model to capture quantitatively the main features of both the flow and of the wall stress profiles when flow corrective inserts are put in the hopper of the silo in order to convert the discharge regime to a mass flow regime. Moreover information such as the stresses on the internals, which are difficult or impossible to get experimentally, have been collected from the simulations and discussed.     

Hydrodynamic Characteristics of a Pilot-Scale Screw Conveyor Dryer

This article presents results of an experimental study on the flow characteristics of a pilot-size screw conveyor dryer (SCD). In particular, the effects of granular solids flow rate (15.2-206 kg/h) and screw speed (10.8-28 rpm) on the residence time distribution (RTD) were studied using sand as the model material. The RTD was measured using a dynamic step change in the solids flow rate. Parameters such as solids holdup, degree of fullness, mean residence time, and uniformity of the discharge flow were studied. The solids holdup and hence the degree of fullness was found to decrease with increase in the screw speed and decrease with the solids flow rate. The mean residence time was found to decrease with an increase in the screw speed, as expected. The screw speed and the solids flow rate strongly affected the discharge uniformity. An optimum value of the degree of fullness was observed with regard to the solids flow rate. Over the operating range examined, the solids flow pattern was close to plug flow, as indicated by high values of N and Pe number.     

Hydrodynamic Characteristics of a Pilot-Scale Screw Conveyor Dryer

This article presents results of an experimental study on the flow characteristics of a pilot-size screw conveyor dryer (SCD). In particular, the effects of granular solids flow rate (15.2–206 kg/h) and screw speed (10.8–28 rpm) on the residence time distribution (RTD) were studied using sand as the model material. The RTD was measured using a dynamic step change in the solids flow rate. Parameters such as solids holdup, degree of fullness, mean residence time, and uniformity of the discharge flow were studied. The solids holdup and hence the degree of fullness was found to decrease with increase in the screw speed and decrease with the solids flow rate. The mean residence time was found to decrease with an increase in the screw speed, as expected. The screw speed and the solids flow rate strongly affected the discharge uniformity. An optimum value of the degree of fullness was observed with regard to the solids flow rate. Over the operating range examined, the solids flow pattern was close to plug flow, as indicated by high values of N and Pe number.     

Flow dynamics or ‘quaking’ in gravity discharge from silos

This paper reviews the characteristics of pulsating or cyclic flow of bulk solids during gravity discharge in bins and silos. The dynamic load phenomenon is often referred to as “silo quaking” and is influenced by various factors related to the type of flow pattern developed in the bin and the flow properties of the bulk material. Of particular relevance is the influence of ‘slip-stick’ during shear flow, and the velocity at critical sections in the silo during discharge. An overview of recent and current research on this subject is presented.     

The flow pattern of solids in a gravity column

Flow pattern of solids in a gravity column (150 mm diam.) with peripheral discharge was studied by measuring the residence time distribution (RTD) of coloured solids tracer in the exit stream. The data were used to calculate dispersion numbers and flow volumes by applying a dispersion model and a multiparameter model respectively. The results show that the flow pattern of solids in the upper 75% of the column height was plug and that this flow pattern was virtually unaffected by the flow rate in the range investigated (35 – 75 g/s millet seed). The flow pattern of the solids in the bottom section of the column is shown to be markedly mixed and to depend on the flow rate. The paper also notes the usefulness of RTD analysis in providing flow models of bulk flow equipment which can give supplementary design and operating information not available by traditional methods.     

Pressure measurements in steel silos with eccentric hoppers

It is known that concentric filling and discharge are the most recommended solutions in silo design. However, different reasons such as costs, space problems and the client's specific requirements have a significant influence on the final design. Therefore, engineers sometimes need to make use of eccentric filling and discharge solutions. These designs are usually related to phenomena such as unfavorable switches in the flow regime, associated with extreme unsymmetrical pressure distributions around the silo wall, oscillations of the load, etc., which may cause failures or instabilities of silo structures, involving then high costs for the industry and, in the worst cases, accidents where human life may be endangered. Understanding about these phenomena associated with hopper eccentricities is still needed.This research work deals with pressure measurements on three steel silos with different hopper eccentricities. The results not only confirm, at a qualitative level, phenomena that have also been described in previous research, but also provide new knowledge concerning non-symmetric loads in wheat and maize silos with conical hoppers of different eccentricities. Non-symmetric components of the pressures and shifts in flow regimes have been studied and discussed in relation to load assessment for the design of silos.     

Verfahrenstechnische und statische Aspekte der Siloauslegung

Process Engineering Aspects and Statics of Silo Design. Design of silos for flow is described, starting from the flow profiles developing during discharge. The respective flow profile depends on the flow properties of the bulk solids and on the silo geometry. Based on measured flow properties the determination of the maximum permissible hopper wall inclination to achieve mass flow and of the minimum dimension of the outlet to prevent arching and ratholing is demonstrated, taking into account time consolidation aspects. This yields the size of a feeder and the position of discharge aids. The flow properties are required additionally for structural design of silos. Flow of bulk solids in silos, especially the development of asymmetric flow channels, has a significant influence on the pressure distribution.     

Silo music and silo quake: granular flow-induced vibration

Acceleration and sound measurements during granular discharge from silos are used to show that silo music is a sound resonance produced by silo quake. In tall and narrow silos, the latter is produced by stick-slip friction between the wall and the granular material. For the discharge rates studied, the occurrence of flow pulsations is determined primarily by the surface properties of the granular material and the silo wall. The measurements show that the pulsating motion of the granular material drives the oscillatory motion of the silo.     

An evaluation of the pneumatic transport reactor

In a pneumatic transport reactor, a dilute suspension of the reacting solid particles is conveyed by the gas stream through the reactor. The system is characterized by very short particle residence times. The relative flow rates of gas and solids are determined by the thermodynamic and kinetic requirements of the reacting conveyed systems. Design considerations for co-current gas and solids flows are presented and a comparison between co-gravity and counter-gravity flow reactors is discussed for the case of iron ore reduction by hydrogen. Kinetic data from single particle studies have been used to predict the performance of a pilot-scale reactor.     

Pressures in hoppers filled with fine powders

In a previous paper [18] the authors showed that air pressures occurred between the grains of fine powders when they were loaded into hoppers and presented data where the pore air pressure was 60% of the total stress measured at the bunker wall when the hopper was first loaded. The paper included a mathematical model to describe the dissipation with time of these pore air pressures. The model was used to scale up from a bench scale deaeration test to give the rate of air pressure dissipation in a large scale hopper, which was broadly in agreement with that observed.The present paper continues the work, but the emphasis is experimental. The total stresses measured in large scale hoppers of various configuration and dimensions when first loaded with a fine powder are demonstrated to be hydrostatic in nature. The total stresses and pore air pressures near the wall during discharge of a fine powder are then presented. Different types of discharge are considered, namely mass flow, flow from eccentric outlets, and vibration-assisted flow. The total stress is observed to fluctuate with time, but these fluctuations are generally less regular and of lower magnitude than those observed in mass flow with free-flowing materials, such as sand. The total stresses on discharge by mass flow may rise above the initial hydrostatic stresses but it is shown that for the fine particulate material considered, the hydrostatic stress represents a reasonable approximation for one of the loading cases that should be considered during design.     

Flow regimes for adiabatic gas-liquid flow in microchannels

The patterns forming during adiabatic gas-liquid flows in single microchannels are reviewed and the parameters influencing pattern transitions are discussed. Six major patterns were identified: the surface tension dominated bubbly and Taylor flows, the transitional churn and Taylor-annular flows, and the inertia dominated dispersed and annular flows. From the various parameters that have been studied in the literature, channel size, phase superficial velocities, liquid phase surface tension, wall wettability and inlet conditions were found to affect the flow pattern formed while channel cross sectional geometry affected the patterns but to a lesser degree. Liquid viscosity and flow orientation with respect to gravity also seemed to play some role but the results were not conclusive. A universal flow regime map does not seem to exist and this is attributed to a lack of consistency in the inlets used in the various studies as well as to the effects of wall properties, such as wettability, contamination and roughness which are not usually varied systematically or reported. From the different flow regime maps suggested, those using U_GS-U_LS as coordinates represented better the transitions between patterns.     

流动方向对循环流化床中颗粒混合行为的影响

对循环流化床提升管及下行床两种不同气固流动方式对颗粒混合行为的影响进行了较为深入的对比分析，发现在影响循环流化床颗粒混合的众多因素（如操作条件、床层直径、颗粒性质及床层内构件等）中，气固流动方向是影响颗粒轴向混合的最主要因素．当气固流动为顺重力场时（下行床），颗粒的轴向混合很小，流型接近平推流；当气固流动为逆重力场的提升管时，轴向颗粒混合将成倍增大，颗粒流动远离平推流流动．分析表明，下行床中颗粒混合仅为单一的弥散颗粒扩散，而提升管中则存在着两种颗粒混合机制：弥散颗粒扩散及颗粒团扩散．弥散颗粒的扩散基本以平推流的形式通过循环流化床，提升管中大量的颗粒轴向返混归因于颗粒团的严重返混并由此形成了提升管中颗粒停留时间的双峰分布．     

Austragorgane und Austraghilfen

Feeders and Discharge Aids. Feeders and discharge aids have an influence on the flow behaviour of bulk solids in silos. Together with the geometric form of the silo, they are responsible for the operating conditions of a silo. Therefore, feeders and discharge aids have to be chosen and installed under consideration of the flow properties of the bulk solid to be stored. The necessary information is obtained by using the silo design method due to Jenike. This method yields the geometrical data of the hopper (wall steepness, outlet diameter) necessary for a troublefree operation (no doming and ratholing; mass flow; no segregation; uniform flow). Furthermore, the design of feeders and discharge aids plays an important role in determining their function. For example, stagnant zones will build up and cause flow problems on protruding edges and on walls which are not steep enough. For the correct function of the hopper/feeder combination it is important to make sure that the feeder fully activates the hopper outlet and stagnant zones cannot build up. This can be ensured by an appropriate feeder design (increasing capacity in direction of conveying). The driving power of a feeder has to be calculated also on the basis of the flow properties of the bulk solid to be stored.     

The simulation and experimental study of granular materials discharged from a silo with the placement of inserts

The simulation method of DEM and experimental method are used to investigate the flow pattern of the filling and discharging process for two-dimensional plane silos. Two kinds of inserts (conical insert and BINSERT®) are used in the silo to change the flow fields of the silo. The placement of inserts improves the flow behaviors of funnel flow type to mass flow type during discharging. The wall normal stresses are influenced by the change of the flow type. The effects of using differently shaped inserts on the flow pattern and wall stress are analyzed in this study. The controlling parameters include the silo half-angle, the orifice width, the shape of the insert and the properties of the granular materials. The simulation and experimental results are in good agreement.     

非球形颗粒在矩形料斗中的流动特性(英文)

Flow behaviors of four kinds of granular particles (i.e. sphere, ellipsoid, hexahedron and binary mixture of sphere and hexahedron) in rectangular hoppers were experimentally studied. The effects of granular shape and hopper structure on flow pattern, discharge fraction, mean particle residence time and tracer concentration distribution were tested based on the visual observation and particle tracer technique. The results show that particle shape affects significantly the flow pattern. The flow patterns of sphere, ellipsoid and binary mixture are all parabolic shape, and the flow pattern shows no significant difference with the change of wedge angle. The flowing zone becomes more sharp-angled with the increasing outlet size. The flow pattern of hexahedron is featured with straight lines. The discharge rates are in increasing order from hexahedron, sphere, binary mixture to ellipsoid. The discharge rate also increases with the wedge angle and outlet size. The mean particle residence time becomes shorter when the outlet size increases. The difference of mean particle residence time between the maximum and minimum values decreases as the wedge angle increases. The residence time of hexahedron is the shortest. The tracer concentration distribution of hexahedron at any height is more uniform than that of binary mixture. The tracer concentration of sphere in the middle is lower than that near the wall, and the contrary tendency is found for ellipsoid particles.     

A theory of flow of particulate solids in converging and diverging channels based on a conical yield function

It has been evident for some time that the theory of flow developed by the author twenty-five years ago [1 – 9] is flawed. While the design method based on that theory is adequate in the design of mass-flow hoppers, it predicts incorrect channel flow angles in funnel flow and, hence, is useless in predicting the location of the level at which a funnel-flow channel meets the cylinder wall of a silo. That location is needed in the structural design of silos. The theory introduced in this paper appears to correct that flaw. The correction is obtained by replacing the modified Tresca yield pyramids of the original theory with conical yield surfaces and relating the strain rates to the stresses by the Levi flow rule.

In order to obtain solutions applicable to a wide range of solids properties and channel geometries, only steady-state radial fields are considered. In this paper, conditions of flow are analyzed. Obstructions to flow as well as design recommendations to prevent arching and ratholing will appear in a future publication.     

从质量流向漏斗流转变过程中的动力学分析

球床模块式高温气冷堆的堆芯是全陶瓷型包覆铀燃料制成的球形颗粒,与石墨颗粒混合堆积而成,堆芯颗粒流的流态取决于颗粒尺度的平移、旋转等动力学量,以及力链、涡旋等介尺度物理量。为了分析颗粒的平移、旋转等动力学量对颗粒流流态的影响。基于筒仓颗粒流的物理模型,首先开展了筒仓颗粒流流变过程的实验测量,并使用基于 Hertz-Mindlin和 RVD （relative velocity dependent）滚动摩擦接触模型的离散单元法 （distinct element method, DEM）,研究了锥形筒仓颗粒流流变过程中球形颗粒的动力学量。进一步,基于DEM计算结果进行分析,发现筒仓自上而下呈现出质量流向漏斗流过渡的混合流状态。在筒仓混合流的不同流型区域中,平移速度和旋转速度之间的相关性是相反的;颗粒间的相对切向运动较大的区域集中在漏斗流区域与边壁区域。了解筒仓流变过程中颗粒的动力学特征,有助于优化筒仓颗粒流动,并减少颗粒表面的磨损。