Evaluation of models and correlations for pressure drop estimation in dense phase pneumatic conveying and an experimental analysis

This study reviews the models and correlations for dense phase conveying in an effort to explore existing and new data on the subject and to provide guidance to the designer on the best pressure drop model. Using various data sets the Mi (Konrad)-based model was found to be best for predicting the pressure drop across dense phase plugs. A series of industrial scale tests also shows agreement with the Mi (Konrad)-based model.     

Flow characteristics and pressure drop across the Laval nozzle in dense phase pneumatic conveying of the pulverized coal

Experimental studies were performed to describe the physical phenomena occurring in dense phase pneumatic conveying of the pulverize coal with a Laval nozzle installed in the pipeline. The maximal coal mass flow rate decreased from 0.87 kg/s to 0.35 kg/s and an obvious decrease in the solids loading ratio was revealed after the Laval nozzle was installed. In addition, the Laval nozzle showed a better capacity of resisting disturbance, which made it easier to control the coal mass flow rate precisely and promoted the stable conveying process. These specific physical phenomena were proved to result from the high pressure drop of the Laval nozzle. Thereby, a mathematic model was developed to predict the two-phase pressure drop across the Laval nozzle. The pressure drop model described the experimental data within the 15% deviation. The main influence factors contributing to the pressure drop of the Laval nozzle were discussed using the model. Then the effects of gas mass flow rate, solids loading ratio, convergence angle, throat diameter and throat length were revealed.     

气力输送工艺在煤粉输送中的应用

针对工业煤粉输送技术效率低、不安全等问题,介绍了稀相正压输送、密相正压输送和负压输送3种气力输送工艺的原理和使用现状,研究了密相输送工艺的原理和目前主流的栓流式密相输送技术。分析了稀相正压输送、密相正压输送和负压输送工艺各自的技术特点,并在投资、能耗、环保等方面进行对比。结果表明负压输送输送距离较短,稀相正压输送能量损失大、易发热,而密相正压输送固气比高、能耗低、管道和物料磨损小、噪声低、输送过程不易发热,更适合煤粉输送。     

Investigation on characteristics of pulverized coal dense-phase pneumatic conveying under high pressure

Experiments of dense-phase pneumatic conveying of pulverized coal were carried out in a test facility with a conveying pressure up to 4 MPa. The influence of fluidization nitrogen flow rate, the flow rate of supplementary nitrogen, and the pressure difference between sending hopper and receiving hopper on the solids to gas ratio and the solid mass flow rate was investigated. Test results indicate that with the increase in fluidization nitrogen flow rate, the solid mass flow rate increases, and the solids to gas ratio increases at first and then declines. When the fluidization of pulverized coal in the sending vessel becomes intensive, with the increase in supplementary nitrogen flow rate, the solids to gas ratio declines and the solid mass flow rate increases. And the solid mass flow rate increases linearly with the increase in pressure difference between two hoppers. The experimental results provide a database for the design and operation of a dense-phase pneumatic conveying system. This work was presented at the 6 ^th Korea-China Workshop on Clean Energy Technology held at Busan, Korea, July 4–7, 2006.     

煤粉加压密相输送系统研究现状及发展方向

为优化干法煤气化的煤粉密相输送系统,介绍了加压密相气力输送技术和基于散体力学理论的固体输送泵技术2种典型的煤粉加压密相输送技术,分析了2种典型技术的技术特征及气体加压密相输送技术中的关键问题,提出了干粉加压固体输送泵的发展方向。固体输送泵技术是未来煤粉密相输送的发展趋势。未来应加强国内散体力学的相关理论、数值及试验研究,包括散体静力学,散体动力学的相关基础研究;研究煤种、水分、粒径等参数与摩擦系数之间的函数关系,确定Stamet Pump及PWR针对国内煤种所能提供的最大输出压力;确定典型的Stamep Pump、PWR的XTL技术工业放大的瓶颈所在,提出切实可行的放大解决方案。     

高固气比状态下的粉煤气力输送

在自建的气力输送系统上,进行了高固气比状态下粉煤气力输送研究.分别在内径为15、20、32 mm的管道中进行了输送实验,考察了操作参数对粉煤质量流量、固气比、表观气速等气力输送特征参数的影响.结果表明,输送固气比达到200～580 kg•kg^-1;随气体流量增加,粉煤的质量流量增大,而固气比降低;与输送压力的影响相比,管径对粉煤质量流量的影响程度更为显著;给出了基于本系统描述各参数之间相互关系的经验方程,表明较小的气量和较大的输送管径更有利于实现高固气比状态下的粉煤气力输送.     

水平管加压密相煤粉气力输送数值模拟

针对加压密相气力输送,对现有的颗粒静摩擦力模型进行适当修正,并将其与颗粒动理学理论相结合,建立了可以描述加压密相气力输送的气固湍流流动状况的多相流模型。该模型充分考虑了颗粒间碰撞和摩擦力作用,以及气相和颗粒团湍流脉动之间的相互作用。采用该模型对水平管内加压密相气力输送进行了三维数值模拟研究,模拟得到了气相和固相的速度、浓度和湍流强度分布,以及压降梯度的变化规律,再现了颗粒沉积层的形成和运动的动态过程。并进行了加压密相煤粉气力输送试验研究,预测的压降梯度与试验测量结果相符合。     

煤粉高压密相气力输送稳定性分析

在自主研发的密相气力输送实验装置上,以N₂作输送载气,以3种不同粒径的褐煤作输送物料进行输送实验,运用域重标分析方法对水平管差压信号和料罐质量脉动序列进行了Hurst指数分析,并采用统计学方法对料罐质量脉动序列进行了标准差分析,从管内流动和料罐出料出发,对整体输送稳定性进行了探讨。结果表明：水平管差压信号Hurst指数H_dp能较好地表征管内流动稳定性,而料罐质量脉动Hurst指数H_ma则需结合标准差分析才能更好地表征料罐出料稳定性。以表观气速与跃移速度比值K为特征参数进行探讨,在K=1.5左侧,随着K值减小,H_dp减小,管内流型发生转变,甚至可能发生堵管,管内流动稳定性变差,料罐质量脉动标准差增大,出料稳定性变差,整体输送稳定性变差;在K=1.5右侧,随着K值增大,H_dp减小趋势不明显,管内流动稳定性虽有变差的趋势,但不会发生堵管,而结合对料罐质量脉动序列的标准差分析,发现出料稳定性变差,甚至可能出现出料中断的情况,整体输送稳定性变差。     

宁东灵武矿区煤粉密相输送管道压降研究

采用Barth气力输送理论,通过实验在质量流率1 550—1 700 kg/h的输送范围内,研究了宁东灵武矿区煤粉密相输送的压降和表观气速的关系。结果表明:随着表观气速的增加,水平管道和竖直管道的压降都是先降低后升高,但竖直段的压降变化速度比水平段变化快,水平段的经济气速(4 m/s)小于竖直段的经济气速(7 m/s)。通过计算值与实验值比较,发现理论计算值与实验值偏差在30%以内,说明基于Barth附加压降法对宁东灵武矿区煤粉密相气力输送管阻力特性的计算具有较好的适应性。     

煤粉上出料式发送罐气力输送特性

在常压上出料式发送罐气力输送试验台上,以氮气为输送介质,研究煤粉气力输送特性。通过试验分析了流化风量、充压风量、提升管入口处气体注入速度对煤粉质量流量、固气比等特征参数的影响,并将典型试验工况与高压输送进行了比较。结果表明：随着流化风量的增大,煤粉质量流量、固气比均呈现先增大后减小的趋势。随着充压风量的增大,煤粉质量流量逐渐增大,固气比呈现先增大后减小的趋势。随着提升管入口处注入速度的增大,煤粉质量流量逐渐增大,固气比呈现先增大后减小的趋势。与高压输送相比,常压输送的质量固气比较高,气耗率及输送能耗较低。     

粉煤密相气力输送流型

基于电容层析成像技术对粉煤密相气力输送系统的流型进行了研究,获得了水平管和竖直上升管粉煤密相气力输送系统的典型流动形态。研究结果表明,水平管输送时的流型随时间复杂多变,典型流型有满管流、沉积层流、悬浮流等;统计分析发现,随表观气速不同,存在明显的主导流型;结合固相速度及管道压力信号分析,展示出其与流型之间存在一定的对应关系,进一步证实了密相气力输送系统的不稳定性特征。对竖直上升管的ECT测试结果表明,输送流型为环核结构。     

Friction measurement in dense phase plug flow analysis

Pneumatic conveying, employing the dense phase plug flow regimen, is largely used to transport bulk solids. This process permits the conveying of large amounts of material in economical manner with less particle and pipe degradation compared to dilute phase conveying. By using an experimental system with special measurement devices and different materials of construction and transport, the friction between the material being transported and the pipe wall, the actual motion of the particles was determined, and the degree of fluidization were estimated. This information permits more accurate modeling of dense phase plug flow providing basic parameters to insert in existing and developing models.     

工业级管道中粉煤浓相流动特性

分别以干燥空气和粉煤为输送载气和介质，在39 mm工业级水平不锈钢管内进行了浓相气固两相流动特性实验研究。高速摄像仪拍摄到的粉煤流型表明，浓相输送条件下存在分层流。在流化气和调节气协同作用下，工业级管道中的粉煤浓相输送规律与此两路气流流量密切相关，并获得了39 mm管径下的粉煤气力输送相图。与管径较小的20 mm水平不锈钢管输送结果的比较表明：较大管径条件下，输送压力对粉煤流率的影响更为显著，输送的经济气速相对较高；相同输送通量情况下，较大管径的输送单位管长压降低，且输送通量变化引起的单位管长压降变化也较为平缓。     

Comparison of flow characteristics for dilute phase pneumatic conveying for two different plastic pellets

A series of dilute phase pneumatic conveying experiments using two different types of plastic pellets has led to the determination and development of distinguishing flow characteristics. Separate experiments on polystyrene and polyolefin pellets captured pressure-drop fluctuations and values at two different measuring points—one at the lower horizontal section of the transporting pipe and another at the upper section and at two different solid-loading ratios for each material.Also, comparison and analysis of the pressure-drop fluctuations and values obtained from the experiments were carried out under the same solid-loading ratio and blower rotational speed for both materials. Basic pressure drop calculations were made to find pressure drop due to pure gas, and that due to the presence of solids using a solid friction factor. In addition, the power spectral density analysis, and the wavelet analysis were conducted for both materials to evaluate the flow characteristics.     

Pressure drop prediction for horizontal dense-phase pneumatic conveying of pulverized coal associated with feeding to gasifier

Based on extensive bench-scale data derived from the horizontal dense-phase pneumatic conveying of pulverized coal, a correlation of solids friction factor λ_z was proposed in an effort to establish a model to predict the pressure drop when coal fed to the gasifier. Further, it was also an attempt to modify some public models to verify their availabilities. Then, based on the data collected from an industrial-scale horizontal pipeline under the high pressure up to 2.0 MPa, the proposed model was found to be possibly among the best ones for predicting the pressure drops of the dense flow of pulverized coal. The modified Mallick and Wypych model can also provide satisfying predictions. The results suggest that the two models are both suitable for scale-up of dense-phase pneumatic conveying of pulverized coal at high pressures.     

Numerical simulation on dense phase pneumatic conveying of pulverized coal in horizontal pipe at high pressure

A kinetic–frictional model, which treats the kinetic and frictional stresses in an additive manner, was incorporated into the two fluid model based on the kinetic theory of granular flow to simulate three dimensional flow behaviors of dense phase pneumatic conveying of pulverized coal in horizontal pipe. The kinetic stress was modeled by the kinetic theory of granular flow, while the friction stress is from the combination of the normal frictional stress model proposed by Johnson and Jackson [1987. Frictional–collisional constitutive relations for granular materials, with application to plane shearing. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 176, 67–93] and the modeled frictional shear viscosity model proposed by Syamlal et al. [1993. MFIX documentation and theory guide, DOE/METC94/1004, NTIS/DE94000087. Electronically available from http://www.mfix.org], which was modified to fit experimental data. For the solid concentration and gas phase Reynolds number was high, the gas phase and particle phase were all treated as turbulent flow. The experiment was carried out to validate the prediction results by three kinds of measurement methods. The predicted pressure gradients were in good agreement with experimental data. The predicted solid concentration distribution at cross section agreed well with electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) image, and the effects of superficial velocity on solid concentration distribution were discussed. The formation and motion process of slug flow was demonstrated, which is similar to the visualization photographs by high speed video camera.     

气力输送弯管中流动特性的试验研究

通过三类弯管形式压损试验，发现了短半径弯头在一个较大料气输送比范围内均产生最小压损，实验数据和理论数据对比分析表明，理论模型计算压损值明显偏大，最后通过设置不同终端条件试验，验证了终端条件对系统工作性能影响。     

气力输送小流量煤粉在线流量超声测量

为了提高煤粉工业锅炉的的清洁燃烧性能,利用超声波检测的优势,开展了小流量煤粉浓度与衰减预测分析,研究了煤粉流量超声在线测量系统。结果表明,对于流量500 kg/h的小流量和60~80μm的小粒径煤粉,超声在线测量系统实现了较精确测量,其称重测量和超声测量的流量误差在5.6%左右。研究表明,在线超声测量法在测量60~80μm小粒径的煤粉流量具有明显优势,该技术的应用将为4 t/h左右的小型燃煤粉工业锅炉的清洁燃烧提供科学的检测手段。     

Visual analysis of particle bouncing and its effect on pressure drop in dilute phase pneumatic conveying

During the pneumatic conveying of plastic pellets, it has been observed that materials with similar physical characteristics may develop substantial difference in pressure drop, whose cause is not fully understood. This experimental study focused on the dynamic behavior of the particles during conveying and its influence on pressure drop.The bouncing of the particles during pneumatic conveying in dilute phase was visually analyzed by means of a high speed video camera. The experiments included two different plastic pellets of similar size and density but different modulus of elasticity. The conveying trials were carried out in a 0.052 m I.D. aluminum pipe conveying system approximately 35 m long. The loading was controlled by an airflow control valve and a variable speed drive rotary valve. For each material, a series of tests were performed creating a matrix of six solids rates for five different air velocities. During the conveying trials a high speed video camera was used to record the actual particle motion in a horizontal section with fully accelerated flow. The videos showed significant difference in bouncing between the soft and the hard pellets. The soft pellets showed very random and intense bouncing with strong rotation, which affected the rebound considerably. In fact, some particles bounced even backwards. On the other side, the hard pellets showed significantly less bouncing and rotation.In addition to the high speed videos, in each test the pressure drop was measured in the horizontal and vertical directions. As expected, a significant difference in pressure drop was recorded for the same conveying settings when using the different materials. The pressure drop showed a close relation to the bouncing of the particles, being much higher for the soft pellets.It can be concluded that the increased pressure drop, developed by the soft polyethylene pellets, is in part due to the multiple times the particles must be reaccelerated during their transit through the conveying system. Additionally, the reduction in the average particle velocity increases the drag force. All of this resulted in up to 3-fold increase in pressure drop across the conveying line compared to the hard polyethylene pellets that showed significantly less bouncing.     

Multi‐scale analysis of acoustic emission signals in dense‐phase pneumatic conveying of pulverized coal at high pressure

Acoustic emission technique in conjunction with multiscale processing method has been utilized to investigate the flow behavior of the dense‐phase pneumatic conveying system at high pressure. A clearly defined classification of microscale, mesoscale, and macroscale signals has been put forward with the aid of wavelet transform and V statistics analysis. The detailed signals d₁–d₄, d₅–d₇, d₈–d₁₀ were recomposed into the microscale, mesoscale, and macroscale signals, respectively, which represent microscale particle‐wall interactions, mesoscale interaction between gas phase and solid phase (such as bubbles, plugs, dunes), and macroscale flow‐induced pipe vibration. Further analysis shows that as the mass flow rate of pulverized coal increases, the energy fraction (energy of detailed signal divided by the energy of original signal) of microscale signals decreases while that of mesoscale signals increases, which indicates that particles are more likely to move as particle aggregates than individual particles when mass flow rate increases. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 2635–2648, 2016