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HOPPER DESIGN
5.1 Bulk solid handling
Measuring the flow properties of bulk solids and how
to use this information for the design of storage
vessel.
Definitions:
Bin: Any upright container for storing bulk solids.
Silo: A tall bin, where H > 1.5D
Bunker: A shallow bin, where H < 1.5D
Hopper: A converging sloping wall section attached
to the bottom of a silo.
5.2 Solid flow pattern
As solid flow from a bin, the boundaries between
flowing and non-flowing regions define the flow
pattern.
Three types of common pattern:
i)
Funnel flow / core flow
ii) Mass flow
iii) Expanded flow
5.2.1Flow obstruction
Interruption of solid flow in a bin can be caused by 2
types of obstructions:
i)
An arch
Sometimes called as a bridge
Formed across a flow channel
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ii)
ii)
Fine powders :
Flush/aerated uncontrollably
Sudden collapse of rathole/arch
iii)
Caking/degrading of solid:
Left under consolidating stresses in the
stagnant areas.
iv)
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v)
Level indicator
Would not give correct signal on materials
level.
Submerged in stagnant area
5.3.2
Mass flow:
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
Disadvantages:
i)
ii)
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Expanded flow:
Term used to describe flow in a vessel that combines
a core flow converging hopper with a mass flow
attached below it.
The mass flow hopper section ensures a uniform,
controlled flow from the outlet. Its upper diameter is
sized such that no stable pipe can form in the core
flow hopper portion above it.
Expanded flow is used where a uniform discharged in
desired, but where space or cost restrictions rule out
a fully mass flow bin.
This arrangement can be used to modify existing
funnel flow bins to correct flow problems.
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Powder
ff =
5.5.1
C
ff
>y
y = fn ( C )
the relationship is determined experimentally
the relationship is called powder flow function
5.5.3
c
ff
=y
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D/ y
(b)
Powder flow
function
(c)
than c/ff
B=
H ( ) crit
b g
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where
H ( ) = 2.0 +
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Summary
In designing to ensure mass flow form a conical
hopper, all the things below are required:
relationship between c and y.
the variation of ff by knowing:
1. the nature of powder- from knowing the
effective angle of the internal friction,.
2. The nature of the hopper wall- by knowing the
angle of wall friction, w.
3. The slope of the hopper wall by knowing ,
the semi-included angle of the conical
section, i.e. the angle between the sloping
hopper wall and the vertical.
Knowing , w and , the hopper flow factor, ff can
be fixed.
ff ( geometry, material of construction of the wall).
knowing ff and the powder flow function (y vs.
c), then the critical stress in the arch can be
determined.
Thus; the minimum size of the outlet found
corresponds to this stress.
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5.11
tan w =
shear .stress.at.the.wall
normal .stress.at.the.wall
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