The dynamic evolution of powder flow and wall normal stress in different flow pattern silos

Abstract

Major safety accidents involving silos in industrial processes are closely associated with abnormal wall stresses. The effects of different flow patterns and particle velocity distribution on wall stresses are investigated during silo discharge. The existence of particle velocity retardation layer near the wall boundary in the mass flow was observed by tracer particles and high-speed camera. The silo discharge undergoes a transformation from funnel flow to mass flow at a hopper half angle of 30°. As the outlet diameter increases, the time point of the flow pattern transformation becomes more and more later. The evolution of particle velocity in the central of the funnel flow is related to the outlet velocity wave propagation and the V-shaped surface expansion. The relationship between stress fluctuations and velocity characteristics is established. The flow channel simultaneously expands upwards as the velocity wave propagates and generates a periodic fan-shaped velocity wave at the top. The formation of stress concentration zone at the bin/hopper transition was observed.