Effect of resistance components on solid mass flow rate of the pneumatic conveying system

Abstract

In pneumatic conveying systems, a stable and controlled solid mass flow rate is essential for industrial plant design. This study examined the influence of resistance component sizes and shapes on dense-phase pneumatic conveying, which demonstrated that structural variations significantly alter system pressure distribution and the solid mass flow rate. Notably, the analysis showed that the ratio of the orifice plate pressure drop to the total conveying pressure drop is related to the resistance component structure. Consequently, the solid mass flow rate can be controlled by adjusting the structure of the resistance components. Moreover, the structure characteristics of the resistance components are engineered to enhance gas velocity within the pipeline, thereby effectively mitigating the risk of clogging. The relationship between the ratio of the orifice plate pressure drop to the total conveying pressure drop and the solid mass flow rate was established by introducing the concept of effective pressure drop. Based on this relationship and Beverloo law, a model for solid mass flow rate was developed, which can predict the solid mass flow rate well by providing errors mostly within ± 10 %. This study offers a valuable reference for the optimizing of resistance components design in pneumatic conveying systems.