Pneumatic transport

Basic definition using gas to transport a

particulate solid through a pipeline
Ex: grain, flour, plastic, pulverized coal

Two modes
Dilute phase particles are fully suspended, like
entrainment in FB but deliberate, solids less than 1 %
by volume, lots of pumping reqd
Dense phase particles not suspended, loading > 30 %
by volume, lots of interparticle interactions

Phase diagram for dilute phase

vertical pneu. transport
(after Rhodes, p. 141, Fig 6.1)
p/L

Static head of
solids dominates

G = G2 > G1

Friction resistance
dominates

G = G1
B

A
Uch for G1

G=0

Superficial gas velocity U

Uch, lowest velocity at which dilute phase transport line can be operated if solids
feed rate is G1

Phase diagram for dilute phase

horizontal pneu. transport
(after Rhodes, p. 142, Fig 6.2)
Saltation, solids begin to settle out in the bottom of the pipe
p/L
G = G2 > G1
G = G1
B
A
Usalt for G1

Superficial gas velocity U

G=0

Definitions
Superficial gas velocity Ufs = Qf (gas
volumetric flow) /A (cross sectional area of
pipe)
Superficial solids velocity Ups = Qp/A
(Qp = volumetric flow of solids)
Actual gas velocity Uf = Qf/A (void
fraction)
Actual particle velocity Up = Qp/[A(1-)]

Important relationships
Mass flow rate of particles

M p AU (1 ) p

Mass flow of fluid

M f AU f

Solids loading = Mp/Mf

Pressure drop in pneumatic transport

Contributors to pressure drop
1. Gas acceleration (gas acting on gas)
2. Particle acceleration (gas acting on particles)
3. Gas/pipe friction
wall friction
4. Solids/pipe friction

5. Static head of solids

fighting gravity
6. Static head of gas

Not considered: interparticle forces

Force balance on pipe

Net force acting on
pipe contents
Pressure - gas/wall
friction force

= rate of increase in
momentum of contents

- solids wall
friction force

- gravity = rate of increase in force

momentum of gas + rate
of increase in momentum
solids

( P1 P2 ) F fw L Fpw L p L(1 )gsin f Lgsin =

1
1
2
2
fU f + (1 )pU p
2
2
Ffw and Fpw are gas to wall and solids to wall friction force respectively,
L = pipe length, = angle of pipe with horizontal
What happens for steady state? Horizontal flow?

Terms and physical meaning

(you match them up):
( P1 P2 )

1.

Total pressure drop

F fw L

2.

Gas acceleration (gas acting on gas)

Fpw L

3.

Particle acceleration (gas acting on particles)

p L(1 )gsin

4.

Gas/pipe friction

wall friction

5.

Solids/pipe friction

wall friction

6.

Static head of solids

fighting gravity

7.

Static head of gas

fighting gravity

f Lgsin
1
2
fU f
2
1
2
(1 )pU p
2

Tools to calculate pressure drop

Correlations for Fpw
For vertical transport [G = solids mass flux, mass particles/(area x time)]

g
Fpw L = 0.057GL
D

Horizontal transport
where
and

2fp GU pL
Fpw L =
D

U p = U(1 0.0638x 0.3 p )

0.5
2

f U P
3 f D U
fp =
CD

8 p x U p

For gas/wall friction pressure drop, calculate with friction factor

assuming it is independent of presence of particles.

Simple method for s.s. horizontal

From Particle Technology by Orr (1966)
Ratio of total pressure loss
due to solids/air system
(Pt)
to total pressure loss due to
only air flowing (Pa)

k is an empirically
derived coefficient

Pt
R
= 1+
Pa
k

R = mass of solid material

mass of air

k as a function of superficial velocity

4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
coefficient
k,
dimensionless
1
2000
3000

4000

5000

superficial velocity, ft/min

6000

Bends
Generally problematic. Solids that may be in suspension in
vert/horiz transport may salt out as they go around bends. Worst
case: vertical going to horizontal

blinded tees recommended if

bends are unavoidable
No reliable correlations exist for bend pressure drops.
Only a rough rule of thumb:
Bend P = P for 7.5 m of vertical pipe under same flow conditions

For more info (and movies!)

http://www.erpt.org/014Q/rhoe-00.htm