Study of the pressure drop of dense phase gas-solid flow through nozzle

Pressure drops are measured on different nozzles of various pipe sizes in dense phase pulverized coal pneumatic conveying. From the experimental results, we conclude that the effect of the gas phase nozzle pressure drop is negligible when comparing with the solid phase pressure drop in the experimental range. The main influence factors contributing to the nozzle pressure drop are gas and solid mass flow rate, solids loading ratio, and the diameters of the nozzle inlet and outlet. A new model was developed to predict the nozzle pressure drop in dense phase pneumatic conveying of pulverized coal based on the Barth's pneumatic conveying theory. The pressure drop predictions from the model are in good agreement with the experimental values. The model quantified the important influence factors of the nozzle pressure drop.     

Resistance Properties of a Bend in Dense‐Phase Pneumatic Conveying of Pulverized Coal under High Pressure

Experiments of high‐pressure dense‐phase pneumatic conveying of pulverized coal with different mean particle sizes using nitrogen were carried out in an experimental test facility with a conveying pressure of up to 4 MPa. The effects of three representative operating parameters (solids‐to‐gas mass flow ratio, conveying pressure, mean particle size) on the total pressure drop were examined. The pressure drops across the horizontal and vertical bends were analyzed by experimental and analytical calculation. The results show that the pressure drop due to gas friction is of much less significance, while the pressure drop due to the solids friction component of the total pressure drop dominates. There exists a relationship between the pressure drop due to solids kinetic energy loss and mass flux of solids.     

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。     

Horizontal pneumatic conveying from a fluidized bed

In this paper the feasibility of feeding a horizontal pneumatic conveying line directly from a fluidized bed is explored by investigating the relationships governing the solids mass flow rate in such a pipe as a function of both pressure drop and pipe length. Three different materials were fluidized by air and discharged though a 25 mm internal diameter pipe. Materials used were turnip seeds of mean diameter 1.5 mm, carbon steel shot of mean diameter 0.73 mm and plastic pellets of mean diameter 3.76 mm. Several pipe lengths were used, from 0.75 to 1.77 m. The experiments showed that it is feasible to feed directly from a fluidized bed to a horizontal pneumatic conveying line. The flow regime in the pipe was that of dense phase conveying also called slug flow. The data collected show that there is a clear relationship between the pressure drop down the conveying line and the discharge rate of solids from the line. The discharge rate is also dependent on the pipe length.In previous studies of pneumatic conveying, the solids and gas mass flow rates have been independently set, which cannot be done if the conveying line is fed from a fluidized bed. For a pipe fed from a fluidized bed, the solid and gas mass ratio are coupled and this was modelled using the theory for air-augmented granular discharge through an orifice in a hopper or silo of Nedderman et al. [1983. The effect of interstitial air pressure gradients on the discharge from bins. Powder Technology 35, 69-81], but as modified by Thorpe [1984. Air-augmented flow of granular materials through orifices. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cambridge] for horizontal discharge. This was then combined with a modification of the theory of Konrad [1981. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Cambridge] to give a prediction of the total pressure drop and the gas and solid mass flow rates. This combined model for dense-phase conveying from a fluidized bed was found to give an excellent fit to the data using the standard values for the constants in every equation. The predictions of the combined model also agree well with the experiments of Konrad [1981. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Cambridge] for discharge from a hopper into a horizontal conveying line.     

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.     

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.     

高压密相气力输送垂直弯管阻力特性

在输送压力可达4 MPa的气力输送实验台上,进行不同平均粒径煤粉的密相输送实验。从理论与实验两方面研究气固两相流流经弯管的压损随煤粉体积分数以及表观气速的变化规律。结果表明,高压密相输送中煤粉运动造成的能量损失是总压损的主要部分,且总压损随着煤粉体积分数的增加而增加。研究表明,相同质量流量下,随着表观气速的增加,弯管动能压损增加,摩擦压损降低;相同表观气速时,随着煤粉体积分数的增加,摩擦压损增加;固相摩擦系数与煤粉平均粒径及煤粉质量流量无明显关系,随着表观气速的增加略有下降。     

Flow characteristics and dynamic behavior of dense-phase pneumatic conveying of pulverized coal with variable moisture content at high pressure

Experiments of dense-phase pneumatic conveying of pulverized coal using nitrogen were performed in an experimental test facility with the conveying pressure up to 4MPa and the solid-gas ratio up to 500 kg/m³. The influences of the total conveying differential pressure, the moisture content, the superficial velocity and the pressure on the mass flow rate and the solid-gas ratio were investigated. Shannon entropy analysis of pressure fluctuation time series was developed to reveal the flow characteristics. Based on the distribution of the Shannon entropy in the different conditions, the flow stability and the evolutional tendency of Shannon entropy in different regimes and the regime transition processes were obtained. The results indicate that the solid gas ratio and Shannon entropy rise with increase in the total conveying differential pressure. A phase diagram and Shannon entropy reveal preferable regularity with superficial velocity. Shannon entropy is different for the different flow regimes, and it can be used to identify the flow regimes. As the moisture content increases, the mass flow rate, the pressure drop and Shannon entropy decrease. Shannon entropy rises with increase in pressure drop. This work was presented at the 7 ^th Korea-China Workshop on Clean Energy Technology held at Taiyuan, China, June 26–28, 2008.     

上出料系统粉煤密相气力输送特性及其与下出料系统的比较

考察了气体进入方式和输送压力对上出料发料罐系统粉煤密相气力输送特性的影响,并比较了上出料和下出料发料罐系统的煤粉输送量、固气比和稳定性差异。结果表明,在上出料发料罐系统中,随锥部气增加,煤粉输送量和固气比呈先增加后减小趋势;随底部气和调节气增加,煤粉输送量和固气比呈减小趋势;随输送压力增加,煤粉输送量和固气比先明显增加后增加趋势减弱。与上出料发料罐系统相比,相同输送差压下,下出料发料罐系统具有较高的输送量和固气比,但二者均具有良好的输送稳定性。     

An experimental study of energy-saving pneumatic conveying system in a horizontal pipeline with dune model

In order to reduce power consumption and conveying velocity, a pneumatic conveying system where a dune model is mounted in a pipeline is proposed in this paper. The experimental study focuses on the effect of the mounted dune model in the horizontal pneumatic conveying system in terms of pressure drop, power consumption and conveying velocity. The test pipeline consisted of a horizontal smooth acrylic tube with an inside diameter of 80 mm and a length of about 5 m. Polyethylene spherical particles with a density of 952 kg/m³ and diameters of 2.3 and 3.3 mm are used as conveying materials. The mean air velocity is varied from 9 to 16 m/s, and the solid mass flow rate is from 0.25 to 0.45 kg/s. Firstly, the effect of the dune model location on pneumatic conveying is experimentally studied. It is found that in the lower air velocity range, the pressure drop of the pneumatic conveying with a mounted dune model is lower than that of a conventional pneumatic conveying system. A lower conveying velocity and energy-saving conveying can be realized by installing a dune model in the conveying pipe. Especially the case of fixing the dune model on the bottom of the pipe at the inlet of particle feed is more effective. The particle flow patterns also show that the dune model reduces the deposition of particles. Then, the effect of different surface materials of the dune model is examined. By using a surface material of the dune model with a large coefficient of restitution, the pressure drop of conveying large particles is the lowest. When conveying relatively small particles, however, the pressure drop becomes the lowest by a small coefficient of restitution. The maximum reduction rates of the minimum velocity and power consumption by the dune model are about 19% and 34%, respectively.     

Effect of moisture content on dense-phase conveying of pulverized coal at high pressure

In dense-phase pneumatic conveying, the solid moisture content can significantly influence the conveying process, but there are very few studies in the open literature. In this study, the conveying experiments of two pulverized coals with various moisture contents were carried out at a 4MPa high pressure and dense-phase pneumatic conveying facility. Results show that the whole conveying system can be stably and controllably operated under the condition that moisture content below ∼8%. With the increase of moisture content up to ∼8%, the mass flow rate of 280 μm pulverized coal increases at first and then decreases, while that of 55 μm pulverized coal decreases continuously. The method of solid friction factor correlation is used to investigate pressure drop of the horizontal pipe, and non-dimensional parameters—Fr number, moisture content M and solid loading ratio μ—are investigated. The pressure drop predictions by this correlation are in good agreement with the experimental data. The solid friction factor correlations indicate that the fine coal is more sensitive to M, and μ plays a more important role for the coarse coal.     

文丘里管结构对高浓度煤粉流动特征及压差特性的影响

研究粉煤密相气力输送系统高压、高浓度煤粉通过不同节流比(0.44、0.55、0.7)、收缩角(2.5°、5°、9°)、扩张角(2.5°、8°、13°)、喉段长度(23d、43d、80d)的文丘里管的流动特征和压差特性。结果表明,不同结构参数的文丘里管的量纲1化压力分布趋势一致,但程度不一。其中节流比影响最为显著,并最直接地影响煤粉流经文丘里管的压差。节流比越小,总压差越大,扩张段压差显著增大。其他结构参数在各自的结构序列下主要改变文丘里管内压力分布,而对总压差改变不大。2.5°收缩角的收缩段压差最大,高浓度体系下5°和9°收缩角的收缩段压差差别不大。80d喉段长度的喉段压差最大。8°扩张角的扩张段压差最小。引入固相动量通量,获得本系统内煤粉流经文丘里管的压降经验方程,大部分实验点的计算偏差在30%以内,方程计算效果较好。     

Determination of pneumatic transport capabilities of dry pulverised coal suitable for entrained flow processes

The use of pulverised coal in integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant is currently under development. The results of a project to determine the suitability of Chinese coals for dry feed to the entrained flow gasifier that forms part of the above cycle are presented. This paper also includes some basic material characterisation of the pulverised coal.Pneumatic conveying test rigs were used in conjunction with a mathematical model to generate conveying characteristics for coal at high back pressures. The overall strategy was to test both coal and surrogate at atmospheric back pressure to compare the two materials' performance, under similar conveying conditions; and to test the surrogate material at elevated back pressure, and use this data to validate a mathematical model. The similarity of behaviours of the two materials then allowed the model to be applied to the data measured for coal and so generate conveying characteristics at conditions typical of entrained flow.The mathematical model used to scale the results to high back pressures, which characterise entrained flow processes, is based on the assumption that the influence of the pressure drop due to solids is independent of the back pressure, in the range of conditions considered. Conveying characteristics were generated at a variety of back pressures ranging from 1 to 25 bar. A brief analysis of the minimum conveying velocity is also presented.     

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。     

Influence of the Entrance Configuration on the Performance of a Non-Mechanical Solid Feeding Device for a Pneumatic Dryer

The solids feeder is an important component of a dryer, since it is responsible for introducing the moist material at controlled, specified rates. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of solids feeding configuration on the fluid dynamic behavior of a 53-mm-diameter vertical pneumatic conveyor with a loop of 180°, aiming at further applications in drying granular materials. A non-mechanical solid feeding system constituted by a hopper connected to an inclined pipe was applied to feed type D particles in the conveying line. This simple feeding apparatus was modified through the insertion of different flow restriction devices at the air inlet, namely a reduction nozzle and a Venturi device. This was aimed at studying how the solids flow rates and the fluid dynamics of the whole conveying line are affected by the entrance configuration and inlet devices. The use of inlet devices combined with the non-mechanical inclined valve affected significantly the performance of the valve when operating with type D particles in a pneumatic conveying line. When using inlet devices, an increase in the conveyed solid flow rates at a given air velocity was observed. The reduction nozzle yielded a range of solids loading ratios similar to that of the inclined valve with no inlet device, and introduced some pressure instabilities at the entrance region. The Venturi device allowed operation at a wider range of solids loading ratios and no pressure instability was detected in the conveying line. For the conditions investigated, neither the gas velocity nor the loading ratio affected the extent of entrance length. The inlet devices may be successfully applied to modify and improve the performance of the inclined valve as a solids feeder in pneumatic dryers.     

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.     

Experimental investigation and model improvement on the atomization performance of single-hole Y-jet nozzle with high liquid flow rate

Y-jet nozzle, as an efficient multi-hole internal-mixing twin-fluid atomizer, has been widely used for liquid fuel spray in many industrial processes. However, single-hole Y-jet nozzle with high liquid flow rate is indispensable in some confined situations due to a small spray cone angle. In this paper, the atomization performance of single-hole Y-jet nozzles with high liquid mass flow rates ranging from 400 to 1500 kg/h for practical semidry flue gas desulfurization processes was investigated by the laser particle size analyzer, and the effects of spray water pressure, atomizing air pressure and air to liquid mass flow ratio on the liquid mass flow rate and the droplet size distribution were analyzed. Moreover, the secondary atomization model was modified on the basis of previous random atomization model of Y-jet nozzle. The predicted results agreed well with the experimental ones, and the improved atomization model of Y-jet nozzle was well validated to design the nozzle geometry and to predict the droplet size distributions for single-hole Y-jet nozzle with high liquid mass flow rate.     

Effect of powder properties on discharge characteristics of cohesive carbonaceous fuel powders from a top discharge blow tank at high pressure

Abstract

Discharge experiments of two cohesive carbonaceous fuel powders (anthracite coal and petroleum coke) were carried out in a top discharge blow tank experimental system with design pressure up to 6.4?MPa. The effects of powder properties (particle size and powder category) on the discharge characteristics (including solid discharge rate, solids loading ratio, and discharge stability) from the top discharge blow tank at high pressure were investigated. Meanwhile, shear tests with a ShearTrac II shear tester were performed to investigate the flowability of these two cohesive powders. The results indicate that there exists a near-linear relationship between major consolidation stress and flow function (FF). As particle size decreases, the values of FF decrease and powder flowability becomes worse. However, as particle size decreases, the particle suspension velocity decreases correspondingly, and the gas permeability becomes worse and gas maintain ability becomes better, which contribute to higher solid discharge rate and better discharge stability, whereas solids loading ratio may have opposite variation tendency. Compared to petroleum coke with similar particle size, anthracite coal has better flowability and can obtain higher solid discharge rate and solids loading ratio, as well as better discharge stability. During the discharge processes of petroleum coke, it was found that as the number of discharge experiment increases, the discharge stability decreases correspondingly. After petroleum coke being discharged continuously for 4–6 times, the discharge process could not start again, adhesion phenomena of petroleum coke to the wall of conveying pipelines could be observed.     

工业级水平管粉煤气力输送的最小压降速度和稳定性

采用压缩空气作为输送介质,在工业级水平管(内径50 mm)上开展了粉煤密相气力输送实验研究。在实验获得最小压降速度基础上,通过电容层析成像系统观察到,随着表观气速降低而存在分层流、沙丘流、移动床流以及栓塞流4种流型。不同流型压力信号的概率密度分布和功率谱密度分析表明,压力信号的波动特征与流型紧密联系;由于流动形态的变化,存在由稳定输送过渡到不稳定输送的临界气速,且该速度小于最小压降速度。     

Experimental investigation and stability analysis on dense-phase pneumatic conveying of coal and biomass at high pressure

Conveying characteristics and flow stability are very important for design and control of a conveying system at high pressure. The influences of operating parameters and material properties on conveying characteristics were investigated in an experimental test facility with a conveying pressure up to 4MPa. Wavelet transform and Shannon entropy analysis were applied to analyzing pressure drops through horizontal pipe in order to obtain the stability criterion. Results indicated that the mass flow rate of biomass decreased, while the mass flow rate of pulverized coal increased at first and then decreased with the increase in fluidization velocity. Solid loading ratios for four kinds of powders decreased with the increase in fluidization velocity. Conveying phase diagrams and pressure drops through different test sections of pulverized coal and biomass at high pressure were obtained and analyzed. The influences of coal category, fracture characteristics and particle size on conveying characteristics were determined.