Bulk Material Testing - Pneumatic Conveying

Overview

Why Pneumatic Conveying Testing?

Pneumatic conveying is the process of transporting bulk materials in a gas stream (typically air or nitrogen) through a pipeline. Though this conveyor has several benefits over using screw and belt conveyors, a pneumatic conveying system can experience:

Throughput limitations: system cannot meet required solids handling capacity
Buildup or plugging: pipeline deposition leading to blockage/restrictions
Particle attrition: tendency for particles to degrade and generate fines
Pipeline wear: abrasive wear of elbows/sweeps from hard bulk materials

Pneumatic Conveying test setup.

Pneumatic Conveying elbow.

Pipeline buildup

Wear sweep

Approach

Pneumatic Conveying Tests

Conveying characteristics & minimum conveying velocity: material conveyed over full range of line conditions (from full-suspension to a moving bed)
Particle attrition (friability) or degradation: material conveyed over range of gas velocities to compare particle damage to pre-conveyed condition
Abrasive wear: material directed to an impact plate (e.g., steel, ceramic) to assess damage effects as function of velocity and solids loading
Line coating or buildup: material conveyed through pipeline to assess amount of line buildup as function of conveying velocity

To approximate your actual handling conditions, we will convey the material in either vacuum or positive pressure mode. We have the capability to use heated or cooled gases for transport, as well the ability to run closed-loop tests with gases such as argon or carbon dioxide.

Results

Pneumatic Conveying Test Results

The pneumatic conveying test results are presented in a report package which includes:

Review of pneumatic conveying apparatus and test procedure
Graphical and tabular presentation of the results
Qualitative observations of test phenomena such as buildup, surging, and wear
Video of conveying behavior observed through transparent sections in line
Test conclusions and recommendations

One of our engineers will also review the pneumatic conveying test results with you, and answer questions you may have regarding the report conclusions and key observations.

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