Modelling and numerical calculation of dilute-phase pneumatic conveying in pipe systems

A physically based model for the numerical prediction of wall-bounded particulate flows is of great interest for the powder processing industries in order to support process development and optimisation. The present paper summarises developments of an Euler/Lagrange approach for the calculation of dispersed gas-solid flows in pipe systems. The calculations include all important effects, such as, turbulence, two-way coupling, particle transverse lift forces, particle-wall collisions including wall roughness, and interparticle collisions. The importance of these effects on the development of the two-phase flow in different pipe elements is discussed. Results are presented for pipe elements, such as, horizontal pipes, pipe bends, and vertical pipes for different pipe diameters and flow conditions such as conveying velocity and particle loading. The predictions are compared with measurements by phase Doppler anemometry for validation. Moreover, the importance of the different effects governing the particle behaviour is analysed by the calculations. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.