Material handling and drying

DT275 Pharmaceutical and chemical process technology

Module CPPT 9006: Material handling and drying

Powder Technology Assignment

 Material handling and drying

Object

The aim of the assignment was to design a dilute phase pneumatic

conveying system to transport 1000 kg/hr of dry aspirin powder of mean
particle size of 50 µ m between a big bag unloading station and a hopper
on a higher level. The horizontal distance travelled is 5 m and the
vertical distance is 20 m. Assumption: six 90 degree bends are required
and the allowable pressure drop is 0.5 bar.

Methodology

In this case, to design the system means to determine the pipe size
which would give a total system pressure loss near to the allowable
pressure loss. It requires trial and error calculations. Pipes are available
in the various sizes so the procedure is to select a pipe size and
determine the saltation velocity from equation:
U CH G
−U T = [1]
ε CH ρ p (1 − ε CH )

The system pressure loss is then calculated at the superficial gas velocity
= 1.5 times the saltation velocity. The calculated system pressure loss is
then compared with the allowable pressure loss.

1. Selection of the pipe size.

The 78 mm inside diameter pipe will be used.

2. Determination gas velocity.

From equation:
 Material handling and drying

4 Mp 10 α g β / 2 D ( β / 2 ) −2
U salt = ( )1 /( β +1)
πρf

Where:
Given:
x -particle size= 50*10-6m
Mp -flow rate of solid = 1000kg/h = 0.277778 kg/s
g -gravity = 9.81 m/s2

D -pipe diameter = 78*10-3m

From Wikipedia:
ρf -density of gas = 1.2 kg/m3
ρp -density of aspirin = 1400 kg/m3

α = 1440 x + 1.96 = 2.032

β =1100 x + 2.5 = 2.555

4 * 0.2778 * 10 2.032 9.81 1.2775 0.078 -0.7225

U salt = ( ) 0.281294
π * 1. 2

U salt = 10.0894 m/s

Therefore, superficial gas velocity:
U= 1.5* U salt = 15.1341m/s
3. Pressure loss calculations.

A) Horizontal section. Using equation:

Gas and solid gravity becomes 0 as Ɵ=0 for horizontal pipes. Thus
equation can be written:
 Material handling and drying

ρ f ε HU f H ρ p (1 − ε H )U p H 2 f g ρ f U LH 2 f p ρ p (1 − ε H )U p HLH
2 2 2 2

∆ p H= + + +
2 2 D D
H subscript refers to values specific to horizontal section.

From Hinkle’s correlation:

U pH = U (1 − 0.0638 x 0.3 ρ p ) = 13.2826 m/s

0.5

From continuity,

G = ρp (1 −ε H )U pH

Thus:
G
ε H =1 − 2
ρ pU pH , where G= Mp/A, A-Cross sectional area of pipe. A=π*r

G=58.1324kg/m*s
ε H = 0.9968

and,
U
UfH = =15.1815m/s
εH

The fraction factor is found from equation:

3 ρf D U f −U p 2
fp = CD ( )
8 ρp x Up

CD - is estimated at the relative velocity ( U f −U p ), using the

approximate correlations given bellow:
 Material handling and drying

Re p <1 C D =24/ Re p

-0.6
1< Re p <500 C D =18.5 Re p

500< Re p <2*105 C D =0.44

For the flow in horizontal section;

4 ρ f (ρp − ρ f )g
CD Re 2 p =
3 µ2
For ambient air [From Wikipedia]
ρf = 1.2 kg/m3
µ = 18.4*10-6 Pa s

C D Re 2 p =8.1

For plotting the relationship on the CD versus Reynolds number Rep

chart, Appendix 1.

Re p Re 2 p CD
0.1 0.01 801
1 1 8.1
10 100 0.081
100 10000 0.00081
Table 1: The values to plot on the standard drag curves.

Assuming that sphericity of the particle Ψ =1.

Re p =0.3

Using approximate correlation:

-0.6
C D =18.5 Re p = 38.097

Substituting C D = 1.49 to fraction factor equation:

3 1.2 0.078 33 .74 −13 .28 2
fp = * * * 1.49 ( ) = 0.3904
8 1400 0.00005 13 .28

Thus:
 Material handling and drying

ρ f ε HU 2 f H ρ p (1 − ε H )U 2 p H 2 f g ρ f U 2 LH 2 f p ρ p (1 − ε H )U 2 p HLH
∆ p H= + + + =

2 2 D D
= 39353.81 Pa

Where f g =gas friction factor = 0.005 [1]

B) Vertical section. Starting with equation:

For vertical transport Ɵ=90o in terms of gas and solid gravity.

The pressure loss, in the vertical section of the transport line is given:

2 f g ρ f U 2 LV g
∆pV = + 0.057 LV + ρ p (1 − εV ) gLV + ρ f εV gLV
D D

Where, subscript V refers to vertical section. To use this equation we

need to calculate the voidage of the suspension in the vertical pipe line εV
. Assuming particles behave as individuals, so slip velocity is equal to
single particle terminal velocity UT, also the superficial gas velocity in
horizontal and vertical sections are equal to U.
U
U pV = −U T
εV

The continuity gives particle mass flux;

G = ρp (1 −εV )U pV
 Material handling and drying

Combining those equations gives a quadratic in εV which has only one

possible root.
G
ε 2 V U T − (U T + U + )εV + U = 0
ρp

The single particle terminal velocity U T might be found from equation:

ρ f xU T
Re p =
µ

Re p µ 0.3 * 18.4 * 10 -6
UT = = = 0.092 m/s
ρf x 1.2 * 50 * 10 -6

58 .1324
ε 2 V 0.092 − (0.092 +15 .1341 + )εV +15 .1341 = 0
1400

εV = 0.9967 or εV = 164 – false

Thus;

2 f g ρ f U 2 LV g
∆pV = + 0.057 LV + ρ p (1 − εV ) gLV + ρ f εV gLV = 1189.129 Pa
D D

C) Bends. The pressure loss across each 90o bend is equivalent to that
across 7.5m vertical pipe.

Pressure loss per meter of vertical pipe = ∆pV / LV =1189.129 /20=

59.456 Pa/m.

Pressure loss across 6 90o bends= 6*7.5* 59.456 =2675.54 Pa

Thus:
 Material handling and drying

Total pressure loss = loss across vertical section + loss across horizontal
section+ loss across bends.

Total pressure loss=13.28+ 39353.81+2675.54 = 42042.63 Pa = 0.420

bar

4. Compare calculated and allowable pressure losses

The allowable pressure loss = 0.5 bar, so I repeat above calculations for
smaller pipe size 63 diameter, the total system pressure loss = 0.821
bar.

Conclusion

In this case the best optional size of the pipes is 78 mm diameter pipe,
which gives a total pressure loss = 0.420 bar.
 Material handling and drying

Figure 1: Drag coefficient CD versus Reynolds number Rep for particles of sphericity Ψ ranging form 0.125 to 1.0 [1]

Agnieszka Mielcarz, Student No. D08117019 9

 Material handling and drying

References:

[1] Introduction to particle technology, M. Rhodes,2nd edition, 2008

[2] www.wikipedia.com
[3] Lecture notes

Agnieszka Mielcarz, Student No. D08117019 10