PNEUMATIC TRANSPORT

Miguel Deogracias Snchez

GAS DYNAMIC
Introduction
Gases have been used successfully in industry to
transport a wide range of particulate solids
Most pneumatic transport was done in dilute suspension
using large volumes of air at high velocity
There has been increasing interest in the so-called dense
phase mode of transport in which the solid particles are
not fully suspended
Advantage of dense phase transport is low air
requirements
Generally means a lower energy requirement
Resulting low solids velocities mean that product
degradation by attrition and pipeline erosion are not
major problems
Dilute phase and dense
phase transport

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 pneumatic transport
Ap/AL
Superficial gas velocity U
A
B
G = 0
G = G
2
> G
1

G = G
1

U
ch
for G
1

Uch, lowest velocity at which dilute phase transport line can be operated
if solids feed rate is G1
Static head of
solids dominates
Friction resistance
dominates
Phase diagram for dilute phase
horizontal pneumatic transport
Ap/AL
Superficial gas velocity U
A
B
G = 0
G = G
2
> G
1

G = G
1

U
salt
for G
1

Saltation, solids begin to settle out in the bottom of the pipe
Definitions
Superficial gas velocity
U
fs
= Q
f
(gas volumetric flow) /A (cross sectional
area of pipe)
Superficial solids velocity
U
ps
= Q
p
/A (Q
p
= volumetric flow of solids)
Actual gas velocity
U
f
= Q
f
/Ac (void fraction)
Actual particle velocity
U
p
= Q
p
/[A(1-c)]
Important relationships
Mass flow rate of particles


Mass flow of fluid


Solids loading = M
p
/M
f

p p
) 1 ( AU M c =
p
f f
AU M c
f
=
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 wall friction
5. Static head of solids fighting gravity
6. Static head of gas fighting gravity
Not considered: interparticle forces
Terms and physical meaning
1. Total pressure drop
2. Gas acceleration (gas acting on gas)
3. Particle acceleration (gas acting on particles)
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

P
1
P
2
( )
F
fw
L
F
pw
L

p
L(1c)g sinO

f
L c g sinO
1
2
c
f
U
f
2
1
2
(1c)
p
U
p
2
Force balance on pipe
Net force acting on
pipe contents
rate of increase in
momentum of contents
=

Pressure - gas/wall friction force - solids wall friction force - gravity = rate of
increase in force momentum of gas + rate of increase in momentum solids

P
1
P
2
( )
F
fw
L F
pw
L
p
L(1c)g sinO
f
L c g sinO=

1
2
c
f
U
f
2
+
1
2
(1c)
p
U
p
2
F
fw
and F
pw
are gas to wall and solids to wall friction force respectively, L = pipe length,
O = angle of pipe with horizontal

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 AP = AP for 7.5 m of vertical pipe under same flow conditions


Bends
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