Fundamental Study on Particle Transportation by Pressure Waves in Pipes—The Characteristics of Particle Transportation— [Translated]†

Abstract

This study investigates the development of new technology for particle transportation in pipes with cyclic pressure waves. The flow is not steady because progressive and reflective pressure waves do exist in pipes and as a result, the flow in pipes is a pulsating one. The particles are continuously supplied into a horizontal pipe and are transported by the cyclic pressure waves. In this experiment, the loading ratio corresponds to a general high-pressure force feed system, and as a result the main flow pattern is plug flow. The properties of the plug are clarified by measuring the characteristic length and velocity of the plug, and the mean number of pressure waves between successive plug passages. Then, the properties of particle transportation are explained using the calculated apparent loading ratio.† This report was originally printed in Japanese J. Multiphase Flow, 17, 276-284 (2003) in Japanese, before being translated into English by KONA Editorial Committee with the permission of the editorial committee of the Society of Multiphase Flow.

Keywords

• pneumatic transport
• compressible flow
• unsteady flow
• multi-phase flow
• pressure wave
• plug flow