FLOW PROPERTIES AND PATTERN FLOW PREDICTION OF FOOD INDUSTRIAL POWDERS

Abstract

ABSTRACT: More and more industries are faced with new products that need to be stored in silos which, in general, require knowledge of their physical properties and, above all, flow. Food industries are among those using powders as raw materials likely to develop functional problems. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the flow properties of six food powders using equipment called Powder Flow Tester, and the results were compared with those recommended by the Eurocode 1 Part 4 international standard. Wide range of variation in the flow properties responses was observed, suggesting that their expression through a single average value may not be suitable for vertical silos. It was concluded that only the bulk density of products is in accordance with the standard. In relation to flow, only flaked corn is able to flow without possibility of obstruction in the discharge with higher discharge outlet dimensions, being also recommended for flaked oat.

Keywords

• silos
• mass flow
• powder flow tester
• discharge