Prediction of flow patterns during silo discharges using a finite element approach and its preliminary experimental verification

作     者：S.Ding H.Li J.Y.Ooi J.M.Rotter 

作者机构：Faculty of Science and EngineeringUniversity of AgderGrimstadand Tel-TekPorsgrunnNorway School of Material & Mineral ResourcesXi'an University of Architecture & Technology Institute for Infrastructure and EnvironmentSchool of EngineeringUniversity of Edinburgh 

出 版 物：《Particuology》 (颗粒学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2015年第13卷第1期

页      面：42-49页

核心收录：

学科分类：080704[工学-流体机械及工程] 080103[工学-流体力学] 08[工学] 0807[工学-动力工程及工程热物理] 0801[工学-力学（可授工学、理学学位）] 

主　　题：Discharge pattern Flow boundary Double-cone insert FE analysis Preliminary verification 

摘      要：Obtaining a reliable discharge of particulate solids from a storage silo is a prerequisite to securing oper- ational adequacy in solids handling processes. If a silo is poorly designed, an unreliable interrupted discharge often occurs. In this study, an in-house finite element （FE） program was modified to predict the particulate solids flow patterns during discharges from silos, and the effect of a double-cone insert on such flow patterns. In FE modeling, a Eulerian approach was adopted with an assumption of steady-state flow-a state that greatly facilitated investigations on the effects of double-cone inserts on the flow of particulate solids. Predictions were carried out on whether the discharge was in mass flow or funnel flow, associated with the inclination angle of the silo＇s hopper. Predicted results were in agreement with the Jenike Chart, and proved that an upper lateral pressure ratio value gave a better critical hopper half angle to achieve mass flow （EN 1991-4, 2006）. The shape and size of the stagnant zone were further discussed to address the flow channel boundary between the flowing and static solids if the discharge was in a funnel pattern. Results also showed the effects of a double-cone insert on the flow patterns which con- verted silos from funnel flow to mass flow up to a certain hopper inclination angle and would improve the flow pattern even for shallower angles. Experiments were carried out to verify some of the predicted results. Some qualitative comparisons were made between the predicted results and experimental mea- surements, which indicated that further efforts are needed in predicting the shape of the stagnant zone （flow channel boundary） during funnel flow discharges.