Arch formation mechanism and discharge process of cohesive fine powder in a vibrated silo--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Zhu, J., Wang, K., Ma, Y., Xu, W., Long, J., & Li, X. (2024). Arch formation mechanism and discharge process of cohesive fine powder in a vibrated silo. Particuology, 94, 373-385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2024.09.001

Arch formation mechanism and discharge process of cohesive fine powder in a vibrated silo

Jingzhen Zhu^{a b}, Kun Wang^{a b}, Yu Ma^{a b}, Wentao Xu^{a b}, Jiecai Long^c, Xiwen Li^{a b *}

a State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
b School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
c State Key Laboratory of Precision Electronic Manufacturing Technology and Equipment, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China

10.1016/j.partic.2024.09.001

Volume 94, November 2024, Pages 373-385

Received 13 May 2024, Revised 26 August 2024, Accepted 2 September 2024, Available online 12 September 2024, Version of Record 24 September 2024.

E-mail: xiwenli@hust.edu.cn

Highlights

• Cohesive fine powder flow processes in a vibrated silo were investigated.

• An image-based flow rate measurement method was proposed to evaluate the powder discharge behaviors.

• The arch formation depends on the vibration acceleration amplitude and is slightly affected by the frequency.

• The powder flowability is enhanced by low vibration frequency or high acceleration amplitude.

• The separation and collision process between the powder bed and the silo bottom were discussed.

Abstract

The arch formation mechanism and discharge process of a very cohesive fine powder (calcium carbonate) in a vibrated silo was investigated by experiments and discrete element method (DEM) simulations. An experimental setup is built to study the flow behaviors with the proposed image-based flow rate measurement method. A cohesive DEM model is used to investigate the dynamic behaviors of the powder bed. Results indicate that the arch formation depends on the vibration acceleration amplitude and is slightly affected by the frequency. The powder discharge flow rate increases with vibration acceleration amplitude and decreases with frequency. When the acceleration amplitude exceeds 15 g, the flow rate tends to stabilize. When the acceleration amplitude exceeds 1 g, there is separation and collision between the powder bed and the silo bottom. This collision leads to a significant increase in the contact force.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Cohesive fine powder; Silo discharge; Vertical vibration; Arch formation; Flow rate; Discrete element method

文章导读