Characterization of the bulk flow properties of industrial powders from shear tests
Bulk flow properties from shear analysis of compacted powders can be evaluated following different approaches. Experimental values of shear stresses obtained by conventional shear cells are traditionally used to build yield loci, from which the most relevant flow properties could be found. Such flow properties play an important role in determining their performance under fluidization conditions. In this work, a useful app, named cYield, was developed by using the new Matlab&rsquo
Aggregative behavior of cohesive magnesium carbonate powders during fluidization and aerated discharge
In this paper we studied the aerated discharge of two magnesium carbonate powders differing in their average diameter and particle size distribution. These samples were characterized by means of fluidization experiments and rheology shear tests carried out in a rotating shear cell. In the hopper discharge experiments, besides the discharge rates and the mass of residual solids as a function of the aeration rate, the aggregative behavior was observed by means of photographic techniques. Solids aggregates were actually visible within the aerated beds of solids during the fluidization experiments and in the streams of the discharging solids. Experimental data on the powder flow properties and …
Comparison between a Uniaxial Compaction Tester and a Shear Tester for the Characterization of Powder Flowability
The complete characterization of powder flow properties with shear cells is a long and time-consuming process that requires specially trained operators or costly automated instruments. For these reasons, in industrial practice, the use of simpler and less extensive measurement by uniaxial compaction testers is often preferred. However, previous studies in the literature indicate that the results of the two techniques are not directly comparable due to the different stress state conditions achieved in the two testers.In this study, an experimental campaign to measure the flow function of five different powders with a ring shear tester (RST) and a uniaxial compaction tester (UCT) was performe…
On the use of a powder rheometer to characterize the powder flowability at low consolidation with torque resistances
The Anton Paar Powder Cell was used to measure the torque necessary to rotate an impeller in beds of glass beads, sand and alumina powders aerated between no aeration to the minimum for fluidization. Measured torque values depend on the material tested, on the air flow rate applied, on the impeller depth and on the height of the impeller blade. The effect of the impeller depth is linear for low impeller depth and is less than linear at high depth values. A model was developed for the interpretation of the experimental results based on the idea that the material is shearing on the surface described by the impeller rotation. The model allows to estimate an effectiveness of the impeller in the…