Validation of particle flow through a conveyor transfer hood via particle velocity analysis

A critical factor in the design of conveyor transfers is the ability for material to flow at a velocity as close to that of the conveyor belt as possible. If particle velocity increases too much issues such as particle attrition, dust generation, chute wear and excessive noise can arise, whereas if particle velocity were to decrease, stagnation zones could develop, resulting in issues such as spillage or chute blockage. There are numerous methods available in which to analyse particle flow through a conveyor transfer, including; continuum based analytical methods, the discrete element method (DEM) and experimental analysis. This paper will detail the validation process for these three methods. The experimental investigations were performed on the conveyor transfer research facility located at the University of Wollongong, using high-speed video to capture the flow and analysis via Image Pro Plus. A continuum based analytical analysis was then used as an additional comparison and validation tool for the experimental results. Lastly, the use of DEM provided a third means of quantification and prediction of the particle velocity through the transfer hood.