Reduction of Power Consumption for Pneumatic Conveying of Granular Materials-Effect of vibratory motion of a conveying pipe—

To give a vibratory motion to the pipe used in the plug-type pneumatic conveying of granular materials is thought to reduce the friction of the plug against the wall of the pipe and therefore to save power consumption. In this study, the effect of vibratory motion induced in a pipe wall on power consumption is theoreticaly and experimentally examined. First, a theoretical equation for the air pressure required to move a plug through a vibrating pipe is developed. Second, the values calculated by the equation are confirmed to be in good agreement with the data obtained in experiments performed using horizontal and vertical pipes 1m in length and 25 mm in diameter and calcium carbonate powder as granular material. It is concluded that the application of vibration to the pipe is effective in reducing power consumption for the plug-type pneumatic conveying of granular materials. The optimum design conditions are briefly discussed.