Fine Mass Fraction Research Articles

Assessment of the morphological properties of secondary semi-finished wood-fibre products obtained from production waste

This paper presents the results of an assessment of the morphological characteristics of semi-finished wood-fibre products obtained from waste fibreboard using a rotary cutting machine by dry grinding. The work has established the influence of machine design parameters, such as the gap between the rotor and stator cutters and the angle of the stator cutter contact with the raw materials, on the mass fraction of small fibres and fines in wood-fibre pulp. These parameters determine the main structural characteristics of boards and ensure fibre bonding. The paper describes the collision of single secondary wood fibres that leads to the development of primary cracks, contributing to external and internal fibrillation in the absence of high temperatures and pressure without using chemical additives or water and steam.

Effect of horizontal vibrations on mass flow rate and segregation during hopper discharge: discrete element method approach

Vibration is often utilized as a means of initiating and/or controlling flow from hopper in industries dealing with powder/granular materials such as packing, conveying, etc. The effect of horizontal vibration on gravity flow of granular material from conical hopper is modeled using the discrete element method. Material considered in this study includes glass beads of diameter ranging between 0.7 mm and 2.0 mm. The flow dynamics and segregation of material are analyzed for different mixtures characterized based on mass percentage of smaller particles (fines) and multi-component mixtures (binary and ternary) at different vibration parameters. The study includes the influence of vibration frequency, acceleration amplitude, fines percentage, diameter ratio and mixture components on segregation and mass flow rate during vibratory hopper discharge. The extent of segregation is calculated by means of mass fraction of fines inside hopper for different operating conditions. The numerical results indicate that the increase in vibration acceleration at a fixed frequency results into increased mass flow rate and there exists acceleration amplitude beyond which segregation is predominant. Mixture components play significant role in segregation behaviour and binary mixture suffers more segregation as compared to ternary mixture. The spatial distribution of the velocity profile indicates that different mixtures behave differently at a particular vibration conditions. The phenomena like sieving or percolation are also observed based on the analysis of top view simulation snap shots.

Densification behavior of dry spent coffee ground powders: Experimental analysis and predictive methods

The knowledge of bulk properties and densification behavior of Spent Coffee Ground (SCG) powders can be useful in handling such powders through the typical processing units of the soluble coffee industries. In this paper we measured the bulk densities of SCG mixtures with mean sizes from 225 to 550 μm as a function of tapping and tested a number of selected equations to predict the densification behavior of these mixtures. Densification kinetics of SCG powders was found to be overwhelmingly driven by the mass fraction of fines in the mixture. The equations proposed by Kawakita and Ludde (1971), Knight et al. (1995) and Mallol et al. (2008) predicted well the variation of bulk density of SCG powders throughout tapping. Nevertheless, the Kawakita and Ludde's equation is recommended as the most suitable because the fitted parameters in this equation could be correlated to the powders' mean size and Hausner ratio. Besides, three methods to predict the densification curves were proposed. In the first method, the powders' mean diameter is used to predict the densification kinetics and in the second the angle of repose and the loose bulk density of the samples are used. Finally, the third method is based on coupling the densification equation to the Modified Linear-Mixture Packing Model. The three approaches led to predictions of bulk density with deviations <10% in comparison to the experimental data and can be recommended to estimate the densification kinetic behavior of industrial SCG powders.

Sifting segregation of ideal blends in a two-hopper tester: Segregation profiles and segregation magnitudes

The main aims of this work were: 1) to increase the understanding of the segregation process that occurs during a segregation test that follows the ASTM sifting segregation procedure, and 2) to understand the effect of powder load, fines mass fraction and particle diameter ratio on the segregation of ideal blends. Binary blends of microcrystalline cellulose particles (mean diameter ranging from 161 to 661 μm) were used. The segregation tendency of the blends was characterized with a tester built according to the ASTM D 6940 standard. Additional experiments were performed using only the upper or the lower hopper of the tester, to better understand the contribution of the set-up to segregation. The fines fraction in the samples collected during the segregation experiments was determined with a QicPic particle size analyser, and segregation profiles were obtained. Most of the segregation occurred when the upper hopper was discharged into the lower hopper. For most of the profiles, an initial phase presenting a significant oscillation in the fines mass fraction was followed by a second phase where the fines mass fraction was rather constant and, finally, by a third phase where the fines mass fraction decreased. Segregation was quantified calculating complementary coefficients: the standard deviation of the normalized fines mass fraction, the fines mass fraction ratio of the last to the first sample, the fines mass fraction ratio of the sample with the lowest fines fraction to the sample with the highest fines fraction. The segregation amount was rather constant reducing the powder load from 838 to 665 g, while segregation largely increased when the powder load was further reduced to 435 g. The segregation tendency largely increased when the fines mass fraction in the initial blend decreased from 75 to 25% w/w. Finally, the segregation tendency increased when the particle diameter ratio increased from 1.9 to 4.1. The generated data are useful also for comparison when blends of increased complexity are used.

Discharge flow of a granular media from a silo: effect of the packing fraction and of the hopper angle

Silos are widely used in the industry. While empirical predictions of the flow rate, based on scaling laws, have existed for more than a century (Hagen 1852, translated in [1] - Beverloo et al. [2]), recent advances have be made on the understanding of the control parameters of the flow. In particular, using continuous modeling together with a mu(I) granular rheology seem to be successful in predicting the flow rate for large numbers of beads at the aperture (Staron et al.[3], [4]). Moreover Janda et al.[5] have shown that the packing fraction at the outlet plays an important role when the number of beads at the apeture decreases.Based on these considerations, we have studied experimentally the discharge flow of a granular media from a rectangular silo. We have varied two main parameters: the angle of the hopper, and the bulk packing fraction of the granular material by using bidisperse mixtures. We propose a simple physical model to describe the effect of these parameters, considering a continuous granular media with a dilatancy law at the outlet. This model predicts well the dependance of the flow rate on the hopper angle as well as the dependance of the flow rate on the fine mass fraction of a bidisperse mixture.

Discharge flow of a bidisperse granular media from a silo: Discrete particle simulations.

Discrete particle simulations are used to study two-dimensional discharge flow from a silo using both monodisperse and bidisperse mixtures. The density and the velocity profiles through the aperture are measured. In the monodisperse case, two particles' diameters are studied for different outlet diameters. In the bidisperse case, we varied the fine mass fraction of the mixture. In all cases, the density and the velocity profiles are found to follow the same self-similar law. Based on these observations and the previous work of Benyamine etal., a physical model is proposed to describe the flow of bidisperse mixtures giving an explicit expression for the flow rate that is in good agreement with the results.

Limestone particle attrition and size distribution in a bench scale bubbling fluidized bed

&lt;div&gt; &lt;p&gt;Attrition of limestone particles in bubbling fluidized bed has significant influence on cyclic CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; capture ability of sorbents. The limestone particle attrition and size distribution characteristics were investigated experimentally in a bench scale fluidized bed. The effects of initial particle sizes, fluidized velocity, attrition time and temperature on limestone attrition characteristics were studied. An empirical fitting correlation was proposed to describe the relationship of cumulative mass fraction of limestone fines (&lt;em&gt;R&lt;/em&gt;) and attrition time (&lt;em&gt;t&lt;/em&gt;). The results show that the fines generation rate decreases and particle size reduction rate increases with increasing initial size. Chipping of large particle takes predominant position when fluidized velocity exceeds the minimum fluidization velocity resulting in more prominent reduction of particle size. After 4 hours attrition, particle size reduction and fines generation rate become constant. It is suggested that cumulative mass fraction of limestone fines (&lt;em&gt;R&lt;/em&gt;) increases with attrition time with a function of decaying exponential correlation.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Lidar Measurements of the Vertical Distribution of Aerosol Optical and Physical Properties over Central Asia

The vertical structure of aerosol optical and physical properties was measured by Lidar in Eastern Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, from June 2008 to May 2009. Lidar measurements were supplemented with surface-based measurements of PM2.5 and PM10 mass and chemical composition in both size fractions. Dust transported into the region is common, being detected 33% of the time. The maximum frequency occurred in the spring of 2009. Dust transported to Central Asia comes from regional sources, for example, Taklimakan desert and Aral Sea basin, and from long-range transport, for example, deserts of Arabia, Northeast Africa, Iran, and Pakistan. Regional sources are characterized by pollution transport with maximum values of coarse particles within the planetary boundary layer, aerosol optical thickness, extinction coefficient, integral coefficient of aerosol backscatter, and minimum values of the Ångström exponent. Pollution associated with air masses transported over long distances has different characteristics during autumn, winter, and spring. During winter, dust emissions were low resulting in high values of the Ångström exponent (about 0.51) and the fine particle mass fraction (64%). Dust storms were more frequent during spring with an increase in coarse dust particles in comparison to winter. The aerosol vertical profiles can be used to lower uncertainty in estimating radiative forcing.

Wood pulp characterization by a novel photoacoustic sensor

In this paper we introduce a novel photoacoustic sensing technique that captures a photoacoustic signal excited by a laser light pulse after the light has propagated through a turbid medium. Simultaneously, the ultrasonic sound wave is captured after it has propagated through the same turbid medium. By combining the two signals, more information on the investigated medium can be obtained. Applications can be found in the pulp and paper industry where monitoring wood pulp compositions is of interest. Depending on its origin, pulp suspension contains different compositions of fibres and fibre fragments (fines). Poor control of the pulp composition leads to an unstable process that compromises the production, quality and energy efficiency in the pulp mill. The result shows the feasibility of the photoacoustic sensor in monitoring the mass fractions of fibres and fines in a pulp suspension. The first received echo, corresponding to the light interaction with the sample, showed a stronger correlation to the fines mass fraction compared to fibre mass fraction. The second echo, corresponding to the sound wave interaction with the sample, showed a much stronger correlation to fibre mass fraction than to fines mass fraction. Hence, it is proposed that by combining these two echoes, more information about the pulp suspension could be extracted than from any other sensor built on a single sensing principle.

Analysis of Segregation Data for a Dry Mineral-Based Construction Materials Plant

In this work, segregation data for seven commercial products at a dry mineral-based construction materials plant have been analyzed. The segregation manifests itself as an increase of the fines content to unacceptable levels at the end of complete emptying from a surge silo situated upstream of packing. Results for preliminary tests for sifting segregation and fluidization show the difficulty in estimating a priori the segregation patterns observed in practice. Knowledge of the segregation mechanisms occurring with similar materials at silo filling and the discharge flow pattern is utilized to explain the segregation at silo emptying: Accumulation of fine particles at the silo walls during filling and discharge in expanded flow cause fines-rich regions from the vicinity of walls in the lower parts of the silo to be withdrawn last. Large variations in the magnitude of segregation for each product cannot be explained for example by production run size, but are caused by size variations in the silo input, uneven distribution of fines over the heap surface during filling, unpredictable stagnant zones during discharge, and sampling procedure. Segregation at discharge mainly increases with increasing particle size distribution, but the product with the widest size distribution does not segregate the most. The width of the particle size distribution for the products correlates with the mass fraction of fine particles, and inclusion of a special additive (synthetic fibers) in very small proportions is also seen to affect segregation. Therefore, a regression model based on the mass fraction of fines and fibers was employed to organize the products according to the magnitude of segregation. Results for the model show that segregation does not always increase with an increase in the width of the particle size distribution and is negatively affected by inclusion of light and elongated particles (fibers).

An EDC-based turbulent premixed combustion model

In the present study, a new turbulent premixed combustion model is proposed by integrating the Coherent Flame Model with the modified eddy dissipation concept, and relating the fine structure mass fraction to the flame surface density. First, experimental results of turbulent flame speed available from literature are compared with the predicted results at different turbulence intensities to validate the flame surface density model. It is observed that the model is able to predict the turbulent burning speeds accurately. Then, a comprehensive validation is carried out utilizing data on a turbulent lifted methane flame issuing into a vitiated co-flow. Detailed comparison of temperature and species concentrations between experiment and simulation is performed at different heights of the flame. Overall, the model is found to predict both the spatial variation and peak values of the scalars at various heights satisfactorily.

Segregation of powder mixtures at filling and complete discharge of silos

This paper presents segregation of powder mixtures in silos of different scale on the basis of recent experimental findings with binary and ternary mixtures as well as commercial construction materials. Dimensional analysis is performed to reduce the number of variables and to bring forth dimensionless groups. Based on these experimental correlations (models) are proposed for describing the concentration of fine particles at the walls as a result of silo filling and segregation towards the end of complete discharge. Parameters of both models are fitted to experimental data using the method of least sum of squares. The filling model shows good agreement with experimental data and the description of segregation at discharge is in general agreement with experimental findings. Important variables for the distribution of particles at silo filling include the mass fraction of fines, particle size ratio (coarse/fine), particle solid density ratio (coarse/fine), free fall distance, silo diameter and inlet diameter. On the basis of the proposed model for silo filling, the concentration of fine particles at the silo walls increases with increasing fines content, size ratio and density ratio for the powder mixture, as well as the ratio for free fall distance and silo diameter and the ratio for silo diameter and inlet diameter. This result is in general agreement with the findings of other investigators, but the observation that segregation at silo discharge is, to a large extent, determined by the material distribution at filling is new and interesting. This confirms the qualitative conclusions of earlier work by the authors and shows that mass flow designs do not always entirely correct for side-to-side segregation patterns (induced during filling) at silo discharge. The findings of this paper should be of considerable interest to producers of construction materials and to other industries where segregation of powder mixtures in silos is a major concern.

Online Analysis of Coal on A Conveyor Belt by use of Machine Vision and Kernel Methods

The application of machine vision systems to measure particle size distributions has among other things been driven by sophisticated control systems used to monitor and control mills and other ore-processing systems. Machine vision is nonintrusive and offers reliable online measurements in potentially harsh environments. Although considerable advances have been made over the last decade, reliability of measurements with segmentation algorithms is still an issue, particularly where lighting conditions may vary, fines are present, or heterogeneous particle surfaces may result in irregular reflection of light. In practice the alternative to online measurement of particle size distributions is sieve analysis, which is slow and tedious and not suitable for control purposes. The efficient preparation and quality control of coal are important for stable and effective operation of the Sasol® FBDB™ Gasification Process. The operation of these gasifiers depend among other on melting properties and composition of the ash, thermal and mechanical fragmentation, and caking properties of the coal, as well as the particle size distribution of the coal. Although many of these properties can be assessed in some way to expedite process improvement, particle size distributions are difficult to estimate beforehand from feedstocks, since these distributions may change significantly during the feeding process, or by insufficient screening, resulting in an access/increase of fine coal to gasification. The ability to measure these distributions online would therefore play a crucial role in continuous process improvement and real-time quality control. The objective of this project is to explore the use of image analysis to quantify the amount of fines (<6 mm) present for different coal samples under conditions simulating the coal on conveyor belts similar to those being used by Sasol for gasification purposes. Quantification of the fines will be deemed particularly successful, if the fines mass fraction, as determined by sieve analysis, is possible to be predicted with an error of less than 10%. In this article, kernel-based methods to estimate particle size ranges on a pilot-scale conveyor belt as well as edge detection algorithms are considered. Preliminary results have shown that the fines fraction in the coal on the conveyor belt could be estimated with a median error of approximately 24.1%. This analysis was based on a relatively small number of sieve samples (18 in total) and needs to be validated by more samples. More samples would also facilitate better calibration and may lead to improved estimates of the sieve fines fractions. Similarly, better results may also be possible by using different approaches to image acquisition and analysis, but discussion of these falls outside the scope of the present article. Most of the error in the fines estimates can be attributed to sampling and to fines that were randomly obscured by the top layer (of larger particles) of coal on the belt. Sampling errors occurred as a result of some breakage of the coal between the sieve analyses and the acquisition of the images. The percentage of the fines obscured by the top layer of the coal probably caused most of the variation in the estimated mass of fines, but this needs to be validated experimentally. Preliminary studies have indicated that some variation in the lighting conditions have a small influence on the reliability of the estimates of the coal fines fractions and that consistent lighting conditions are more important than optimal lighting conditions.

Studies on pressure drop and minimum fluidization velocity of gas–solid fluidization of homogeneous well-mixed ternary mixtures in un-promoted and promoted square bed

Abstract This paper reports the experimental finding relating to fluidization characteristics of homogenous well-mixed ternary mixtures of three different particle size at varying compositions. The study has been carried out in an un-promoted as well as a rod-promoted square bed. The bed voidage, fixed bed pressure drop and the minimum fluidization velocity have been obtained for both the above-mentioned beds. The dependence of these quantities on average particle diameter and mass fraction of the fines in the mixture for both types of beds has been discussed. The bed voidage and minimum fluidization velocity have been found to decrease with increase in the mass fraction of fines in the mixture. The experimental values of fixed bed pressure drop have been compared with those predicted from equations available in literature. The Kozney–Carman equation has been found to be significant in the present case. The experimental values of minimum fluidization velocity have been compared with the respective values calculated from the correlations proposed by earlier investigations for mono-size and binary mixture of particles using the Sauter mean diameter for the particle size. The values for minimum fluidization velocity calculated from the equation of Wen and Yu have been found to be close to the experimental values.

Granular segregation in discharging cylindrical hoppers: A discrete element and experimental study

The segregation of granular materials due to differences in particle properties occurs during a variety of handling and transport processes, such as flow from a hopper. In the present work, the discrete element method (DEM) is used to investigate segregation of granular materials during discharge from a hopper. The effects of various particle properties and hopper geometries on the segregation of a spherical, bidisperse granular material during hopper discharge are studied. Particle contacts are modeled using a soft-particle model consisting of a hysteretic spring system and sliding friction. The effects of the particle diameter ratio, density ratio, fines mass fraction, hopper wall angle, hopper cross-sectional shape, and the initial fill conditions are investigated. These computational results are compared to those from a small experimental system with the same hopper dimensions and particle properties. The use of this small-scale system permits a novel, one-to-one comparison with the DEM model predictions for the purpose of model validation. The experiments utilize bidisperse glass spheres in a small, Plexiglas cylindrical hopper that is used in the ASTM International standard test for sifting segregation. Particles are discharged from either a ‘mass-flow’ or ‘funnel-flow’ hopper design and collected transiently in equal volumes until the hopper is empty. Analysis of the weight fractions of fine and coarse particles is conducted by sieving. A comparison of the computational and experimental results provides an indication of the model's success at predicting segregation during hopper discharge and the applicability of the DEM model to other granular flow systems.

Pulp consistency determined by a combination of optical and acoustical measurement techniques

In this study, methods based on ultrasonic attenuation and optical time-of-flight measurements are used simultaneously in determining both the fibres and fines mass fractions, respectively, of a cellulose pulp fibre suspension. The optical measurements are done by a laser radar and the acoustical measurements are based on ultrasonic attenuation measurements in a pulse-echo set-up. Two kinds of long-fibre fractions are studied, thermo-mechanical pulp and chemical softwood pulp. Fibre and fines mass fraction ranges are 0.25–1.0% and 0–0.75%, respectively. The results show that the fibres are the predominant source for absorption and scattering of ultrasonic waves and are thus mainly contributing to the attenuation of ultrasound in the pulp. It is also found that the fines are the predominant source for optical scattering and fines are thus mainly contributing to the propagation delay of the light pulse in the laser radar set-up. By combining the ultrasonic attenuation and the optical time-of-flight measurements, it is shown that the mass fraction of fines and the mass fraction of fibres in a pulp sample could be determined, respectively.

Inviscid behaviour of fines-rich pyroclastic flows inferred from experiments on gas–particle mixtures

Abstract Experiments were carried out on granular flows generated by instantaneous release of gas-fluidised, bidisperse mixtures and propagating into a horizontal channel. The mixture consists of fine ( 100 μm) particles of same density, with corresponding grain size ratios of ∼ 2 to 9. Initial fluidisation of the mixture destroys the interparticle frictional contacts, and the flow behaviour then depends on the initial bed packing and on the timescale required to re-establish strong frictional contacts. At a fines mass fraction ( α ) below that of optimal packing (∼ 40%), the initial mixtures consist of a continuous network of coarse particles with fines in interstitial voids. Strong frictional contacts between the coarse particles are probably rapidly re-established and the flows steadily decelerate. Some internal friction reduction appears to occur as α and the grain size ratio increases, possibly due to particle rolling and the lower roughness of internal shear surfaces. Segregation only occurs at large grain size ratio due to dynamical sieving with fines concentrated at the flow base. In contrast, at α above that for optimal packing, the initial mixtures consist of coarse particles embedded in a matrix of fines. Flow velocities and run-outs are similar to that of the monodisperse fine end-member, thus showing that the coarse particles are transported passively within the matrix whatever their amount and grain size are. These flows propagate at constant height and velocity as inviscid fluid gravity currents, thus suggesting negligible interparticle friction. We have determined a Froude number of 2.61 ± 0.08 consistent with the dam-break model for fluid flows, and with no significant variation as a function of α , the grain size ratio, and the initial bed expansion. Very little segregation occurs, which suggests low intensity particle interactions during flow propagation and that active fluidisation is not taking place. Strong frictional contacts are only re-established in the final stages of emplacement and stop the flow motion. We infer that fines-rich (i.e. matrix-supported) pyroclastic flows propagate as inviscid fluid gravity currents for most of their emplacement, and this is consistent with some field data.

Design and application of a new modular adapter for laser diffraction characterization of inhalation aerosols

An inhaler adapter has been designed for the characterization of the aerosol clouds from medical aerosol generators such as nebulizers, dry powder inhalers (dpis) and metered dose inhalers (mdis) with laser diffraction technology. The adapter has a pre-separator, for separation of large particles (i.e. carrier crystals) from the aerosol cloud before it is exposed to the laser beam. It also has a fine particle collector for measuring the emitted mass fraction of fines by chemical detection methods after laser diffraction sizing. The closed system enables flow control through the aerosol generators and all test conditions, including ambient temperature and relative humidity, are automatically recorded. Counter flows minimize particle deposition onto the two windows for the laser beam, which make successive measurements without cleaning of these windows possible. The adapter has successfully been tested for nebulizers, mdis and dpis. In a comparative study with ten nebulizers it was found that these devices differ considerably in droplet size (distribution) of the aerosol cloud for the same 10% aqueous tobramycin solution (volume median diameters ranging from 1.25 to 3.25 μm) when they are used under the conditions recommended by the manufacturers. The droplet size distribution generated by the Sidestream (with PortaNeb compressor) is very constant during nebulization until dry running of the device. Comparative testing of dpis containing spherical pellet type of formulations for the drug (e.g. the AstraZeneca Turbuhaler) with the adapter is fast and simple. But also formulations containing larger carrier material could successfully be measured. Disintegration efficiency of a test inhaler with carrier retainment (acting as a pre-separator) could be measured quite accurately both for a colistin sulfate formulation with 16.7% of a lactose fraction 106–150 μm and for a budesonide formulation with a carrier mixture of Pharmatose 325 and 150 M. Therefore, it is concluded that, with this special adapter, laser diffraction may be a valuable tool for comparative inhaler evaluation, device development, powder formulation and quality control. Compared to cascade impactor analysis, laser diffraction is much faster. In addition to that, more detailed and also different information about the aerosol cloud is obtained.