Analysis of a pneumatic system for a two-phase flow sugar

Abstract

This document shows a complete analysis the transportation of sugar particles by a pneumatic conveying station. This project shows an actual situation presenting in a food plant located in Aragua, Venezuela, where the sugar piping system suffers continuous obstructions. It was achieved an effective analysis of the phenomenon of solid-gas two-phase flow transport which involves a complex physics phenomenon. Two possible obstruction causes was studied: the high temperature at the blower exit that induces changes in the sugar properties caused by the working condition far from the designed operation condition, or the excessive friction losses, due to the system is working out of the dilute phase condition (optimal condition for the flow). The mathematical model described allowed to determine that the cause of the obstruction of the pipeline was the stick of the sugar to the internal wall, as consequence of this high temperature at the outlet of the blower.