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Method of Determining Rate of Discharge From Silo: István Oldal

This document presents a new model for determining the discharge rate of granular materials from a silo. The model assumes that discharge occurs through the formation and breaking of unstable arches within the silo. Below each arch, materials fall freely. The model calculates the velocity field and average discharge velocity based on the height and shape of the arches. Experiments varying the outlet diameter of a model silo were conducted to validate the model. Results showed good agreement between measured and calculated discharge rates when the outlet diameter was less than 80% of the silo diameter. The new model provides a better approximation of discharge rates over a wider range of parameters compared to existing theoretical and empirical models.

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Zaeem Uddin Ali
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135 views2 pages

Method of Determining Rate of Discharge From Silo: István Oldal

This document presents a new model for determining the discharge rate of granular materials from a silo. The model assumes that discharge occurs through the formation and breaking of unstable arches within the silo. Below each arch, materials fall freely. The model calculates the velocity field and average discharge velocity based on the height and shape of the arches. Experiments varying the outlet diameter of a model silo were conducted to validate the model. Results showed good agreement between measured and calculated discharge rates when the outlet diameter was less than 80% of the silo diameter. The new model provides a better approximation of discharge rates over a wider range of parameters compared to existing theoretical and empirical models.

Uploaded by

Zaeem Uddin Ali
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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METHOD OF DETERMINING RATE OF DISCHARGE FROM SILO

Istvn Oldal
Szent Istvn University Hungary
Mechanics and Technical Drawing Department
[email protected]

1. Introduction
Discharge is an important question when granular materials are stored in a silo. There are two method of
determining rate of discharge granular materials from silo. Johanssons method is theoretical Beverloos one is
empirical. We made a theoretical model based on mechanical behaviour of granular materials. Our method better
than the others because it gives good results in wider range of parameters. And give an approximation of velocity
field. In this paper we present the model and compare it with our experiments.

2. Introduction of a model
During running out from a tank velocity of granular
materials is constant. It is not agree with fluids where it
depends on filling level. The phenomenon is known
and the models have assumed it. But it is not any
model that describes the causes. It is valid in case of
Johanssons and Beverloos models. The first one
describes only mass flow another one only funnel flow.
Our aim is constructing a model that solve these
problems.
Introduction of flow out model we take the next
assumptions.

We model the granular material flow out like that is


forming and breaking of instable arches. That is
continous if the conditions of stable arching are
ungratified. Granular material is in conditions of free
fall below arch. Flow velocity at outlet depends on
height of falling only. So the first requirement is
satisfied by the model namely discharge velocity is
constant over height of bulk.
In order to determining quality of mass flow we have
to calculate velocity. It depends on height of arch
Velocity of granular material at outlet
y

Arching effect acts at all times of flowing granular


material through outlets. Arch can be stable or
instable.
This effect is the bottleneck of flowing.
Properties of instable arches are similar to stable
arches (shape, stresses).
Shape of arch can describe as a paraboloid. This
shape depends on material properties of granular
media, hopper geometry and wall friction.
There is a surface below outlet where normal stress is
zero. Structure of granular material cracks up under
such conditions. It gives a yield surface that can called
instable arch. Below of this region are free fall
conditions irrespectively of the height above. It means
in around arch there are constant conditions during
running out

f(x,)

yield surface

h
x
velocity
field

v(x,)
d

Figure 1. Plane section of arch and velocity field


-

f(x,) is a function of paraboloid that


describes surface of arch in polar coordinate
reference frame. Value of this gives the height
of falling,

v(x,) is velocity at outlet,


h is height of arch,
d diameter of outlet,
=h/d rate of height and diameter of arch.

In case of free fall:


v( x, ) = 2 gh ,

h = f ( x, ) ,


x
f ( x , ) = h 1

d2

Velocity field at outlet:

Average velocity:

v=

0 0

W[kg/s]

7
6
5
4

2 x 2
v( x, ) = 2 gd 1
d

d
2 2

of this can be counted simply. During experiments


outlet diameter was changing only.
Effect of hopper is not valid in case of outlet diameter
d = 90 s 100 mm because it is too little or it is not.
Capability of arching is decrease or not. Our model is
based on arching so we put out these experiments from
examined range.

3
2
1
0
0

2 x 2
2 gd 1 xddx
d
2

=
2 gd
d 2
3
4

2
6

60

80

100

120

d[mm]

When outlet diameter was less than silo diameter 80%


the model shows good approximate to measuring data
in case = 0.28.

W[kg/s]
1,6
1,4
1,2
1
0,8
0,6
0,4

0,2
0

Discharge rate in N/s unit:


Q=

40

Figure 2. Measured mass flow over diameter

If we assume density is near constant, the volume of


mass flow can be determined from velocity multiply
outlet area and density.
W = v A,
5
2
d 2 2 g
=
d 2
W =
2 gd
3

20

10

This form similar to Johanssons but instead of using


half cone angle () parameter is used. It gives wider
application range. Changing of between 15 and 30
degrees we measured discharge rate decrease 15%
without Johanssons model gives 50% decreasing.
Beverloos function is not include similar parameter it
only contains density, outlet diameter and empirical
constant.

4. Conclusions

3. Experimental analysis

5. References

3.1. Experimental model silo

[1]

3.2. Results
Result of a measuring was a mass-time curve. These
are linears curves that means volume of mass flow is
constant. (This agree our previous experience.) Value

30

40

50

60

70

80

d[mm]

Figure 3. Measured mass flow over diameter

g 2 d 2

Our model silo was made of a plastic cylinder of 100


mm in diameter. The hopper was conical and its half
cone-angle was 45. The outlet diameter was variable
between 25 and 100 mm. The loads were measured by
two load cells wall friction, vertical force on hopper
sum of them was mass of material in silo. Experiments
were done using grain wheat.
Our research was granted by OTKA T 35022.

20

The problems of known methods were shown. Our


model gives a result of them. It shows good agreeing
with results of measuring which was had done. The
upper limit of usable is higher than real silos occur.
Parameter can be determined by measuring or FEM
analysis but it changes narrow range.

[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]

Keppler Istvn, Csizmadia Bla: Nhny gondolat a szemcss


anyagok
termszetes
boltozdsnak
modellezsi
lehetsgeirl, Fiatal Mszakiak Tudomnyos lsszaka V.,
Kolozsvr 2000.
Johnson, J. R.: Method of calculating rate of discharge from
hoppers and bins, Society of Mining Engineers, 1965.
Beverloo, R.: The flow of granular solids through orifices,
Chem. Eng. Sci. 15, 262, 1961.
Kzdi-Rthti: Handbook of soil mechanics. 4. vol., Akadmiai
Kiad, Budapest, 1990.
Istvn Oldal, rts s boltozds ksrleti vizsglata silknl,
(Experimental analysis of discharging and arching in silos)
OTDK dolgozat, Sopron, 2001.

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