(57c) Simulation of Powder Segregation Phenomena during Filling and Emptying of an Industrial Storage Hopper

This presentation describes a numerical simulation of segregation of a powder mixture when a storage bin is used in a powder process. A continuum framework tracks composition changes inside and exiting the bin during its dynamic operation, including filling and emptying. The simulation treats particle segregation on moving free surfaces and includes velocity profiles within the powder during discharge. The simulation combines historical treatments of powder flow (mass and funnel flow) from the 1960’s with the recent developments in powder segregation modeling from Northwestern University. This simulation was programmed using gPROMS and therefore it can be connected to other unit operations within the gSOLIDS library for an overall dynamic powder process simulation. We will show how this modeling approach is useful to industry in mitigating segregation risk with examples.