Investigation of Changes in Flow Parameters along the Transport Line in Installations for Pneumatic Transport of Cotton ()
1. Introduction
For the transportation of cotton inside cotton processing plants, pneumatic transport units of the suction type are often used. Inside the system, the excess pressure is created by the fan, near which the air pressure has the maximum value. As you move away from the fan, both in the direction of suction and discharge, the air speed and pressure decrease. Because of this, the air velocity and pressure along the length of the pipeline are distributed unevenly. This is often explained by the loss of speed and pressure in the pipelines [1] [2] [3] [4].
The connection or removal of a part of the pipeline or the connection or removal of elements of the pneumatic transmission system—elbows, heavy impurity catcher (revisions), separator, diffusers and confusers is accompanied by a decrease or increase in pressure inside the pipeline. In order to understand the essence of this phenomenon, it is necessary to study the process of pressure occurrence.
Any aerodynamic installation contains at least 3 components. This is the fan and connected to it, the suitable and outgoing pipelines. In any design, the pressure of the fan creates its impeller, which shovels air particles from one side to the other, which creates a moving flow of air inside the housing, which has an inlet and outlet windows, which are connected respectively to the inlet and exhaust pipes. During rotation, the impellers (or wheels) cut off the surrounding air layers from the entrance window and throw them towards the exit window. Moreover, a sparse medium is formed in the input window, and a compacted medium is formed at the output.
The discharged medium is a vacuum, which attracts nearby particles, i.e., particles of air and creating a corridor for the movement, formed a stream that is part of the fan. Similarly, the repulsive force of the compacted environment also forms a flow, only the exhaust. Fan binds these threads into one, i.e., during operation, the fan sucks air flow or Aero mixture on one side and outputs it to the other side. According to this, the indices of the incoming and outgoing flow are the same. Rate of discharge (also called compaction), in fact, is the indicator measured in units of force (or mass) per unit volume (this is the unit of density). However, to date for no science of such a measure as an indicator of low (or compaction), there is no means of measurement. But, there is the concept of pressure, which is measured by the magnitude of the force per unit area.
2. Mathematical Description of Changes in Flow Parameters along the Transportation Line
This, the power that is in the field of vacuum pulling pipe wall to the center of the stream, and in the field of sealing pressure on pipe wall from the inside. And this power can be measured instrumental and attributing its importance to the area of action of this force determines the pressure value. In pipelines, the forces acting on the pipe wall perpendicular to cause static pressure Pst, the forces acting along the pipeline—dynamic Pd. Total pressure Pп is the algebraic sum of the absolute values of Pд the dynamic and static Рst pressure [5] [6] [7] [8]:
, (1)
(2)
(3)
where ρ—is the density (kg/m3), υ—speed (m/s) of flow; g—gravitational acceleration, m/s2; h—height photometrically pressure, which is equal to the height of air column or liquid, giving a pressure to the PCT on the contact surface equal to 1 m2.
It is known that the dynamic pressure depends on density and air velocity, in the absence of vacuum (or exhaust) gas through the wall of the pipe (or pipe joints), i.e. the constancy of the speed of air, it does not change along the entire length of the pipeline and its possible to define the flow-rate measurement. And static pressure, assuming the density of known value that depends only on the height of the column of air, which is not determined instrumentally. This pressure is estimated a direct measurement at the beginning (the mouth) and the end (of the fan) of the pipeline. Judging by the formula, the static pressure depends on the height of the column of gas, which by its weight presses on the support surface, and this in turn is the distance that starts from the point where the pressure is minimum (or zero) value and continues to the point of contact pressure force with a supporting surface where it has maximum value. At a constant cross-section and resistance to duct static pressure from the mouth of the duct to the fan varies in a linear relationship [9] - [14].
Imagine that the origin Р0L is located at the fan 0L-axis represents the length of the pipeline and 0P-static pressure. For this case the equation of the line can be described as:
, (4)
where, PH is the initial or nominal pressure (i.e., pressure of the fan, which is equal to the certified value of the pressure generated by the fan) Pa; Pb—the final pressure, or pressure at the mouth of the pipeline, Pa; L0 and Lb, respectively, the initial and final length of pipeline, m. Imagine that the countdown starts right at the fan and take L = L0 = 0, then the mouth of the pipe L = Lb. If, given these conditions, to solve the equation for R, we get:
, (5)
Check: if L = 0, P = PH; and when L = Lb, P = Pb. Hence, the equation correctly describes the law of variation of pressure along the transport line.
On the other hand, at the mouth of the pipeline pressure decreases to a pressure value of Рк is required to overcome the resistance of the pipeline:
, (6)
where, λ is the drag coefficient. Accordingly, the pressure at the mouth of the pipeline will be equal to:
. (7)
If the equation to describe the relative static pressure, the pressure at any point on pneumotrack will be equal to:
, (8)
Here Pнс is the nominal static pressure Pa. And total pressure Pр according to (2), (3) and (8):
, (9)
Here, Pнр—full rated pressure of the passport is also the index fan Pa.
Internal diameter of the pipeline is equal to d = 0.315; 0.355; 0.4 m, the air density ρ = 1.2 kg/m3. The resistance coefficient for clean air for rough pipes is often determined by the formula of Shiferson [1] [2] [15] [16]:
, (10)
when а = 0.133
-
;
-
;
-
;
when а = 0.044
-
;
-
;
-
.
Here a—coefficient of roughness of the pipe, which for the new pipes is equal to a = 0.133; used for pipes a = 0.044 mm. With this in mind, for different pipe diameters.
Analysis of Equation (9), conducted on a computer with different flow parameters are presented in Figure 1.
Photos 1, 2 and 3—full line pressure, 4, 5 and 6 lines of static pressure and dynamic pressure line 7. At the same time, 1 and 4 - 400 mm pipe, 2 and 5 - 355 mm pipe, 3 and 6 - 315 mm pipe.
The results show that the dynamic pressure under the condition of complete tightness of the system has a constant value along the line of current. And static and total pressure linearly decreases from the point of disturbance, i.e., from the
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Figure 1. Distribution of statically and dynamic pressure along the line of the pipe.
fan to the extremities of pneumothrax. The figure shows that at smaller diameters the decrease in pressure more intense. This shows high resistance of pipes of a smaller size relatively large. For example, if pipe diameter 315 mm static and dynamic pressure approaching zero at a distance of 95 to 100 m. Important this time graphics of pressure when the diameter of 355 mm (2-line) and 400 mm (4-line) intersect and the values are very close to each other. This shows that replacement of the pipeline diameter 400 mm pipeline diameter 355 mm to large losses of pressure and power will not. According to this, the pipe diameter is 355 mm can successfully replace the pipes of 400 mm diameter.
Indeed, many studies report an increase in the resistance of the pipeline with decreasing diameter of the pipeline. However, by Blasius [1] [2] found that for hydraulically smooth tubes the increase in air velocity at constant diameter of the pipe reduces the resistance of the pipeline. They have the inversely proportional dependence of drag coefficient on Reynolds number:
, (11)
In turn, the Reynolds number is defined as the product of duct diameter and air velocity:
.
Here µ - the coefficient of dynamic viscosity of air (1.85 × 10−5 Pa∙s).
3. Analysis of Research Results
The results of the analysis of (13) are presented in Table 1.
In the table, λb is the drag coefficient for the Blasius; λe is the experimental drag coefficient. If you pay attention to the results of the analysis can be seen that the decrease in pipe diameter leads to an increase in resistance and increase in flow velocity to decrease. In addition, the experimental results under odds on Shiferson, more of the coefficients for the Blasius. In this case, the experimental drag coefficient λe are determined according to the equation:
(12)
the substitution of actual values of pressure of air at the mouth of the pipeline (RP) and the fan pneumatic conveying installation (PH).
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Table 1. The dependence of the aerodynamic drag from air velocity and duct diameter.
From the results of the analysis, it can be concluded that, indeed, an increase in the resistance of pipes of smaller diameter can be compensated by an increase in flow [3]. This shows the possibility of successful use of pipes with a diameter of 355 and 315 mm in the installation of pneumatic transport under pressure for raw cotton [17] [18] [19] [20] [21].
At the same time, it should be particularly noted that, according to the current calculation method, the flow pressure along the transport line is reduced to zero. At the same time, different scientists have proposed different analytical and empirical dependencies, which, in turn, express different opinions about the resistance of the inner surface of pipes to the movement of air and material flows and do not describe the real situation, especially when transporting material over long distances. In our opinion, the established patterns and values are correct for the conditions and length of the pipeline under which these studies were conducted, about which the authors do not provide specific information. But, in any case, a common feature of all such studies is that with an increase in the distance of transportation, i.e. the length of the pipeline to a certain value, the air pressure decreases to zero. However, our applied research has not confirmed this statement, and under any conditions when there is pressure at the beginning of the pipeline, i.e., at a pressure source (for example, at a fan), if the cross-section of the pipeline is passable, the air pressure does not decrease to zero. This requires deeper theoretical and applied research to determine the actual change in flow parameters along the material (cotton) transportation line, which is the goal of our further research.
4. Conclusions
1) Theoretical studies have shown and proved a decrease in static and total pressure along the transportation line, according to a linear pattern.
2) It is established that the air pressure varies depending on the diameter and aerodynamic resistance of the pipeline and the distance of the transport highway.
3) It is established that the existing analytical and empirical dependencies do not describe the real situation, especially when transporting material from a long distance, which requires in-depth theoretical and applied studies of changes in flow parameters along the material transportation line.