Coursecode: wb3419-03

Coursename: Characterisation and Handling of Bulk Solid Materials

ECTS creditpoints: 6

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology

Lecturer(s): Prof.dr.ir. G. Lodewijks

Tel.:  015 - 27 88793

Catalog data:
Bulk solid materials, conveyors, particle characterisation, storage and flow, silo’s, hoppers, mixing, segregation.

Course year:

MSc 1st year

Period:

1A / 1B

Hours per week:

2 hour lectures during first five weeks of each period

Other hours:

Eight hours during last two weeks of each period

Assessment:

Report of experimental and design assignment and oral examination.

Assessment period:

1B

(see academic calendar)

Prerequisites:

Follow up:  

Detailed description of topics:
This course focuses on the characterisation of the mechanical and dynamical behaviour of bulk solid materials. Bulk solid materials include coal, sand, limestone etc. These materials can be free flowing through bunkers and chutes as well as stored in silos, handled by stackers and reclaimers or transported by conveyors. Experimental ways to determine the mechanical properties of bulk solid materials will be discussed. An experimental assignment to determine these properties of a particular bulk solid material is part of the course. With the experimentally determined properties the behaviour of this material in a silo (no flow or mass flow versus funnel flow) is predicted. A small-scale silo in the laboratory is used to verify this prediction. Knowing the properties of a specific bulk solid material, the effect of these properties on the design of handling or transporting equipment can be determined. Conceptually designing a piece of equipment for storing, handling or transporting a bulk solid material, of which the mechanical properties are determined experimentally earlier in this course, concludes the course.

Course material:

A lecture book (in preparation) and book “Introduction to Particle Technology” by Martin Rhodes, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0-471-98482-5, 2000.

References from literature:

“Silo’s en Feeders”, Rademacher F.J.C. en Haaker, G., The Bulkoholics, Enschede

Remarks assessment, entry requirements, etc.):

Access to the oral examination only after completion of both assignments.

Learning goals:

(1) To characterise and mathematically describe the properties of a bulk solid material, (2) to experimentally determine the mechanical properties of a particular bulk solid material, (3) to account for the bulk solid material properties and governing behaviour in the design of bulk solid storing, handling and transporting equipment.

Computer use:

Use of data acquisition equipment and database software.

Laboratory project(s):

A laboratory assignment to determine the properties of a particular bulk solid material and its behaviour in a silo, is part of the course. The last two weeks of the first period will be used for this assignment.

Design content:

An assignment to design a feeder or conveyor based on measured properties of a particular bulk solid material is part of the course. The last two weeks of the second period will be used for this assignment.

Percentage of design:  20 %