Performance evaluation of centrifugal blowers for pneumatic conveying of rice husk | |
| Author | Patro, K. Sibasankar |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. AE-90-16 |
| Subject(s) | Rice husk Conveying machinery |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The performance of a centrifugal blower for simultaneous feeding and transporting of rice husk was investigated in a vertical GI pipe of dia 68 mm. Impeller speed was varied from 1420 to 2434 rpm for a range of rice husk feed rate of 218 kg/hr to 477 kg/hr (six solid flow rate). A specially made sample trapping device enabled the measurement of dispersed particle density for estimation of average solid velocity. For the six solid flow rates in the test, corresponding to each blower speed, system pressure, pressure drop gradient, bend loss, loss in cyclone separator and corresponding electrical energy consumption were measured. System pressure, pressure drop gradient, bend loss, and loss in cyclone were analyzed against blower speed, solid feed rate and mixture density. Solid feed rate had little effect on total head loss gradient. Blower speed and solid flow rate had effect on loss due to 90 ° long radius bend. Maximum husk handling capacity of the blower was found to be a function of blower speed. Pressure drop through the cyclone was fully dependent on blower speed and solid flow rate. A relationship was developed for estimating the drop through the cyclone in terms actual air flow rate and husk feed rate. Electrical energy consumption was found to be a function of blower speed with very little effect of solid flow rate. The experimental energy use data led to the development of a generalized equation in terms of blower speed and handling capacity for a practical pneumatic conveying system with very high correlation coefficient and very little error in estimate. Blower speed of 1893 rpm incurred the minimum handling cost. |
| Year | 1990 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Jindal, Vinod Kumar |
| Examination Committee(s) | Illangantileke, Sarath G. ;Athapol Noomhorm |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Royal Danish Government |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1990 |