Applications of Numerical Modeling in Pneumatic Conveying

Numerical modelling has now got to the point where it is fully capable of providing design guidance for modern material handling systems. Its use for the design of gravity flow systems, such as chutes, is well established, and resulting flow visualization images produced are most impressive. Its application to pneumatic conveying is now being advanced and from the many numerical approaches that have been developed the multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) and the coupled Computational Fluid Dynamic and Discrete Element Modelling (CFD-DEM) approaches are mostly being utilized. This has been made possible by the significant increase in computational capability that has been achieved in recent years. These methods are introduced and explained with regard to their theoretical foundations and modelling processes, together with advice on model selection. Examples of the application of these methods to pneumatic conveying system pipelines are also included.