A model for bend life prediction due to wear in pneumatic conveying systems

What is it about?

In pneumatic conveying systems, many problems are created by bend wear such as punctures and material leakage due to the punctures. To maintain the systems in a good working condition, the bend life needs to be estimated in a good accuracy so the maintaining actions can be undertaken before the problems appears. The work was for a prediction model development, which was based on bench-scale wear tests and erosion rate of bend material measured. This model is able to give a reasonably accurate prediction of bend wear life which will be useful for the industry who uses pneumatic conveying systems.

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Why is it important?

Bend life evaluation can be expensive if a pilot pneumatic conveying system is used. Bench-scale erosion tests are quick and easy, which will minimise the costs considerably. However the bench-scale erosion tests can not be directly applied for the bend life prediction due to complex impact conditions of particles in the bends. The simulation model can cope the impact conditions in the bench-scale tester with the conditions in the bends so it is able to give a reasonably good result.