Velocity and mass flow rate profiles of dry powders in a gravity drop conveyor using an electrodynamic tomography system

Abstract

This paper describes measurements made on a gravity drop conveyor using two arrays of axially spaced electrodynamic sensors to measure axial velocities close to the wall of the conveyor and velocity profiles both of flowing sand and of plastic beads. The level of correlation obtained using pixels is investigated. The velocity profile is combined with a tomographic concentration profile to estimate the mass flow profile, which is summed over the measurement cross section to estimate the mass flow rate. A calibration of the tomographically determined mass flow rate versus the actual mass flow rate is presented.