What kind of materials are suitable for pneumatic conveying
pneumatic conveyingIt is a technology that uses airflow to transport granular materials to designated locations. It is suitable for handling many types of materials, but not all materials are suitable. The following are the characteristics and categories of materials suitable for pneumatic conveying:
Material Characteristics
Granular or powdery form：
The particle size is generally between tens of micrometers and a few millimeters.
Uniform particle distribution and regular shape are better.
Good liquidity：
The material needs to have a certain degree of flowability in order to be smoothly transported in the airflow.
Moderate density：
More suitable for materials with low to medium density, such as plastic pellets, grains, etc.
High density materials may significantly increase the energy consumption of the conveying system.
Not easy to adhere and clump：
The surface of dust particles is not easy to bond, avoiding blockage of the inner wall of the conveying pipeline.
Good dryness：
Materials with lower moisture content are suitable for pneumatic conveying, as materials with higher humidity are prone to clumping or blockage in pipelines.
Material categories suitable for pneumatic conveying
industrial raw materials：
Cement, lime powder, coal powder, silica powder.
Chemical powders such as calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, and aluminum oxide.
Agricultural products and food processing materials：
Grains, flour, sugar, salt, coffee beans, cocoa powder.
Plastics and polymers：
Plastic pellets (PE, PP, PVC, etc.).
Plastic powder.
Energy related materials：
Coal ash, fly ash, activated carbon.
Other materials：
Metal powders (such as aluminum powder, iron powder, but require special design to prevent sparks and explosions).
Pulp powder, sawdust.
Materials unsuitable for pneumatic conveying
High humidity materials (such as mud, wet sand).
Extremely heavy or ultrafine materials can easily cause separation or pipeline blockage.
Long fibrous materials such as cotton and hair may become entangled in equipment.
Materials with high fragility may be damaged during transportation (such as certain types of pills).
Flammable and explosive materials require special attention to safety measures.
Factors affecting adaptability
Delivery methodIt is divided into positive pressure conveying, negative pressure conveying, and mixed conveying, and the properties of the material determine the applicable conveying method.
conveying distancePneumatic conveying is suitable for short to medium distance conveying (tens to hundreds of meters), and ultra long distances may not be economical.
conveying speedHigh speed may cause particle damage, while low speed may cause blockage in the conveying pipeline.
Based on these characteristics, selecting appropriate materials and design schemes is necessary to achieve an efficient pneumatic conveying system.