Cost-Effective Flow Parameters For Powders And Bulk Solids

By Brookfield Engineering Laboratories, Inc.

Powder and bulk solids manufacturers have always had an inherent problem. Once product is developed, it needs to be moved. Whether it is through a hopper or feeder system or merely transporting the material, the product needs to be moved. This sounds easy enough, but it can be very complex.

This is where third party bulk solids handling and engineering companies come in. They specialize in developing hoppers and feeder systems to move the material. Customers send them samples of material and they will develop equipment around this sample. But, how to do this? Some methods are primitive, but easy and inexpensive such as using small flow cups to measure the discharge of loosely consolidated powder through the opening the bottom of the funnel. Others merely look at the material by visual inspection or give an educated estimate based on past experience. Regardless of method, the information is used empirically to assign design parameters on how the material will flow. This leads to specific choices like what hopper half-angle needs to be used with what finish on the hopper wall.