Experimental and CPFD Numerical Study on Hopper Discharge

This study investigated the applicability of computational particle fluid dynamic (CPFD) numerical scheme for simulating flows in a 3-D hopper. A glass bead with a particle size distribution was used as the experimental material, which is characterized on the limit between group A and group B powder. The discharge of glass bead particles was simulated using the CPFD model. The flow snapshots and the solid discharge rates were successfully captured by the CPFD calculations and compared well with the experimental results. It therefore confirmed a good feasibility of CPFD method to simulate the complex flow in the 3-D hopper. Consequently, the snapshots as well as the concrete values of the solid volume fraction, particle and gas velocities, and pressure in the hopper were given by the CPFD model. Based on the simulation results and the hopper structure, three flow regions were divided and flow characteristics in these regions were analyzed. It shows dense-flow in the hopper region, dilute-flue in the transition region, and the negative pressure gradient in the standpipe.