EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF BULK MATERIAL FLOW THROUGH HOPPER

Hoppers are used in various fields of application, as for material transportation in food industry, mining, agricultural industry, transport industry etc. Mass flow rate at the hopper outlet nozzle is one of the significant parameters which is used to evaluate efficiency of the hopper. During the discharge process of hopper, different effects in bulk material behavior, as accumulation or bridging of particles, could occur, therefore decreasing efficiency of the hopper discharge rate. In this paper physical and numerical experiments of bulk flow through the hopper are performed and analyzed under applied vertical vibrations to the hopper construction. Vibrations are considered with different frequency and amplitude in experimental and numerical models. As the bulk material spherical glass particles are used in the experiments. The obtained results of the physical experiments are compared with the results of numerical simulations, therefore allowing to evaluate efficiency of numerical models used for analysis of the bulk material flow effects in the hopper system. The obtained experimental and numerical model results will be used for further analysis of a more complicated hopper model, where the bulk material segregation process at the outlet nozzle of the hopper system and dust dispersion in surrounding environment during the bulk material loading process will be taken in account.