Professional Documents
Culture Documents
F. J_ C. RADEMACHER
University of Twente (The Netherlands)
(Received April 13,1978; in revised form October X6,1978)
l-1 Analysis based on a free-flowing material it follows that the resulting force upon the
mass m is the centripetal force C. This force
1.1.1 The free surface of the bulk material must be composed of the own weight W = mg
considered to be logarithmic of the point mass and another force. The other
A point mass m will be considered subjected force that might be generated by the sur-
to a uniform circular motion in a vertical rounding granules, and here indicated by R,
plane, Fig. l(a). The point eass may approxi- follows by simple completion of the force
mately represent one of the granules inside an diagram. Its line of action intersects the pos-
elevator bucket. From Newtons second Iaw, itive y-axis at point P, which will be referred
to as the pole. The pole distance from the
Y origin equals p_ From conform triangles it
follows that
r c
-=- (1)
P =%
where
C=mw2r (21
and thus
r w2r 2
I,
-=_ 5<
t- (3)
p R $
The last eq&ion shows that p depends on
g and w , so that in all practical cases p will
vary with o only. In Fig. l(b) the free surface
of the bulk material inside the bucket is repre-
sented by a dotted line. On a small element of
material located at A a force will be exerted
by the surrounding granules, the line of action
Pig. 1. (a) Determination of R snd pole distance p_ (b) Logarithmic free surface. (c) Illustration of the complica-
tions met with in determining the Iocation of the logarithmic spiral at given bucket content.
217
of which will pass through the pole P. If w is only an approximation is somewhat discour-
relatively small and the material happens to aging indeed.
settle itself promptly, then the local normal
of the free surface will approximately include 1.1.2 The free surface of the bulk material
the internal friction angle & with AP. Expres- considered as a plane
sing the location of A in polar coordinates p To avoid the difficulties described in the
and Q with respect to the pole P, and consid- preceding paragraph, one might suggest rcpre-
ering a point B on the same dotted curve (p + senting the free surface by a plane. Krause
G) and ($ + d@), the following relation holds: [S] , among others, did so by a plane tangen-
tial to the spiral at D, Fig. l(c)_ He succeeded
P + dP =P -_ipd@ (4) in deriving an expression for the position of
where p = distance of an arbitrary point of the bucket at which discharge will be initiated_
the free surface to the pole, and Q = angle It is unknown to what extent this approxima-
between p and the y-axis. After integration, tion is allowed. One might suppose that a
p = tangen%& $ane somewhereb*-way on SEC-
(5)
po.e-PiCO--Oo)
tion DE willlead to a better approximation
which is of particular importance for smaller
where pe and Q. determine the position of D fills. This will become obvious from the anal-
where the free surface intersects the bucket ysis in Section 2.
inner wall. It is obvious that the free surface
can be represented by a logarithmic spiral in 1.2 Analysis based on a point mass
the two-dimensional representation of Fig_ In order to achieve expressions for the dis-
l(b). This logarithmic shape is discussed or charge parabolas, most of the authors do con-
mentioned in a good deal of the available lit- sider the bucket content as a point mass and
erature, e.g. Roster [ 11, Fort [5] , Krause [S] , obtain simple equations. In this approach some
Beumer and Wehmeier Cl33 _ However, in do not, and others do consider the friction
none of the papers quoted has a complete between the bucket content and the bucket
solution of the discharge problem based upon Wall.
the logarithmic spiral been worked out, the
reason for which is unknown but may be as- Wall friction neglected
cribed to its complicated nature as is illustra- Krause [S] does not take the wall friction
ted with Fig. l(c), showing asimplified bucket. into account, and Beumer and Wehmeier [13]
A pre-discharging position will be considered do not even consider that the material inside
for which the free surface intersects the buck- the bucket might slip before it loosens from
et walls at D and E_ The position of the bucket the inner wall in the case of low angular speed;
at which discharge will begin corresponds to a i.e. gravity discharge. Hetzel and Albright [15] ,
free surface passing through the inner rim of who also ignore wall friction, argue that the
the bucket, represented by R. If N represents coefficient of friction is an uncertain quantity
the intersection of the extended inner and which, compared with roughnesses and dirt in
outer wall of the bucket, then the infinitely the buckets and the resistance offered by one
small area ABA'B' can simply be expressed as or two rows of nuts and washers across the
the difference of the triangles AH9 and AHB. discharge opening, has a small effect. They
Treating the problem as two-dimensional and admit that some of the material is delayed in
using (5), integration over the whole area discharge and that some may be spilled. They
DEFG equals the fill and leads to the position offer some rules of thumb for positioning the
of D. Repetitition of the procedure for a chute such that practically all the material,
somewhat larger cxwill lead to a smaller dis- including that which is delayed in discharge,
tance DK, etc. until the position for which will be caught.
DK equals zero is found. One of the simplest
operations for such a circumstantial method is Taking wai! friction into account
the determination of the intersection of a Koster [I], Herms 121, Fort [5] and Beck-
straight line with a logarithmic spiral, e.g. ert and FSll [ll] consider the bucket content
point A in Fig. l(c). Even this, however, can or an element of it at the inner bucket wall
be done only numerically. All this work for and derive the equations of motion. In none
218
of these publications, however, has a complete ing. We can distinguish spill before and after
elaboration of the equations been given re- the bucket has been emptied. This will be il-
sulting in diagrams or any other representation lustrated for the case of Fig. 2, where it is
fit for practical use. supposed that the buckets will empty some-
where within section III-IV.
Acceleration
It is self-evident to relate the centripetal
acceleration to gravity. Here it Z&O holds, as
will appear later, that (r) is an attractive quan-
tity for the anaIysis, while (rar) is more practi-
cal to handle for engineers and designers.
Therefore both will be used:
Fig. 6. One of the slicesof materialfrom Fig. 5 con-
W r being the acceleration number sidered as a point mass pending to slide along the
K,=-,
g with respect to (I-) (15) materialised centre-line of a bucket.
222
Initiation of sliding
The characteristic conditions for the point
mass when it is pending to slide is that the wall
reaction (g) encloses the angle of wall friction Fig. 7. Triangle of forces when a slice point mass is
pending to slide.
(@,) with the normal, and that the relative
velocity (ti) equals zero, Fig. 6. Consequently possible value of K, for which a real a0 can be
the resultant force found follows from a zero discriminant, i-e_
C=mgi-K (17) a55
K,= (24)
k y, + tan Aor,
will be directed toward the wheel centre, as is
the acceleration i _ Applying the sine rule on in which +p, holds when sin a0 > K,, and
the triangle of forces, Fig. 7 gives yw holds when sin a0 < &.
cos(& - (Yg) w =r*
=- (18) Sliding motion
sin(9, -A%) g Here, resulting force and acceleration vector
With (?) no longer pass through the origin, Fig. 8.
r The equation of motion follows by applying
r =
(19) Newtons law. Position (r), velocity (2) and
cos Aa acceleration (i) of m follow from simple geo-
and (25) in (18) and solving for tan Qw: metry and differentiation twice:
cos (Yg-Kahn ALY~ r = (r cos OL- u sin a)i + (r sin a + u cos oc)j
tanq&=p,= (20)
K, - sin a0 (25)
The normal force (No) amounts to
No = R cos 4, = mg(sin CY~- Ka) (21) i=(-r&sina:-u&cosa-zisina)i+
i=(~~COSQ+~~=sina!-22ri~cosa
--i;sinor)i+(-ni2sina-zf~cosac
-2ari&ssincu+iicosa)i=Ai+Bi (27)
mm
from which appears the condition:
+ I-r, cos hn) (44)
N > 0 when sin OL> K,(l + 25,) (42)
Here rid is the dimensionless relative sliding in which
veIocity fi with respect to w r, so zid = zi/w r.
As fi, > 0, the inequality shows that N will be
negative all over when K, > 1, Le. when the PP =Lb +AGz (45)
elevator is in centripetal operation. On the
other hand one might expect that in the case 4P=LLr -ATE (46)
225
1 in which
%I, = q* _p* j&mt-nn
#
sin CZIJ + I.&. cos OLO)
Pn = -I-h +AGz (54)
9P
- -(nn cos a0 +$l_ sin cxo) on = -clru -&Kz (55)
mm
+ qP(!b + UOd) (47) c = qn Tpn] A(-nn sin a, -p,cos(~,)
t O1n
1 w
_ qp A(- sin (Ye f P, cos (Ye) - -(nn cos _am -P, s~%d
%2P = pp I mm
PP
- -(nn cos (~0 + P, sin IXO) (56)
mm
+ PPbw + PO,) (48) c 02n = pnlqn]~~-nns~~,-_p,coso,)
1
With a, solved, u,~ follows from [see (40)]
Uma =Csp ePP<a,-%) + CO*pePPwTl--ao) + - -(nn cos a, - I-C~ sin cy,)
mm
1
+ -(nn
mm
cos (Y, f p, cos a,) - flc(w
(49) + pn(-k + hd
4 (57)
Case where u,~ > E Herewith the upper integration boundary (Q,)
If Kll~ > E then cy, can be solved from for the second slide phase is also known. The
[see (4011 initial conditions of this phase are as follows:
U d=%,d
ate=ff*
_ -
1 I ud=&nd (58)
f -(nn cos cy, + pFr, sin ix.) - pw (50)
mm Application of these values in (40) and (41)
and thus [see (41)] for the upper signs and solving for the con-
PPCCre-%) fqp Co2PeqPCae-%) stants leads to
r+ = PP C%, e . = pn COlpePn(ae-am) +
ued
1
+ -(--nn sin a, + if, cos ae) (51) 1
mm + qrz Co2a eqn(ae--am) + --(--nn sin ff,
mm
Case where u,,,~ < E
If &I& < e then slide inside the bucket will -crw cos 4 (59)
take place in two phases, and not only u,~
but also Li,, will be required as initial condi- in which pn and qn are given by (54) and (55)
tions for the second slide phase [see (41)] and -x
.
umd
=ppC~PePP(um-%~ +qpCoZpeqP(ulIl-%)
c olA -
- qn ypn
j&t-m sin (Y, -LL,COSQA
1
f -(-nn sin ~1, + pw cos a,) (53) w
mm - -(nn cos a, - pw Sin a,)
mm
Q, is determined by the condition that the
point mass, in sliding further from umd to u%, + qn(-h + hd) - kd) (60)
has arrived eventually at the open end of the I
1
bucket, at its dimensionless relative location e. c I(-nn sin a, -cr, cosa,)
02A=pn -qn I mm
Then Q, follows from [see (40)]
e=COlne PdQe-Q,) +c
C-&I
eqn<Pe-Qm)
- -(nn cos a, -per, sin am)
mm
1
+ -(nn cos ay, -~ws~%)+P, (53)
mm (61)
226
The index A symbolises that an extra phase bolas lying somewhere between those as de-
must be taken care of in addition to the first scribed by the particIes which leave ate, and
one. ei. The equations belonging to an arbitrary
It will be understood that the initial loca- disk will be derived first._
tion of each disk inside the bucket will
depend on the degree of fullness (&) of the Relevant geometry at bucket position a,
bucket, the total number (n) of disks wherein From Fig. 10 it follows that
the filI is thought to be split up, and the se-
quence number of the disk itself. From Fig. 5
ru = r(l+ he) (63)
it follows that the starting position of the ith ri = r(1 - AE) (64)
disk, out of a total of R, relative to the bucket E
u
2.2-2 The throw-out curves Xei = ri COS ei - b Ski (Y,i (71)
From FrIg.10 and the postulated model of
Yei = ri Sbl (Yq + b COS (Ye-
1 (72)
Section 2.1.3, expressions can be derived
easily for the start conditions of the particles
just leaving the bucket inner and outer lip at Velocity components
ei and e, respectively_ The initial velocities of .
%l =--W2;,sinar,~-~wc0s~,~-~~S~DLeu
the throw-out curves are, according to point 5
(73)
of the bulk model, composed of the relative
slide velocity z&, which is supposed to be ye, = +wr, cos CY,u - wb sin (Y,~ + zi, cos 01,
equal for inner and outer side of the bucket, (74)
and the circumferential velocities at the outer .
5 = -W ri Sin aei - wb COS Q,i - ~= Sm a,~
and inner side. It is assumed that the air resis-
tance can be neglected and that the p&icles (75)
on the line between e, and ei describe para- ~=i = +wF~ COS a)ei - wb Sin Q,i f ri, COS oL,u
(76)
Trajectories of parabolas
in which
(98) xid
-txd -Pd& -DCfkl(Yd -Ypd&
Sndm3 =
41 + vqk,)* (105)
(99)
The inner- and outermost trajectories are auto-
in which xd and yd are the dimensiomess co- matically seIected by the computer pro-
ordinates of one of the particles travelling in gramme.
one of the trajectories at an arbitrary moment, (d) Ricocheting
as described in the preceding paragraph, and - ricocheting, leading to serious distur-
No
and YPdlkl
are the dimensionless co- bance of the discharge flow, is allowed. This
XpdPl
ordmates of the centre of the kth bucket, can be real&d by adequate adaptation of the
casing head, the chute inrluded. This need not
= cos(a + k-P) (100)
xpd Ilk1 be difficult, once the enveloping trajectories
ypdCk, = sin@ + k-P) (101) are known.
229
2.3 Elaboration of the equations ber together are considered here as the first
The equations were worked out in a com- phase in the programme because of the simple
puter programm e, a simplified bIock diagram calculation of the last one. This phase is foi-
of which is represented by Fig. 12. Although lowed by the computations of the movements
of different matter, input and capacity num- of the mat.eriaI inside and relative to the buck-
INPUT
AND
CAPACITY
---
I CAPACITY
KO: (14)
l
PNMBER
I
BEGIN OF DISCHARGE
=,:(3);(6)-(101;(15);(16~~~lB)-(241 ; :(41);(54);(55)
I ed
MATERIAL END OF DISCHARGE oss.(Sl);(SZ);(SS)-(6~
Lp
INSIDE THE o_:(32);(35);(38)-(4o);possibly(42J
BUCKETS = (44)-.(50);~531 (58)
= locations and bucket
veloczties
_---- - .- (B2)-(89)
MATERIAL
I
OUTSIDE THE THROW-OUT TRAJECTORIES
BUCKETS
----- -
WHEEL IhTERSEcTIOV
I
GEOMETRICS
FOA (95) - (103)
NO-SPILL and possible message
[I
a) in coordinates (lOJ);(lOS)
------
Yes
I
OUTPU1
I
STOP
I
Fig. 12. Block diagram in which reference is made to the equations used.
230
ets, after which the flow trajectories relative model. As the location of the outer and inner
to the fixed surrounding, such as the casing, bucket lip are also known, the initial condi-
are estabhshed. After a phase for anti-spilling tions of the particles at the outer and inner
conditions the relevant results can conveniently side of the material flow are known. Their
be visualised by a plotted drawing and/or just trajectories are then easily found, as the air
a print-out_ These phases are indicated in the resistance of the coarse material has been
block diagram_ It should be noticed that the neglected.
programme, contrary to what the block dia-
gram suggests, has been run for every particle_ 2.3.4 Geometries for no-spill
In each bIock the required formulas, if any, In this block the contact or collision with
are indicated by the corresponding number in the wheel is called intersection. As mentioned
the text. earlier, this intersection must be interpreted
as spill in the case of a belt conveyor, and may
2.3.1 The capacity number or may not cause spill in the case of a chain
It will be clear that the capacity for spill- conveyor depending on the design. Applica-
free operation, according to (14), will depend tion of (94) with a printed message for inter-
only on the degree of fill of the buckets, the section, but through-going trajectories on the
geometry and shaft speed. It is emphasised plotted drawing, has been provided for_ Figure
that in the case that the capacity had been 13 shows an example.
compared to the maximum value as expressed These plots are programm ed so as to expose
by (II), the capacity number would have been the true proportions. At the upper part of the
unity for full and spaceless buckets. Although rising casing, two buckets are always drawn il-
this might theoretically be attractive, it has no lustrating their spacing* and content. The lat-
practical meaning_ On the contrary, the buck- ter is indicated by a horizontal line simulating
et spacing then comes into the capacity num- the free surface of the material inside. The two
ber. For this reason the capacity per unit other bucket positions correspond to cro and
bucket length has been related to the easy-to- OI,, Le. the positions at which the bucket dis-
distinguish quantity wr$ instead. charge is initiated and completed, respectively-
Collision with the buckets results in a message
2.3.2 Material inside the buckets
This part of the programm e determines the
beginning and end of the postulated plug-flow
inside the bucket, in sequence of the slices of
material in which the bucket content is thought
to be divided. The programme was started for
exploratory purposes with S identicaI slices
(n = S), which were later increased to 100 for
purposes of accuracy. Oniy the movements of
about the first and Iast 5 slices were calculated.
Parahel to this phase of the programme,
both angular bucket Iocation and relative ve-
locity (zi,,) while passing the bucket lip are
also determined, as they are needed for the
next phase.
I
I
I
I
I
--
I
Fig. 16. Example of discharging material not being
disturbed by intersection of the headwheel or col-
lision with (other) buckets.
5 L 5
5 E
T
4
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
c.. -0.20
x -10 , k _ 7.0
L ,
- = K.-O99 rn_a> - _ K__OQS (I-LB)
-_-- _ K.-o50 cl-l-41 ---- - K._o50 CL4)
oic I-
I
K* KO
t t
QCEi- 005
E,- 0
0
t
31 -
2
1
h _ 7.0
- = Y.-O99 Cl-a.8)
f _--_- _ K.-o.50 CL41
Cl0
K,
1
f
QO5
0
- Kaw
these curves were found by trial and error, The KQ-curves of Fig_ 17
based on the theory described. Although the maxima of the capacity num-
The bottom of Fig. 17 shows the curves for ber (K,) coincides with the minima of the
the capacity numbers K,, which follow simply relative bucket spacing ($), it is emphasised
from (14) once the required bucket spacing that the maximum capacity generally will not
for collision-free operation (E) is known. It is coincide with this same operation point- This
evident that a possibie minimum of the rela- is plausible but will be elucidated on the basis
tive bucket space $ coincides with a maximum of a later example. Moreover, the position of
for the capacity number KQ. Figure 18 shows the KQ-curves relative to each other cannot be
an example of the coordinates of the inner predicted without making use of the theory
and outer boundary of the material flow, developed here. For, although according to
selected from the curves of Fig. 17; for the eqn. (14), the capacity number will increase
cases for which K, = 0.99 and p, = 0.3, the linearIy with ~,/(l + g), h and K, being par-
influence of the bucket size becomes apparent. ameters, it does not show how E, and $ are
from this picture also. The possibility of plot- mutually related. It is indeed too complicated
ting other interesting relations between the for simple estimation. The U-curves generated,
parameters involved has been waived in this however, show clearly that substitution of the
publication for the sake of brevity. buckets by larger ones will require a larger
First, the curves of both Figs. 17 and 18 relative spacing in order to maintain collision-
will be explained in general, after which atten- free operation. These opposite effects do not
tion will be paid to the influence of each of counterbalance each other, as will be illustrated
the parameters. by a later example.
It is therefore plausible that the right-hand error is too time-consuming, and, moreover,
boundary shifts to lower spill-free acceleration that cylindrical buckets do not occur in prac-
numbers with increasing wall friction. tice. The shape factor will, however, certainly
The wall friction coefficient also influences be treated in future publications dealing with
the capacity number (Ko), though not very more realistic buckets, based on what has been
strongly. Its effect on the real capacity (Q) is stated in Section 2-l_
percentagewise the same as on K, , spill-free
critical operation provided. 3-l-3 Validity range of the derived formulas
In the theory developed, no attention has
Relative fill (KJ, Fig. 17 explicitly been paid to the physically allow-
Comparison of the U-curves for full buckets able acceleration number and/or bucket posi-
(solid lines) with those for half-full buckets tion at the end of the discharge process (a,).
(dotted lines) shows that the collision-free As no explicit analytical solutions were found,
operational area increases with decreasing the computer programme has to be ended at
bucket charge, allowing for lower K+-lirrits, appropriate values of K,,. Although a normal
leaving the upper ones almost unchanged This technique, this has been elucidated further in
can be illustrated by what follows_ Let us sup- Appendices 1 and 2.
pose slow-motion operation with the buckets
filled up (K, = 0.99). There will be a bucket 3.2 Experiments
position at which the first granules are about Experiments were carried out with damp
to leave the bucket and fall down almost ver- sand because of its good reproducible proper-
tically. We shall keep the bucket fixed in this ties and negligible air resistance at the low air
position for a while, make it half-full and con- velocities within the scope of the tests. Con-
tinue with the slow wheel speed again. Then trary to most investigations, the tests happened
the material has the opportunity to gain velo- to be much less time-consuming than the de-
city while moving from the bottom of the velopment of the theory and the generation
bucket to its opening, thus enabling it to hop of the graphs from it. The test method will be
over the preceding bucket at even lower buck- described first, followed by the results.
et spacing than in the case of full buckets. The
left non-spill boundary of the U-curves will 3.2.1 The test model and test procedure
therefore shift to even lower acceleration The test model
numbers. The test model shown in Fig. 19 consists
The velocity gain of the material relative to mainly of a timing belt running over two pul-
the bucket also occurs for the conditions of leys 1.30 m apart, the belt width being 0.1 m.
the right boundary. The right boundary, how- The combination of pulley radius and belt
ever, represents operations at high Raw-values, thickness corresponds to r, = 0.22 m. Buckets
and reflects, therefore, advanced angular buck- of different sizes and shapes can be fastened
et positions during final discharge, causing the to the belt and spaced as required. The first
particles to escape more steeply from the series of spill measurements was carried out
buckets though at higher velocities_ Those two with stainless steel buckets of 53 X 53 X 115
opposite effects counterbalance each other a mm inside, transporting damp sand. The spill
great deal, making the right boundary of the percentage has been determined by weighing,
collision-free area of Fig. 17 less sensitive to and incidental films were made of the dis-
the fill (Kv) of the buckets. charge phenomena_ The facing side-walls of
the buckets were made of glass, and care was
Shape of the buckets (Xl taken that the buckets were smoothly finished
Although the computer programme devel- inside. It is well known from the experience
oped allows for examination of the effect of of manufacturers, among others, that unless
the bucket width, relative to its height, this the bucket bottoms are perforated, cohesive
will not be discussed further in this publica- material will not discharge easily from the
tion. The main reasons for this are that too buckets due to its almost zero permeability to
much of a deviation of X from unity does not air. Our test stand was expected to be extrem-
occur in practice for real buckets, that deter- ely well fitted to demonstratid this phenome-
mination of the required curves by trial and non because of the cylindrical buckets; one
236
5
0.008 kgf/cm2, placing P, according to Fig.
22 around 0.6. In Fig. 21 the boundary curve
5 for par = 0.6 almost covers the experimental
values.
T 4
0.6
r,
0
0 cw5 CmJ 035
_(i (Kgf/cmal
Fig_ 22. Measured coefficient of waii friction (k) of Fig. 23. Spilled weight tests, similar to those as
the damp sand with which the experiments were represented by Fig. 20, but this time with non-
carried out, in relation to the contact p-ure (cr). perforated buckets.
238
et was thought to be divided would prevent (4) The theory confirms the plausible fact
each other from rotating relative to the buck- that a minimum bucket spacing does occur
et_ This seems contradictory to the phenome- for critical, Le. just collision-free, operation,
non that those disks tend to move apart. depending on the remaining quantities such as
However, the gaps that arose in the damp sand wheel radius and speed, bucket dimensions
inside the bucket during its translation did and wall friction coefficient. A small increase
not have a chance to increase a great deal be- in the bucket spacing from this critical point
fore the material passed the bucket lip. The of operation shows for a relatively large range
slices of sand indeed became somewhat de- of acceleration numbers (J&J. This tendency
formed, touching each other at the inner or is apparent from the theory as well as from
outer bucket wall. There is good reason for the experiments.
that, as in the theory, the slices were con- (5) Increase of the wall friction coefficient
sidered point masses in order to approximate (p,) reduces the collision-free area, mainly by
their position, velocity and acceleration at bringing down the upper bound of acceIeration
any moment relative to the bucket. However, numbers to a relatively great extent.
the bucket wah reaction on each slice encloses (6) It can be conciuded (from Fig. 17) that
the angle of friction with the local normal. the bucket size is an extremely important
This reaction vector will generahy not pass quantity with respect to the minimum bucket
through the centre of the disk considered, spacing required for collision-free operation_
because of its shortness. Therefore, for its (7) Larger buckets of the same shape do
angular acceleration the bucket walls will exert indeed reduce the elevator capacity. For ex-
a moment on each disk which clarifies the ob- ample, the capacity drops by approximately
served deformations. Another integral result 23% when the bucket size is doubled from
will be that the line of action of the resultant E, = 0.1 to 0.2. This depynds somewhat on
of all the wall reactions on the individual disks the parameters inclusive of the wall friction
will be positioned somewhat closer to the coefficient_
open bucket end. However, no attempts were (8) An elevator equipped with cylindrical
made to refine the physical model further buckets cannot operate as a centrifugaI eIeva-
because of what has been said in Section 2.1. tor, i.e. K.+ > 1. The reason is that the ma-
terial is kept too long inside the bucket by the
tangential outer wall and is released close to
4.2 Conclusions the point of transition (R, Fig. 4). Consequent-
(1) A non-spill theory has been developed ly, the material is shot more or less vertical-
and worked out for a simplified two-pulley ly downward.
model of a vertical bucket elevator with cylin- (9) For common bucket size and wall fric-
drical buckets conveying a (very) cohesive ma- tion coefficients, centrifugal operation will
teriaI_ PIug flow inside the buckets during dis- only be possible for non-cylindrical buckets.
charge has been postulated, whereas air resis- These are buckets in which the outer and inner
tance was neglected in CaIculating both the walls enclose an angIe of release. The range of
translational motion of the conveyed material possible collision-free operation will then be
inside and relative to the buckets during dis- larger also.
charge, and the throw-out trajectories of the (10) Perforation of at least the bucket bot-
particles. tom is an absolute requirement for initiation
(2) The theory allows for an interrelated of - and in the case of cylindrical buckets for
analysis and optimisation of the magnitudes maintaining - a spontaneous discharge of
involved, such as wheel radius, bucket height, conveyed material which is impermeable to
bucket width, bucket spacing, wall friction air. This can be expected when cohesive mate-
coefficient inside the buckets, pulley speed, rials are involved.
capacity, boundaries of the discharging flow
of conveyed material inchrsive of the optimum -
APPENDIX 1
position of the chute and dimensioning of the
casing head, all by computer simulation. Possible solutions of eqn. (23)
(3) The theory developed so far covers the Aiming at a positive value of the discrimi-
experimental phenomena extremely well. nant of (23) leads according to (23) to
239
4
APPENDIX 2
180
170
t
0 a1 Q2 0.3 ~4 a6 a6
- E_
@ - 0 02 04 06 08 10
- K,_
Fig. 24. Lowest permitted range of Kaw-values,
related to the geometric parameters, that will allow Fig. 25. Angular bucket position at which the buckets
solutions of eqn. (23). Le. initiation of sliding of each are just emptied (c& For the nth disk), related to the
particIe relative to the bucket. acceleration number (K,J
240
x%a abscissa of outer bucket lip corresponding E dimensionless spacing between the buck-
to the position as for xe, m ets related to their heights when the belt
xei abscissa of inner bucket lip corresponding is straightened (E = t/2b), Fig. 4
to the position as for x,, m P polar radius, m
xi abscissa of inner trajectories of discharged Q polar algIe
p&icles, m 9i angle of internal friction of the granular
XP
abscissa of the bucket centre, m material
XII abscissa of outer trajectories of discharged @xvangle of wall friction, i.e. angle of fric-
particles, m tion between bucket and the bulk ma-
Y ordinate of point mass in general, m terial inside
Yb negative ordinate of bucket centre, m w angular speed of the wheels
Ye ordinate of the centre of a slice of ma-
terial when passing the bucket opening
at discharge, m
Ye, ordinate of outer bucket lip correspond- REFERENCES
ing to the position as for ye, m
Yei ordinate of inner bucket lip correspond-
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ing to the position as for ye, m
werken,Fijrdem Heben, 2?5(1976) 1131 - 1136.
Yi ordinate of inner trajectories of dis- H. Herms. Entleeren der Eimer von Elevatoren.
charged particles, m Fiirdern Heben, 25 (1975) 227 - 230.
YP ordinate of the bucket centre, m W. Schmiesing, Anhaltswerte zum Entwurf
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YU Fordern Heben, 25 (1975) 345 - 350.
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see Fig. 10 7 H. J. Zebisch, Fiirdertechnik 2, Stetigfiirderer,
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buckets angular position for which a 8 D. E. Fiscus, G. H. Foster and H. H. Kaufmann,
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slice of material is pending to slide rela-
ASAE, (1971) 162 - 166.
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A%
(1969) 33 - 49.
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E dimensionless bucket height, i.e. half the 12 K. H. Wehmeier, Beitrag zur Berechnung von
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(1964) 670 - 676.
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b/r,) nisse bei Becherwerken, Part. 2, FSrdern Heben, 11
(1961) 30 - 37.
17%. volumetric efficiency of the elevator
14 W. F. MilIier Bucket elevators - Auger con-
A bucket width (2e) divided by bucket veyors for ban< ;ng free-flowing materials, Agric.
height (26), or auxiliary variable Eng., (1958) 552 - 555.
Pi coefficient of internal friction of the 15 F. V. Hetzel and R. K. Albright, Belt Conveyors
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coefficient of wall friction, Le. coeffi- and Hall, London, 1957.
16 Deutsche Industrie Normen, DIN 15230-15236,
cient of friction between bucket and the 15241-15245,15251 and 15256, Beuth-Vertrieb
bulk material inside GmbH, Berlin W15 and Cologne_