LONGITUDINAL PRESSURE VARIATION IN THE LOWER AIR DISTRIBUTION SPACE IN AN AIR-SLIDE CONVEYOR WITH OPEN TOP AIR SPACE (Part One)

Abstract

A computation method is described for determining hydraulic parameters of lower air distribution space of an air-slide conveyor with open top air space. Equations are of a form directly solvable if friction is omitted. Solving the differential equations by the Runge-Kutta method for the case of friction, variation of parameters as a function of the duct length is presented. In a duct long enough, velocity of the fluidizing air flowing through the air distribution layer assumes a minimum, taking the friction into consideration. Equations help plotting the characteristic curve of the duct, and intersection with the fan's characteristic curve defines the common work point of the duct.