Control and instrumentation of a separation process and pneumatic transport of multiparticulate solids

• Grant number: 16/12854-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2016
• End date: March 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Transport Phenomena
• Principal Investigator: Cristiano Bigonha Tibirica
• Grantee: Ozita Borges Salustiano
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The process of pneumatic transport and separation of multiparticulated mixtures is not well understood, despite of the great potential for practical applications in the industrial and agricultural sectors. In this sense, the objective of this research project is to conduct a study of instrumentation and control involved in the aerodynamic transport of multicomponent particulates, aiming the development of a high performance and low power consuming pneumatic separator for agricultural products. Particularly it is desired to study and implement a controller with artificial neural networks in order to operate the multiparticulate pneumatic system in an unstable operating point, characterized by the saltation phenomenon. The saltation region has the lowest gradient of pressure by friction, resulting in a lower operating energy costs. Therefore, a horizontal pipe transport will be used and various particulate compositions will be subjected to different speeds of the transport phase. Physical variables as local pressure and mass flows of the phases will characterize the multiphase flow and serve as controller input data which will be used to actuate in the air and multiparticulate mixture intake the flow . High speed capturing cameras (> 2000fps) will be used to determine the evolution of the distribution profile along the transmission line assisting the characterization of the flow. The results will be compiled and allowing the optimization of a control model capable of maintaining the operation of the pneumatic separation system according to the minimum specific energy cost (kJ / kg / m) and the efficiency of separation.