PARAMETERS EFFECTING FORCED VORTEX FORMATION IN BLADE PASSAGEWAY OF DYNAMIC AIR CLASSIFIER

Air classification of particulate materials is a method of classifying particles into coarse and fine fractions based on their size, density, or shape. Performance of the rotor air classifier is affected by operating parameters which include the classifier rotor speed, air inlet velocity and material feed rate. Effects of operating and structural parameters on turbulent flow field patterns inside of a dynamic air classifier are investigated. Increasing the computing power, together with new turbulence models andapproaches, to simulate complex fully turbulent problems by solving Navier-Stokes equations allows studying and capturing smaller flow structures and properties more accurately. Velocity vector maps for varying operating parameters are studied by means of numerical simulations. The experimental section includes a visualization of flow patterns and velocity vector maps in the rotor region by the use of the particle image velocimetry (PIV). Results are compared and discussed.