Air slide basic design and modelling

The aluminium industry uses airslides extensively to convey alumina. Currently industry lacks the means to predict how a material will behave on an airslide conveyor except by undertaking trials in a near- full-scale system. Research Summary: To develo p a characterisation technique to measure the behaviour of powder under air- fluidised conditions, and derive an annalytical model, based on these measured characteristics, able to predict following parameters for air- slide conveyors: - Aeration requirem ent; - Transport capacity; - Flow velocities; The benefits of the model and characterisation technique would be: - To predict the behaviour of powder from a new batch or source using a small sample, instead of having to simply put the full batch on the p lant first and correct problems as they arise, costing money in engineer time and productivity. - To analyse the operation of existing airslide networks to enhace reliability and energy efficiency. - To design new airslides and networks in a rational man ner to minimise operating and capital costs and enhance reliability. This three year project will be founded by Hydro. Initially the candidate has been offered a place on the MPhil programme with possibilituy transfer to the PhD programme. Upgrade to PhD will only occur if the candidate demonstratesthe robustness of her programme at the transfer viva voce. Tel Tek will provide additional expertise through advice and supervision, as they have experience in this area of technology. The student will be base d between all three collaborators' premises, with at last 3 months per year in The Wolfson Centre at Greenwich. Management will be by a board of supervisors: one from Hydro, one from TelTek and two from Greenwich.