Academic course: From bulk solids to the silo
The academic course “From bulk solids to the silo – characterization and storage of powders and bulk solids” will take place in Brunswick from 23. to 24. February 2015 headed by Prof. Dr. Dietmar Schulze. The focus will be on the topic “Containers, hoppers and silos” – starting from the characterization of the bulk solids and the process-engineering design of silos to avoid problems such as bridging or segregation up to the silo statics. The course is directed to engineers and technicians, chemists, physicists, and pharmacists as well as to civil engineers (statics).
There are initial, intermediate or finished products as powders or bulk solids in almost all industries. The range reaches from food and paints pigments, nanopowders and pharmaceutical materials up to bulk cargos, such as cement, coal and ore, from dry materials like filter ash up to moist bulk solids, such as filter cake, loam and clay. These materials have to be conveyed, stored, proportioned or otherwise handled. To know the flow properties, i.e. the behaviour of these powders and bulk solids, plays an important role. On the one hand, the flow properties are needed for the evaluation and, if necessary, the optimization of the flow behaviour within the framework of the product development, but also for the receiving inspection or for dealing with reclamations. On the other hand, hoppers, silos, transfer containers etc. can only be designed to avoid problems if the flow properties are known. Such problems are for example disturbed flows like bridging or formation of shafts, funnel flow, segregation, discontinuous flow (flushing) or a wide distribution of the retention time. Finally, the flow properties are needed for the strength design of silos.
Based on the above-described situation, the course will deal with problems arising during the development, manufacture, handling and storage of powders and bulk solids.
Further information regarding the conditions of participation and registration details: www.gvt.org
