Pneumatic Conveying Spreadsheet

John Andrew, P.E.

Course Outline

This 2 PDH Professional Development Hour course includes a series of input data and solved output equations in an Excel format. The student will type numerical parameters and Excel will perform the calculations.
Results calculated in an Excel spreadsheet cell may be adjusted to a, “What If” value using, “Goal Seek”.

Subject matter is divided into four worksheets:
1. Summary
2. Conveying
3. Hydraulic Diameter
4. Goal Seek

The course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course the student will:

• Have a spread sheet useful for pneumatic conveyor calculations;
• Determine conveying pipe specifications that meet design requirements;
• Find conveying blower motor power;
• Calculate duct hydraulic diameter;
• Determine duct the effect of conveying duct length;
• Document design calculations in a spread sheet format;
• Calculate the Darcy-Weisbach duct friction factor f;
• Make spreadsheet calculations based on input data;
• Use Excel to make, “what if calculations” using, "Goal Seek"; and
• Use “Goal Seek” to solve equations.
  

Intended Audience

The information will be especially useful to: students, engineers, and innovators who need tools for creative pneumatic conveyor engineering calculations.

Benefit to Attendees

Attendee of this course will be able to calculate and optimize variables in a useful range pneumatic conveyor engineering projects.

Some advantages of spreadsheet calculations over hand written include:

1. easier to read.
2. better recall from archives. 
3. greater accuracy.
4. faster with repeat use. 
5. graphs are created automatically.
6. numerous useful formulas.
7. "Goal Seek" enables optimization.  
8. solve any equation with, "Solver".  
9. solve sets of linear and non-linear equations.

Course Introduction

Excel spread sheets are used in this course to calculate and optimize pneumatic conveyor parameters. Spread sheets can be stored indefinitely and accessed electronically. Optimizing design values with spreadsheets is very convenient and is often more accurate than hand calculations.
Previously calculations have been done with a calculator and written by hand with pen or pencil. Optimizing design values with a calculator is difficult and time consuming. Quite often it is impossible to read and check these documents. As time passes sometime these documents are lost or are difficult to read.

It becomes difficult to use these hand written often illegible documents to make improvements to existing designs. Spread sheets can be accessed quickly.

Course Content

AIR CONDITIONING AND PSYCHROMETRICS

Pneumatic conveyor calculations determine equipment capacity necessary to meet client requirements.

If the sizing is wrong problems such as saltation and choking prevent bulk material flow.

The goal of the pneumatic conveyor processes is to provide sufficient pick-up air flow velocity for optimal performance.

You need to download and study the following spreadsheet:

Pneumatic Conveying Spreadsheet

DISCLAMER: "This spreadsheet is provided for illustrative teaching purpose only, and is not intended for use in any specific project. Anyone making use of theinformation contained in this spreadsheet does so at his/her own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom."

The calculations within this live spreadsheet will facilitate the initial design and engineering of many types of process piping systems. When various factors are typed into the Input cells, Excel will calculate results automatically. In addition, the powerful tool, "Goal Seek" can be used to optimize each design Calculation.

Course Summary

This course provides Excel spread sheets to calculate a range of basic pneumatic conveyor parameters. All variables can be adjusted to optimize design goals. Excel print-outs of design parameters and calculated results provide easy to read documentation for checking and future improvements. 

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

MAC  http://www.macprocessinc.com/
Fuller Bulk Handling  http://www.petropages.com/fuller-bulk-handling.html
Hammertek  http://www.hammertek.com/index.asp
CoperionWaeschle  http://www.coperion.com/en/
exair  http://www.exair.com/
SMOOT  http://www.magnumsystems.com/
Engineering Toolbox http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/minor-loss-air-ducts-fittings-d_208.html
Excel tutorials can be found at: www.dslimited.biz/excel_tutorials.html

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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