An experimental investigation of particle fragmentation using single particle impact studies

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive programme of experiments in which particles were impacted under controlled conditions against solid targets. The overall aim of these experiments was to gain an understanding of the fragmentation process of particle products in a pneumatic conveying system. A continuous air gun was used to examine the effect of particle velocity, impact angle, particle diameter, target material, target thickness and number of impacts on the fragmentation of spherical aluminium oxide particles. The effect of the impact velocity on the fragment size distribution was also examined. The results showed that decreasing the impact velocity, impact angle, target thickness, target hardness and particle size decreased the fragmentation rate. Quantifying the effect of these variables on particle fragmentation provides further understanding of how particles behave during pneumatic conveying, especially in terms of conveying velocities, bend geometry and bend surface material. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.