The consolidation of particulate solids - Microprocesses of caking and kinetic models

Storage tanks are important elements of a self-operating closed processing system. The reliability and availability of storage equipment essentially depends on the flow behaviour of particulate solids in storage containers. A wide residence time distribution (i.e. too long a storage time at rest) in silos, bunkers or transportation containers, respectively, can lead to the hazardous problem of so-called ''time consolidation'' of particulate solids. During this hardening process, solid bridges are forming with resulting solidification and solid properties of bulk material. In principle, there are four main physico-chemical effects in bulk materials storing and handling which can produce solid briding between the particle contacts due to crystallisation, chemical reactions, solidification of high-viscous bonding agents and sintering. Generally, new adhesion force based models are presented to describe the consolidation kinetics of particulate solids. Preliminary solutions of kinetic model equations are discussed and compared with new test results and practical conclusions are drawn concerning the reliable processing, storage and transportation of bulk materials.