GB1588356A

GB1588356A - Method and apparatus for measuring the flow characteristics of nongaseous fluid-flow materials

Info

Publication number: GB1588356A
Application number: GB31278/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA; Nestle SA
Current assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA; Nestle SA
Priority date: 1976-08-09
Filing date: 1977-07-26
Publication date: 1981-04-23
Also published as: PT66897A; ES461437A1; ATA554077A; OA05727A; NL7708319A; DE2732130A1; PT66897B; YU39812B; AT376800B; DE2732130B2; YU188677A; IT1116361B; FR2361640A1; NL167028C; HU179222B; FR2361640B1; DE2732130C3; NL167028B; CH618788A5

Description

(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE FLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-GASEOUS FLUID-FLOW MATERIALS (71) We, SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A., a Swiss body corporate of Vevey, Switzerland do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a process for measuring the flow capacity of non-gaseous fluid-flow material, such as a powder-form product or a liquid, without any need - as is the case at present -- either to put the product or the liquid to the real test of actual use or to carry out precision chronometric measurements.

By virtue of the process according to the invention, it is possible to determine with very considerable certainty and with considerable precision whether a powder-form product, a liquid or any other non-gaseous fluid-flow material, of which a sample is tested, will in practice have the required characteristics for the industrial application for which it is intended.

Thus, for example, the invention may be usefully and effectively applied for solving many very different problems, such as: -the development of a new powder-form product intended to be processed in a known machine; -the influence on flow of a production parameter; measuring the constancy in flow of a product during its production; -the testing a priori of a mass of a powder-form product intended for export; measuring the viscosity of an edible or industrial oil under predetermined conditions of use; -an operation for sorting or sizing the particles of a powder-form product.

The present invention provides a process for measuring the flow capacity of nongaseous fluid-flow material, such as powder-form product or a liquid, stored in a metering hopper, which comprises: causing the material to flow under the effect of gravity in the form of a main stream; dividing first the main stream by means of a separator assembly so as to obtain at least two smaller primary streams and then subdividing at least once more at least two of the resulting primary streams into smaller secondary flow streams, the form and disposition of the separator assembly being such that streams other than the main stream are divided in proportions dependent upon the flow capacity of the material, collecting the smaller secondary flow streams thus created in collector boxes; and finally determining the flow capacity of the fluid-flow material being tested by visual volumetric and/or gravimetric comparison between the material collected in the various collector boxes.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the measuring process according to the invention.

This apparatus comprises the combination of three essential means which are as follows, starting from the top and progressing downwards: - a metering hopper which is adapted to receive the fluid-flow material to be tested and to allow it to flow by gravity through a flow outlet in the form of a main stream; -a separator assembly comprising at least two stages adapted on the one hand to divide the main stream to obtain at least two smaller primary streams and, on the other hand, to sub divide at least once more at least two of the resulting primary streams into smaller secondary flow streams, the form and disposition of the separator assembly being such that streams other than the main stream are divided in proportions dependent upon the flow capacity of the material;; -and a collector assembly formed by boxes adapted to collect the secondary streams thus created to enable the flow capacity of the fluid-flow material being tested to be determined by visual, volumetric and/or gravimetric comparison between the material collected in the various collector boxes.

Other features, advantages and particulars of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying diagrammatic drawings which, purely by way of non-limiting example, illustrate an apparatus according to the invention used for measuring the flow capacity of a fluidflow material.

More particularly, in these drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one possible embodiment of an apparatus for measuring the flow capacity of a powder form material in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the apparatus in its application to a powder-form product having good flow properties.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing how the flow of the powder-form product to be tested is distributed and also the shape of the heaps obtained in the three collectors in the case of a powder-form product having good flow properties.

Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram similar to that of Fig. 2 showing the operation of the apparatus, on this occasion in its application to a powder-form product having average flow properties.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram similar to that of Fig. 3 in the case of a powder-form product having average flow properties.

Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram similar to those of Figs. 2 and 4 showing the operation of the apparatus in its application to a powder-form product having poor flow properties.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram similar to those of Figs. 3 and 5 in the case of a powder-form product having poor flow properties.

It should be noted that the apparatus illustrated in the drawings has been specifically designed for the treatment of a powder-form product, although it could also be used without significant structural modification for the treatment of non-gaseous fluids and, generally, for the treatment of any non-gaseous fluid-flow material.

According to the invention, the apparatus for measuring the flow capacity of a powder-form product which is shown by way of example in Figure 1 consists of three essential elements, namely: -an element in the form of a metering hopper which is denoted by the general reference 1 and which is intended to receive the powder-form product to be tested: -a separator element which is denoted by the general reference 2 and which is intended to divide the stream of powderform product flowing from the hopper by gravity; -a collector element which is denoted by the general reference 3 and which is intended to recover the powder-form product after it has been divided by the separator.

The hopper and separator assemblies 1 and 2 are mounted on a frame which is denoted by the general reference 4 and which is arranged in such a way that the collector 3 can be disposed below the separator 2.

More particularly and according to the embodiment illustrated by way of example in Figure 1, the hopper 1 is arranged in such a way that the width of the outlet through which the powder-form product to be tested flows by gravity is variable.

To this end, the hopper 1 is formed by two complementary parts of sectors 1 A and 1 B which are capable of sliding along the upper surfaces of two lateral supporting plates 5 A and 5 e The two sectors 1 A and 1 B of the hopper are provided with locking means, such as 6A and 6,which enable the operator to lock the sectors 1 A and 1 B in symmetrical positions relative to the plane of symmetry OY of the apparatus so that the flow outlet 7 of the hopper which is generally rectangular in shape has the required width and is disposed symmetrically in relation to said plane XOY.

It should be noted that the lateral sup porting plates 5, A and 5 e along which the sectors 1 A and 1 B of the hopper slide, form the lateral walls of the hopper between the sectors 1 A and 1 B and, for this reason, are with advantage made of a transparent material which enables the operator visually to inspect the flow of the powder-form product inside the hopper.

These transparent lateral plates 5 A and 5 B are with advantage extended downwards so that they also serve as a support for the fixing of the separator 2 whilst at the same time enabling the operator to ensure, again by visual inspection, that the division of the stream of the product flowing onto the separator is taking place normally, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The assembly formed by the two lateral plates 5 b 5 e the hopper 1 and the separator is integral with a support 8 comprising crossmembers 9 which form the actual frame 4 of the apparatus to which reference has already been made.

The base of the hopper 1, upstream of the outlet 7 in the direction of flow, is shut off by means of a plate or slide 10 which has a shoulder passing through a suitable slot 11, formed in the lateral wall 5A so that the operator is able to withdraw it rapidly, thus enabling the powder-form product stored in the hopper 1 to flow by gravity through the outlet 7 onto the separator 2. It is not necessary to use different plates when the outlet width is adjusted.

The separator 2 is with advantage formed by three identical dihedrons 2 A 2Band 2c disposed in a staggered arrangement so that, on the one hand, the edge of the upper dihedron 2 Ais preferably situated below the outlet 7 of the hopper 1 in the plane of symmetry XOY of the apparatus, whilst on the other hand the two lower dihedrons 2 B and 20 are preferably disposed at the same level symmetrically in relation to the plane XOY so that the edges of these dihedrons are respectively disposed in the extension of the two flow planes of the upper dihedron At all events, the dihedrons are removably secured to the lateral plates so that their relative positions may optionally be modified in dependence upon certain particular characteristics of the powder-form products to be tested.

In the apparatus illustrated by way of example, the separator assembly 2 comprises dihedrons disposed in two stages.

However, it should be noted that, although it is necessary to have these two stages to effect the separation of the stream flowing from the metering hopper 1, as will be described in more detail hereinafter, the separator 2 may comprise a larger number of stages of dihedrons disposed in a staggered arrangement relative to one another.

The dihedrons may readily be secured in the lateral plates 5 A and 5 e, for example by fitting them into suitable openings, such as 12A 12B and 12, formed in the lateral plates 5 b and 5 e The openings 12A 12B and 12 C may of course be formed in such a way that the dihedrons 2. 2 B and 20 may occupy different relative positions selected in dependence upon the powder-form products to be tested.

In one variant (not shown), it is the assembly of dihedrons 2A 2B and 20 and the shoulders of the lateral plates 5A and 5 e to which they are secured, which may be removable in relation to the lateral plates.

In this case, it is sufficient to adapt to the actual plates the adequate separator assembly which is selected from a certain number of removable separator assemblies comprising different dihedron settings.

In another variant (not shown), the dihedrons of the lower stage of the separator, in the present case 2 Band 2, may be replaced by slanted plates so that their upper surfaces take the place of the edges of the dihedrons.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, it is possible to position the collector assembly 3 below the separator 2. In the present case, the collector assembly is formed by three identical collector boxes 3A 3 B and 3, disposed in such a way that the central collector 3 A is situated below the upper dihedron 2A and that its longitudinal plane of symmetry coincides with the plane of symmetry XOY of the apparatus.

The two lateral collector boxes 3 B and 3 C are symmetrically disposed on either side of and parallel to the central box 3 b the width of the collectors being determined in such a way that the outer flow planes of the lower lateral dihedrons 2 B and 20 direct the flow streams of the powder-form product which they divide respectively into collectors 3A and 3 B in the case of the dihedron 2B and into the collectors 3 A and 30 in the case of the dihedron 2, It is obvious that the number of collector boxes is dependent upon the number of dihedron stages of the separator assembly 2, although the principle of operation remains the same.

The operation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 will now be described with reference to three different cases of application, namely: 1) in the case of a powder-form product having good flow properties (Figs. 2 and 3); 2) in the case of a powder-form product having average flow properties (Figs. 4 and 5); 3) in the case of a powder-form product having poor flow properties (Figs. 6 and 7).

It should be noted that, in the interests of clarity of the description, the explanatory operational diagrams of Figs. 2, 4 and 6 only show the essential elements of the apparatus which are denoted by the same references as in Fig. 1.

Naturally, if the comparison of the results obtained in the three cases of application envisaged is to be valid, the apparatus must retain the same settings in these three different cases of application.

The metering hopper 1 is filled with the powder-form product 13 to be tested, ensuring of course that the slide 10 is in the closed position shown in dash-dot lines. The product 13 then reaches the upper level symbolised by the dash-dot line HHl.

The collector boxes 3 A 3 B and 3C are placed in their receiving positions in the manner explained above below the separator dihedrons 2A 2B and 2c . The apparatus is then ready for operation.

To this end, the operator withdraws the slide 10 to bring it into the open position symbolised by the solid line.

The powder-form product 13 then begins to flow by gravity through the outlet 7 in the form of a main vertical stream of rectangular cross-section which, on encountering the edge of the upper dihedron 2 A is divided into two smaller primary streams 13 A and 13 B which flow respectively along the two planes of the dihedrons 2 k By virtue of the symmetry of the dynamic assembly thus created, it appears that the two streams 13 Aand 13 Bare symmetrically identical.

The stream 13 A in turn encounters the edge of the lower dihedron 2B and is divided into two smaller secondary streams 13 at and 13 A2 which respectively flow along the two planes of the dihedron 2,two fall, in the case of the first 13A1, into the collector box 3 B where it accumulates in the form of a heap 14,and, in the case of the second 13,, into the central collector 3,where it accumulates in the form of a heap 14,,, Similarly, the stream 13 B encounters the edge of the lower dihedron 2,and is divided into two smaller secondary streams 13 by and 13 B2 which flow respectively along the two planes of the dihedron 2c to fall, in the case of the first 13by, into the collector box 3c where it accumulates in the form of a heap 140and, in the case of the second 13 by into the central collector box 3A where it accumulates in the form of a heap 14 A By referring to Fig. 3, it can be seen that, in the case of a powder-form product 13 having good flow properties, three heaps 14, 14Band 14c of substantially the same height are obtained in the three collectors 3,,, and 3c The heap 14 A in the central collector 3 A is symmetrical in shape with a very gentle slope angle in relation to a highly rounded central peak. By contrase, the lateral heaps 14Band 14c have a peak which, although similarly rounded, is very clearly displaced towards the outside of the collector boxes 3 B and 3c relative to the cen tray plane of symmetry of the apparatus.

This symmetrically wide distribution arises out of the fact that, since the powderform product being tested has good flow properties, the particles flowing in contact with the planes of the lateral dihedrons 2 B and 2c do not undergo any significant deceleration in relation to the other constituent particles of the streams. Accordingly, these particles have a flow of which the general line is very distinctly parabolic without any breaks. Also, the flows on the two dihedrons 2,and 2,remain symmetrical.

If the same test as described above is repeated with the same apparatus and with the same settings, but successively using a powder-form product 13 having average flow properties (Figures 4 and 5) and then a powder-form product 13 having poor flow properties (Figures 6 and 7), it is found that: 1) the operation of the apparatus remains identical in its major lines, namely: separation of the initial stream into two symmetrical smaller primary streams 13 Aand 13 e followed by separation of each of these two streams into smaller secondary streams 13 at 13., on the the one hand and 13by' 13 by on the other hand.

2) the shape of the heaps 14b 14Band 14C collected in the collectors 3 b 3 B and 3 c is appreciably different according to the flow capacity of the powder-form product being tested.

Thus, by referring to Figure 5 which relates to the measurement of the flow capacity of a powder-form product 13 having average flow properties, it can be seen that, on this occasion and in relation to the preceding case, the central heap 14,its taller than the lateral heaps 14 B and 14,the slope angle is much greater and the peak is much more pronounced and, finally, the peaks of the lateral heaps 14B andic have moved considerably closer to the plane of symmetry XOY of the apparatus.

Finally, by referring to Figure 7 which relates to the measurement of the flow capacity of a powder-form product 13 having poor flow properties, it can be seen that, on this occasion, the central heap 14Ahas a height almost double that of the lateral heaps 14 B and 14 c and that the peaks of the lateral heaps have again moved closer to the plane of symmetry XOY of the apparatus.

In contrast to the symmetrically wide distribution of a powder-form product having good flow properties, the distribution obtained in the case of a product having average or poor flow properties shows a symmetrical contraction in relation to the central heap, the contraction of the whole in relation to the plane of symmetry of the apparatus as well as the height of the central heap being greater, the poorer the flow properties of the product.

This arises out of the fact that the particles flowing in contact with the planes of the lateral dihedrons 2 B and 20 under a significant deceleration in relation to the other constituent particles of the streams. Accordingly, these particles have a flow of which the general line progressively approaches a straight line and shows a break which is more pronounced, the lower the flow capacity. The break effected by the central streams 13A2 and 13 B2 in relation to the outer streams 13 at and 13 by therefore becomes larger, the lower the flow capacity.

The weight of the mass of powder-form product 13 collected in the central collector 3 A is inversely proportional to the flow capacity of the powder-form product being tested or that, in other words, measurement of the masses collected in the central collector characterises the flow.

Naturally, the collector boxes may with advantage comprise graduations for measuring the volumes of the heaps which have accumulated in the collector boxes and which it has been possible to inspect visually.

As mentioned above, the number of collector boxes is dependent upon the number of dihedron stages of the separator assembly 2 without however changing the process according to the invention for measuring the flow capacity of the product being tested.

It should merely be noted that it is neces sary to divide the main stream into at least two primary streams and then to divide at least two of the resulting primary streams at least once more into two secondary streams.

In other words, it is necessary at least to obtain four secondary streams, in other words the separator assembly has to comprise at least two stages.

As explained above, several parameters influence the measurement of flow. These parameters are: -the relative positions of the dihedrons of the separator; -the spacing between the two sectors of the hopper determining the width of the flow outlet; -the quantitative mass of the powderform product having to flow, given that the cohesion of the mass and hence its flow are dependent upon the quantity of product. In order to obtain the best possible correlation between the measurements of flow capacity of the powder-form products and the industrial applications for which they are intended, it is of course of advantage experimentally to determine the optimum values of these parameters and, hence, to have an adjustable apparatus for readily carrying out series of comparable tests.

The industrial applications of the invention are numerous because the invention may be applied to every case where the flow capacity of non-gaseous fluid-flow material, such as a powder-form product or a liquid, has a significant character.

Thus, among the possible applications of the invention, reference may be made by way of example to the following: -the development of a new product based on a powder-form product intended to be processed in a known machine; -the influence on flow of a production parameter such as, for example, the temperature at which a liquid fat is introduced, the temperature of the mass, the mixing time, etc; -in production, measuring the constancy in flow of a product; -testing a mass of a powder-form product intended for export to ensure that its processing in situ does not give rise to any difficulties and to prevent suspect batches from being despatched; measuring the viscosity of an edible or industrial oil under predetermined conditions of use;; -an operation for sorting or sizing the particles of a powder-form product simply by adjusting the distance between the flow planes of the dihedrons of the separator assembly.

It is obvious that the present invention has only been described and illustrated by way of preferred example and that equivalent modifications may be made to its constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the following claims.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A process for measuring the flow capacity of non-gaseous fluid-flow material, such as a powder-form product or a liquid stored in a metering hopper, which comprises: causing the material to flow under the effect of gravity in the form of a main stream; dividing first the main stream by means of a separator assembly so as to obtain at least two smaller primary streams and then sub-dividing at least once more at least two of the resulting primary streams into smaller secondary flow streams, the form and disposition of the separator assembly being such that streams other than the main stream are divided in proportion dependent upon the flow capacity of the material; collecting the smaller secondary flow streams thus created in collector boxes; and finally determining the flow capacity of the fluid-flow material being tested by visual, volumetric and/or gravimetric comparison between the material collected in the various collector boxes.

2. A process as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the main stream is initially divided into two smaller primary lateral streams of which each is in turn sub-divided at least once more into two smaller secondary lateral streams, the secondary streams thus created, at least four in number, being collected in collector boxes, at least three in number, so that the flow capacity of the fluid-flow material being tested may be determined by visuall volumetric and/or gravimetric comparison between the material collected in the various collector boxes.

3. A process as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each of the two primary streams is sub-divided only once into two smaller secondary streams so as to obtain four secondary streams which are collected in three collector boxes so that the central box collects the two central streams and each of the outer boxes collects one of the two outer streams, and that the flow capacity of the fluid-flow material being tested may be determined by visual, volumetric and/or gravimetric comparison between the material collected in outer boxes on the one hand and the material collected in the central box on the other hand.

4. A process as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein, the main stream and both the primary and secondary lateral streams have a generally rectangular cross-section.

5. A process for measuring the flow capacity of non-gaseous fluid-flow material substantially as described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. An apparatus for measuring the flow capacity of any non-gaseous fluid-flow mat

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. sary to divide the main stream into at least two primary streams and then to divide at least two of the resulting primary streams at least once more into two secondary streams. In other words, it is necessary at least to obtain four secondary streams, in other words the separator assembly has to comprise at least two stages. As explained above, several parameters influence the measurement of flow. These parameters are: -the relative positions of the dihedrons of the separator; -the spacing between the two sectors of the hopper determining the width of the flow outlet; -the quantitative mass of the powderform product having to flow, given that the cohesion of the mass and hence its flow are dependent upon the quantity of product. In order to obtain the best possible correlation between the measurements of flow capacity of the powder-form products and the industrial applications for which they are intended, it is of course of advantage experimentally to determine the optimum values of these parameters and, hence, to have an adjustable apparatus for readily carrying out series of comparable tests. The industrial applications of the invention are numerous because the invention may be applied to every case where the flow capacity of non-gaseous fluid-flow material, such as a powder-form product or a liquid, has a significant character. Thus, among the possible applications of the invention, reference may be made by way of example to the following: -the development of a new product based on a powder-form product intended to be processed in a known machine; -the influence on flow of a production parameter such as, for example, the temperature at which a liquid fat is introduced, the temperature of the mass, the mixing time, etc; -in production, measuring the constancy in flow of a product; -testing a mass of a powder-form product intended for export to ensure that its processing in situ does not give rise to any difficulties and to prevent suspect batches from being despatched; measuring the viscosity of an edible or industrial oil under predetermined conditions of use;; -an operation for sorting or sizing the particles of a powder-form product simply by adjusting the distance between the flow planes of the dihedrons of the separator assembly. It is obvious that the present invention has only been described and illustrated by way of preferred example and that equivalent modifications may be made to its constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the following claims. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A process for measuring the flow capacity of non-gaseous fluid-flow material, such as a powder-form product or a liquid stored in a metering hopper, which comprises: causing the material to flow under the effect of gravity in the form of a main stream; dividing first the main stream by means of a separator assembly so as to obtain at least two smaller primary streams and then sub-dividing at least once more at least two of the resulting primary streams into smaller secondary flow streams, the form and disposition of the separator assembly being such that streams other than the main stream are divided in proportion dependent upon the flow capacity of the material; collecting the smaller secondary flow streams thus created in collector boxes; and finally determining the flow capacity of the fluid-flow material being tested by visual, volumetric and/or gravimetric comparison between the material collected in the various collector boxes.

erial, such as a powder form product or a liquid, by application of the process claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 which apparatus comprises, starting from the top: -a metering hopper which is adapted to receive the fluid-flow material to be tested and to allow it to flow by gravity through a flow outlet in the form of a main stream; -a separator assembly comprising at least two stages adapted on the one hand to divide the main stream to obtain at least two smaller primary streams and, on the other hand, to sub-divide at least once more at least two of the resulting primary streams into smaller secondary flow streams, the form and disposition of the separator assembly being such that streams other than the main stream are divided in proportions dependent upon the flow capacity of the material;; -and a collector assembly formed by boxes adapted collect the secondary streams thus created to enable the flow capacity of the fluid-flow material being tested to be determined by visual, volumetric and/or gravimetric comparison between the material collected in the various collector boxes.

7. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein on the one hand, the separator assembly is formed by at least three parallel dihedrons disposed in a staggered arrangement in at least two stages so as to divide the main stream into two smaller primary lateral streams and each of these primary lateral streams at least once more into two smaller secondary lateral streams and, on the other hand, the collector assembly is formed by at least three collector boxes.

8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein the metering hopper is formed by two complementary elements having a variable spacing and defining a flow outlet of rectangular shape of which the width may be determined as required.

9. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein the constituent dihedrons of the separator assembly are disposed in such a way that the edge of the uper dihedron is disposed substantially in the vertical plane of symmetry of the flow outlet of the metering hopper whilst the upper edges of the dihedrons of the lower stages are disposed, for each stage, substantially at the same level and respectively in the extension of the flow planes of the corresponding dihedrons of the stage situated immediately above.

10. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the dihedrons of the lower stage of the separator assembly are replaced by slanted plates so that the upper surfaces of these plates take the place of the edges of the dihedrons.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 10, wherein the constituent dihedrons of the separator assembly are adjustably mounted on the frame of the apparatus so that their positions relative to one another may be modified as required.

12. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 11, wherein the frame of the apparatus comprises two lateral plates made of a transparent material to enable the operator visually to inspect the correct flow of the material being tested from the metering hopper to the collector boxes.

13. An apparatus for measuring the flow capacity of non-gaseous fluid flow material substantially as described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.