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Conveying speed / air velocity

Calculations of air velocity in pipes : step by step guide

Recommended values of air velocity in pneumatic conveying pipes

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Section summary
1. Definition of air velocity in pipe
2. Calculation of air velocity through piping
3. Usual values for dilute phase and lean phase pneumatic transport
4. Air velocity in pipe Excel calculator

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1. Definition of air velocity in pipe

What is the velocity of air in pipes ?

The conveying air velocity is the speed at which air circulates in the conveying pipe of a pneumatic conveying line. Air velocity is changing all along the conveying line following the pressure / temperature evolution, thus one must always refer to a reference position (beginning or end of the line) when calculating the air velocity. The air velocity is sometimes called conveying air speed.

2. Calculation of air velocity through piping

How do you calculate air velocity in pipes ?

The air velocity in the pipes is calculated by dividing the air volumetric flowrate (m³/s) by the passing section of the pipe (m²).

With :

- u_air = air velocity in conveying pipe of diameter D (m/s)
- Q_air = air volumetric flow rate (m³/s)
- D = pipe diameter (m)

Note the following : the air volumetric flowrate is changing with the pressure and temperature, along the conveying line pressure is decreasing thus air expands, which makes the volumetric flowrate higher and thus the conveying air velocity higher (at constant D). To counter this phenomena, it is possible to change the diameter of the pipe, thus D may not be constant all along a same pipe.

How to calculate air velocity in pipe ? Step by step calculation example

A dilute phase conveying system, working by vacuum, is transporting a product from a tipping station to a receiver. The conveying line is powered by a Roots blower sucking 400 Nm³/h of air. Temperature is 20c. The pressure in the receiver is -0.3 bar g. The pipe internal diameter is 80 mm. What is the air velocity at the beginning and the end of the pipe ?

Beginning of pipe

At the beginning of the pipe, the pressure is atmospheric, the temperature is 20c.

STEP 1 : calculate the volumetric air flow at the conditions of the beginning of pipe.

The calculation formula is available here.

Q_air = Q_VN.T/273*1.013/P = 400*293/273*1.013*1.013=429 m³/h=0.119 m³/s

STEP 2 : calculate the air conveying velocity

u_air = Q_air / (π.D²/4) = 0.119/(π*0.08²/4) = 23.7 m/s

End of pipe

At the end of the pipe, the pressure is -0.3 bar g, the temperature is 20c.

STEP 1 : calculate the volumetric air flow at the conditions of the end of pipe.

The calculation formula is available here.

Q_air = Q_VN.T/273*1.013/P = 400*293/273*1.013*(1.013-0.3) = 609 m³/h=0.169 m³/s

STEP 2 : calculate the air conveying velocity

uair = Qair / (π.D²/4) = 0.169/(π*0.08²/4) = 33.7 m/s

How to calculate flow rate from air velocity and pipe diameter ?

Equation 1 can also be used when knowing the velocity of air and the pipe diameter. It is then possible to calculate the air flow rate :

Q_air = u_air * π.D²/4

Again, as air is compressible the air flow will change according to the pressure, and thus according to the position in the pipe.

3. Usual values of air velocity for dilute and dense phase conveying

What is the typical air velocity in pneumatic conveying ?

Every conveying line is unique and will have its specific air velocity, however, some orders of magnitudes can be given for both dilute and dense phase.

Table 1 : Reference end of line air velocity for dilute and dense phase conveying

Note that the actual velocity of the product conveyed is lower than the conveying air velocity.

4. Air velocity in pipe Excel calculator

Please access here the Free Excel calculator for air velocity calculation here : calculator download (click here)