The improvements include longer straight pipe sections with bore sizes of 50, 80 and 100mm, in test loops totalling half a kilometre of pipelines, also more sensitive instrumentation and an automatic sampler to yield truly representative samples of batches before and after conveying.
Professor Mike Bradley, Director of The Wolfson Centre, said: "The first project for the new rig involves testing a variety of biomass products to get data for system design, for a conveying equipment supplier
'Then we have several industrial troubleshooting projects in the pipeline, for plants that wish to get better performance out of existing conveying systems.
'Many of these projects also involve issues of hopper and silo design or troubleshooting as well, and with the new sampling facility we can find out how the conveying and handling affects the materials' behaviour in these pieces of equipment as well.'
Professor Bradley added: 'This is now the largest and most comprehensive facility of its type in Europe, possibly the world, and will mainly be used for industrial studies".
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The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology, University of Greenwich, Greenwich, UK. www.gre.ac.uk
