Impact of particle size distribution of material on pneumatic conveying operation on example of ground phosphate

Abstract

Phosphates are essential in the agricultural sector and about 95% of the world production is used in fertilizer industry. After grinding, phosphate ore, as well as any other bulk material is required to be transported to further processing. Pneumatic conveying systems are preferred over other mechanical systems due to their usage convenience. Different types of phosphate rocks, as well as other just seemingly the same materials, may widely differ in their characteristics. Therefore, physical properties of bulk material must be taken into the consideration to achieve reliable pneumatic conveying system operation and avoid possible problems. This paper will address problems with pneumatic conveying of ground phosphate that occurred in fertilizer production plant.