Publication Date

2015

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Pohlman, Nicholas A.

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Mechanical Engineering

LCSH

Mechanical engineering; Energy; Mechanical engineering; Biomass energy; Power resources

Abstract

Granular phenomena are observed in a variety of industries, including the energy sector. Biofuel in the form of pellets made of compressed agricultural residue provides a clean form of renewable energy. The energy-intense transportation of these pellets reduces efficiencies.;This thesis explores biofuel transport using an aluminum oxide analogue in a flighted conveyor with a flow-limiting aperture. First, a review of granular phenomena is presented, followed by a brief overview of current experimental methods. Next, new methods of analysis are introduced, and flow is measured as aperture size and conveyor speed are varied. Finally, the conclusion is drawn that mass flux decreases linearly with an increase in Bagnold number magnitude, and efficacy increases exponentially as a function of Bagnold number.

Comments

Advisors: Nicholas Pohlman.||Committee members: Pradip Majumdar; Kevin Martin; Andrew Otieno.

Extent

54 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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