The New Era In Powder Flow Testing

In 2003 the Working Party on the Mechanics of Particulate Solids for the European Federation of Chemical Engineers endorsed the idea that a simple and inexpensive instrument to test powders in gravity discharge from hoppers would be of significant benefit to the bulk solids industry. Problems relating to erratic flow behaviour and total stoppage were taking a toll on efficiency of processing operations and, at times, quality and consistency of finished product. Test methods practiced by the industry to evaluate flow behavior were in many cases irrelevant to the underlying causes for why the powders would not flow.

A collaborative initiative starting in 2004, organised by The Wolfson Centre at the University of Greenwich in Chatham Maritime, Kent UK, took aim at this challenge. With funding support from the British government and voluntary participation by four
food industry processors and an equipment manufacturer, the objective was to identify a test methodology that would be scientific in principle, simple in practice and sensible in cost. It was important that the solution be affordable to companies of all
sizes, with the thought in mind that Quality Control, as well as Research and Development, become practitioners.