228 Investigation on the Discharge Processes of Granular Sulphur in Storage Silo

The numerical simulation of silo discharge processes including flow-ability and dynamic interactions between the silo filling and the elastic silo walls of granular Sulphur and its relation to silo blockage have been investigated in this article. Solid elemental Sulphur is a relatively hard, friable crystalline material that tends to break up into smaller particles when subjected to force or stress of any magnitude. Conglomeration of the dust so produced clogs storage silos, making truck loading difficult. Grain size selection is based on the “friability value” and “maximum entropy” for granules in a static state. The model of the behavior of confined granular sulphur is based on the principle of continuum mechanics. Granules were formed by feeding liquid sulphur and water to a rotating granulation drum. Sample granules were classified into different size fractions (300 μm – 4.75 mm) by sieve analysis, and friability tests were done by the Fines 28-inch tumbler S5-77 test. Friability and granule size data collected over four years were studied. The implication of field analysis and laboratory tests is that the granule size should be controlled during sulphur solidification while ensuring that only granular material with the correct mechanical characteristics is stored in the silo and shipped.