Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/M10410/01
Title:	DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL TO PREDICT THE LIFE OF PNEUMATIC CONVEYOR BENDS SUBJECT TO EROSIVE WEAR
Principal Investigator:	Hutchings, Professor I
Other Investigators:	Bradley, Professor M S A Patel, Professor M Reed, Professor A
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	E.On Pre Nexus Migration University of Edinburgh
Department:	Materials Science & Metallurgy
Organisation:	University of Cambridge
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	09 February 1999	Ends:	08 February 2002	Value (£):	21,769
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Fluid Dynamics Particle Technology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The goal of this project is to provide UK industry involved with the handling of abrasive particulate materials (or particulate materials containing abrasive contaminants) in pneumatic conveyors with a method for accurately predicting the life of bends within the piplines (therefore determining the life of the conveying system) better than is currently possible. At present trial and error methods or past experience are used to plan a maintenance schedule to replace or repair the bends. Often this is not a satifactory method, and considerable time and effort is put into rectifying problems caused by bend puncture and the subsequent spillage and possible health risks that are caused by premature/unplanned plant shutdown.Providing a method to predict the life of a bend until punctures accurs will enable the pneumatic conveyor operators handling abrasive materials to plan a maintencance schedule accurately, therefore, considerable cost savings will be realised by preventing unwanted stoppages and spillages. This will enhance the competitiveness of UK process industries involved in operating such systems.
Key Findings
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Organisation Website:	http://www.cam.ac.uk