SALTATION VELOCITY OF WHEAT MATERIALS IN HORIZONTAL FLOW

Saltation velocity in pneumatic transport of granular materials throug h enclosed pipes is defined as the mean air velocity at which the sett ling of particles to the bottom of a horizontal pipe starts. We tested three wheat materials including wheat, sizings, and flour for their s altation velocities in a horizontal cylindrical pipe for different fee d rates of materials. Two statistical models were obtained to predict saltation velocities: 1) by using the results of SAS STEPWISE procedur e and 2) by combining Buckingham pi Theorem with the SAS STEPWISE proc edure. The models were tested by using F-statistics. Both models expla ined the variability at 0.0001 level of significance. Also, the signif icance of each independent variable in the models was tested by using t-test. All variables in the model were significant at an a level 0.00 45 or less. The R square of the two models were 0.974 and 0.996, respe ctively. The most important variables that affected the saltation velo city were feed rate, particle size, and specific surface area.