Powder flowability in practice: a review and discussion

J.A.H. de Jong, A.C. Hoffmann and H.J. Finkers
Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4
9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands

Summary
Experimentally determined indices for describing the flow behaviour of powder streams in industrial storage, transport and processing operations are reviewed and discussed in terms of their range of applicability, cost and difficulty of measurement. It is emphasised that no flowability test is universally applicable. Since the state of the powder varies from consolidated to fluidised and suspended in industrial applications, the test chosen has to reflect the state of the powder in the actual process.