Life-Cycle Cost Modelling of Pneumatic Conveying Pipelines for the Lean Phase Transport Condition

Determination of the pressure requirements, volumetric flow rate and optimal pipeline diameter is key to selecting a compressor for dilute-phase conveying. Thus, a new methodology has been developed for determining these attributes for pneumatic conveying systems. There are two key costs involved in the design of pneumatic conveying pipelines, i.e. operational cost and capital cost. The methodology calculates these costs and formulates the optimal pipeline diameter based on the minimum conveying costs plus capital cost. This methodology displays the relationship between pressure drop and volumetric flow rate for the conveying costs. This will also allow for an optimal life cycle cost prediction.