Transient Material Accumulation in Rotary Drums

An empirical start-up transient model was developed for rotary drums using the data obtained from a pilot scale apparatus. The structure of the model is composed of dimensionless groups which reflect the effects of important operational variables on transient material filling-up inside the drum. The model is composed of two parts. One for predicting the displacing time of the material apex to any specified length of drum in an initially empty drum. The other one predicts the variations of the bed depth of material during filing-up period. It was shown that the model can be used, also, for steady state condition of material bed depth profile inside rotary drums.