Abstract
<jats:p>This article examines the flow patterns and kinetics of granular media interacting with ascending and descending gas flows. Bulk material release control is a critical aspect of shaft furnace and hopper operation Experimental studies were conducted on a flat transparent model and a close-up "hot" model using high-speed video recording (SK-16). With an error in the calculated values of the critical speed, amounting from to -30.0 to +28.8 , the main parameters varied within the following limits: specific gravity and viscosity of the gas, respectively, from 11.97 to 1.16 N/m3; from ; diameter, specific gravity and coefficient of internal friction of bulk material from m; from kN/m3; from ; coefficient taking into account the shape of the particles, from ; outlet diameter from m; attitude equals . The materials studied were agglomerate, lime, millet, and coke; the gas phases were air, helium, and hydrogen. It was established that the outflow mechanism is staged and determined by the frequency of destruction of dynamically unstable vaults. It was found that gas density is the key factor influencing the outflow rate, while the effect of viscosity is secondary. An analytical relationship was formulated for calculating the critical gas velocity that causes layer suspension. The obtained data make it possible to optimize the design parameters of outlet openings and blast supply modes in metallurgical units.</jats:p>