Pneumatic pulsator design as an example of numerical simulations in engineering applications

The paper presents the part of the investigation that has been carried out in order to develop the pneumatic pulsator which is to be employed as an unblocking device at lose material silo outlets. The part of numerical simulation is reported. The fluid dynamics issues have been outlined which are present during supersonic airflow thought the head of the pulsator. These issues describe the pneumatic impact phenomenon onto the loose material bed present in the silo to which walls the pulsator is assembled. The investigation presented in the paper are industrial applicable and the result is the working prototype of the industrial pneumatic pulsator. The numerical simulation has led to change the piston shape which is moving inside the head of the pulsator, and therefore, to reduce the pressure losses during the airflow. A stress analysis of the pulsator controller body has been carried out while the numerical simulation investigation part of the whole project. The analysis has made possible the change of the controller body material from cast iron to aluminium alloy.