Solid particle flow characteristics in the cone valve and its flow rate prediction model

•Solid particle flow characteristics in the cone valve were studied.•Valve structure was regarded as an in-series connected double-orifice system.•The solid particle flow rate model of the cone valve was proposed and verified.•Recommended values of model parameters were provided.•Model prediction accuracy was acceptable for industrial application. The solid particle flow characteristics inside the cone valve were experimentally and numerically studied. The experiments were conducted at different valve sizes, valve opening positions, pressure drops, and fluidization velocities. Numerical simulation using the computational particle fluid dynamic method was also carried out over broader conditions. It is found that the solid particle flow inside the cone valve demonstrated the three-stage phenomena as the solid particle flew passing through two in-series connected orifice systems. The explanation of the three-stage phenomena of the solid particle flow rate to the valve opening was given according to the double-orifice flow model. Based on the physical nature of the solid particle flow characteristics, a semi-empirical model of the solid particle flow rate inside the cone valve was proposed. The model parameters, such as the saturated solid flow rate, the saturated valve opening, were determined using the experimental data and the existing knowledge of orifice systems. The model was then verified using the experimental data and presented acceptable prediction accuracy.