title: A gravity-driven low-rate particle feeder.
abstract: A gravity-driven particle feeder has been designed, fabricated, and tested to feed particles at low rates. A solenoid and a digital timer regulate the feed rate. This design avoids moving parts at the system periphery and thus avoids possible air leakages. It does not use pressurized gas to blow the particles into the desired location and thus pressure disturbance is avoided. The feeder can be operated at either a batch or a near continuous mode. Moreover, feeding a single large particle at a desired time is also feasible in such gaseous environments.
authors.affiliation: Anderson Hall, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Mississippi University, P.O. Box 1848, Mississippi 38677-9740, USA.
authors.forename: Wei-Yin
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gowan
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Shaolong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wan