Question Bank • QB_APE_031 NAT • 2 Marks

Section 6: Agricultural Process Engineering

Size Reduction and Material Handling

Subtopic: Fluidization of granular solids – pneumatic, bucket, screw and belt conveying

Question Statement:

A centrifugal discharge bucket elevator has a head pulley radius $R = 0.45\text{ m}$ (measured to the center of the bucket). Taking acceleration due to gravity $g = 9.81\text{ m/s}^2$, the critical rotational speed ($N_c$) in $\text{rpm}$ at which the centrifugal force balances gravity ($m \omega^2 R = m g$) is ________ (round off to 1 decimal place).

Answer Key:

44.6

Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation

1. Critical angular velocity $\omega_c$: $\omega_c^2 R = g \implies \omega_c = \sqrt{\frac{g}{R}} = \sqrt{\frac{9.81}{0.45}} = \sqrt{21.80} = 4.66905\text{ rad/s}$ 2. Critical speed in revolutions per minute ($N_c$): $N_c = \frac{60 \omega_c}{2\pi} = \frac{60 \times 4.66905}{2 \times 3.14159} = \frac{280.143}{6.28318} = 44.584\text{ rpm} \approx 44.6\text{ rpm}$
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