Triboelectrification of particulate flows on surfaces: Part II — Mechanisms and models

Triboelectric charge accumulation both poses problems and offers opportunities for dry particulate processing. It generates hazards in many industrial systems, but is exploited in several important applications, including electrophotographic toner charging and triboelectric separation. However, the charging of continuous particulate flows on solid surfaces is poorly understood, and design of devices to optimise triboelectric behaviour is often qualitative or based on trial and error. This study attempts to identify the main charging mechanisms for a continuous particulate flow on a flat surface. The proposed charging models incorporate contact time, velocity and mode of contact. A model incorporating contact area effects arising from sliding and rolling contact is consistent with experimental data, as long as a charge limit is imposed on bouncing particles. A mechanism for this charge limit, involving separation discharge, is proposed. The effect of delocalised image charge on the system is estimated and found to be negligible. Some general design principles are proposed for triboelectric optimisation of particle processing devices.