Motion characteristics of a single ore particle in a laterally vibrating riser

During the transportation of ores through lifting risers, behaviors of ore particles can be significantly affected by riser's vibrations induced by oceanic currents and waves. To reveal the motion characteristics of ore particles under the impact of riser's oscillation, experiments are designed and conducted while simulating a single ore particle lift in a laterally vibrating riser. Experimental results show that riser vibration velocity enhances fluctuation amplitudes of both the lateral and vertical velocity of the particle. The average vertical velocity of the particle exhibits a non-monotonic dependence on the vibrational frequency and amplitude of the riser. At the vibration frequency of 1.0 Hz, the average vertical velocity of the particle remains less than those in a stationary riser, similar phenomenon occurs at higher frequencies for low-amplitude vibrations. Nevertheless, as the frequency exceeds 1.25 Hz, the average vertical velocity increases monotonically after an initial phase of suppression. Furthermore, under the influence of riser vibration, the particle trajectory exhibits five distinct regimes: shakes with continuous particle-wall collisions, irregular oscillations around the riser axis, intermittent oscillations and shakes, periodically asymmetric oscillation and periodically zigzagging oscillation. • Ore motion in a laterally vibrating riser is analyzed through designed experiments. • Lateral riser vibrations substantially alter particle dynamics. • Collisions dominate the particle lateral migration at higher frequencies. • Particle trajectories are far more complex than those observed in stationary risers.