Engineering study: Solving a plugging problem in pneumatic conveying lines
Is your sticky material plugging your plant's pneumatic conveying lines? An engineer at a cellophane-manufacturing plant analyzed his sticky line plugging problem and came up with a low-cost solution that involved replacing steel lines with flexible hose. The solution eliminated the plugs, saved labor, and reduced downtime. This article covers the engineer's analysis of the problem, the solution, and advice for applying a similar solution to your own line plugging problems.
Until recently, alkali cellulose solids plugged two dilute-phase pneumatic conveying systems at the Flexel cellophane plant in Covington, Ind. The conveying systems are part of a cellophane-manufacturing process that starts with mixing purified hardwood pulp [called dissolving pulp] in a sodium hydroxide solution to form a cellulose slurry.