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Ask an Expert
Increasing capacity in pneumatic conveying systems
Q: To increase our pressure conveying system's capacity, we increased the blower speed and airflow, but we found that our capacity was reduced instead. What did we do wrong?
Paul Solt,
Pneumatic Conveying Consultants LLC, says: You're obviously conveying in dilute phase (stream flow). When you increase airflow in dilute phase, either the pressure increases or the capacity decreases. Although it seems wrong, you may have been able to increase the capacity by decreasing the amount of air in the system (slowing the blower).
CONTINUED...
Paul Solt is principal consultant at Pneumatic Conveying Consultants LLC. He will be presenting two conference sessions at PBE’s 2012 Southeast Conference & Exhibition, to be held March 13-15 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.
Think you’ve got what it takes to be the Expert?
We’re looking for guest contributors for the Ask the Expert section—email awiebe@cscpub.com for more info.
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Read It Here First:
Choosing an energy-efficient mixer
Lyndon Flower, A&J Mixing International
Energy costs are one of the major expenses in running a bulk solids plant. One of the best strategies to hold your plant's energy costs down and improve your bottom line is to choose energy-efficient processing equipment, including mixers, and run them efficiently. This article concentrates on two important steps for selecting an energy-efficient batch-agitating mixer, but much of the information applies to continuous models, as well.
Calculate mixer energy use. Start the selection process by calculating the energy consumption of the mixers you're considering. This requires multiplying the mixer motor's horsepower by the mixing time and discharge time. Since horsepower is a major factor in this calculation, it makes sense to try to find a low-speed mixer that can handle your application before you consider a high-speed mixer. The high-speed mixer not only typically requires more horsepower, but also has longer mixing and discharging times than a low-speed unit. And, since a mixer is typically in use for 20 to 30 years, committing to a high-speed mixer ties you into its high energy consumption for decades. (Be aware, however, that some applications are best handled by a high-speed mixer.)
Eliminate other equipment by using the mixer for process steps besides mixing. When selecting a mixer, look for an opportunity to eliminate other process equipment by adding processing functions to your mixer that can change the blend's properties and improve its value. For instance, consider adding specially designed devices that can apply shear force to the ingredients, not only to shorten mix times but to eliminate a downstream hammermill, sifter, or other piece of finishing equipment and the energy this machine would require.
To eliminate downstream heating or cooling equipment, you can add a heating or cooling jacket to the mixer that circulates thermal fluid to heat or cool particles as they're mixed. If you need to coat particles, you can equip the mixer with components for adding liquid to the blend, eliminating the need for coating equipment downstream.
For more information on selecting an energy-efficient mixer and tips on running it efficiently, you can read "Greener mixing for lower energy costs" by Lyndon Flower, A&J Mixing International, in the January issue of Powder and Bulk Engineering.
To read it today, click here.
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PBE 25th Anniversary
Anniversary issue is finally here!
Powder and Bulk Engineering is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month with a special anniversary issue of the magazine. Long-time readers and advertisers share their thoughts on the past and future of bulk solids handling, and a special section highlights facts you may not know about PBE!
Here are a few quotes from the article on the industry's past and future:
"Trends are constantly changing. The challenge has always been twofold: to recognize them and then to adapt to them. For example, even 5 or 10 years ago, the introduction of bagging machines to fill 50-pound bags of seed was definitely a productivity enhancement. But today, look at the automated bagging lines and the increased use of robotics, PLCs, servos, and so on that are now allowing bagging lines to run 24/7 with increased speed and accuracy."
—Gary Saunders, general manager of Taylor Products
"The biggest change is that the equipment is much more sophisticated, especially
in terms of controls and feedback devices for continuous monitoring. In addition, the filtering media and cleaning systems have improved greatly so the equipment is much more efficient and effective than it was 25 years ago."
—Michael Gerardi, general manager of Scientific Dust Collectors
Watch your mailbox for PBE's anniversary issue, and click here to read the full article.
Industry News
Global mining chemicals market to surge
The world market for mining chemicals is projected to surpass $25.7 billion by 2017, according to a new study by Global Industry Analysts. The growth is expected in part due to the revival of a large number of feasibility studies that were stalled by mining companies during the recession and increased demand for mineral resources from developing countries to fuel their growing economies. Click here for more info.
Flintec expands with new UK headquarters
European load cell manufacturer Flintec has moved into a new, larger headquarters in Cardiff, United Kingdom. The move precedes the transition of the entire Flintec AB Group headquarters function from Vesteras, Sweden, to the UK. www.flintec.com
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Copyright 2012, CSC Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.
PBE-News provides information updates about the dry bulk materials processing and handling industry twice a month. The opt-out link below will allow you to opt out of future PBE-News. This will in no way affect our contact methods regarding your subscription or communication. Thank you.
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PBE-News Editor
Austin Wiebe
awiebe@cscpub.com
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PBE-News Designer
Kelly Weyandt
kweyandt@cscpub.com
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