Mobile Navigation

Solids Handling

View Comments PDF

Focus on Solids Handling

| By Gerald Ondrey

This bag slitter eliminates dust and reduces waste

The MINILux (photo) is an automated food-grade bag slitter constructed to U.S. Food and Drug Admin. (FDA) standards with self-contained dust collection and recovery. The MINILux is said to recover 1.5–2% more product at a rate 1.8 to 2 times faster than a single bag-dump station. Facilitating a healthy, safe and hygienic working environment by recovering both airborne and trailing product, it also reduces waste and boosts profits. Capable of opening up to six 25-kg bags per minute, the MINILux combines conveying, slitting, emptying, integral dust filtering and empty bag compaction in one system. It features multiple clean-out access points for easy cleanability to ensure allergens and pathogens do not enter the food chain. — Luxme International Ltd., Brossard, Que., Canada

www.luxme.com

This system empties bagged powders safely

The AFC Dump Clean EX bag break station (photo) permits powders to be automatically transferred from bags, sacks, drums and other containers into storage or into the process without allowing fine particles to escape into the workplace. The station continuously draws dust inside the unit before it can become airborne, virtually eliminating the fuel source from the explosive environment along with the potential for an explosive incident. The AFC Dump Clean EX features an upgraded hazardous-location motor with companion electrical components that meet National Electrical Code standards for transferring Class I, Division II hazardous materials, plus an explosion-proof NEMA 7/9 control panel enclosure, and anti-static filter media to prevent electrostatic discharge. — Automated Flexible Conveyor, Clifton, N.J.

www.afcspiralfeeder.com

Level switches for packed powder applications

The GJ Level Switch (photo) can operate as high or low point level indicators for bulk solids that tend to pack or bridge easily. The GJ detector operates successfully with consistent results on applications such as chemical powders, minerals and many other granulated materials. These level switches measure dry bulk solids ranging from less than 15.0 to greater than 60 lb/ft 3. The level detectors are factory calibrated and do not require any field calibration before installation. There are no moving parts, no gaskets or seals to deteriorate. They are approved for Class I, Groups C & D; Class II, Groups E, F & G; and Class III services, as well as CSA C/USA approved. — Automation Products, Inc.Dynatrol Div., Houston

www.automation.com

This conveyor bag-dump station is mobile

A new sanitary, mobile tilt-down flexible screw conveyor with integral bag-dump station and compactor (photo) allows the transfer of material manually dumped from handheld bags into elevated process equipment, and the disposal of empty bags, dust-free. Mounted on a mobile frame with locking casters and a fold-down step, the bag-dump station is secured to the floor hopper with quick-release clamps, and features a gasketed bag-disposal chute through the side wall of the hopper hood, allowing the operator to pass empty bags directly into the bag compactor. Dust generated from both dumping and compaction is drawn onto the system’s two cartridge filters. An automatic reverse-pulse filter cleaning system releases short blasts of compressed air inside the filters at timed intervals. This causes any dust built up on the outer surfaces to fall into the hopper, conserving useable product. — Flexicon Corp., Bethlehem, Pa.

www.flexicon.com

This system provides feeding and mixing in hazardous areas

The Turbo Compact Mixing (TCM) module (photo, p. 22) meets ATEX requirements for operation in hazardous environments. The TCM is suitable for installation in ATEX zone 20 internal and zones 21 and 22 external in areas where an explosive atmosphere with a cloud of combustible dust is likely to occur or remain present continuously or for long periods of time during normal operation. The explosion-safe TCM integrates continuous mixing with the company’s gravimetric loss-in-weight (LIW) inline feeder to automatically meter precise amounts of dry material into the companion continuous mixer for fast, gentle mixing on a compact footprint. — Gericke USA, Inc., Somerset, N.J.

www.gerickegroup.com

Inert explosion-proof conveying system

The INEX-PPC pneumatic vacuum conveying system (photo) features a patented approach that allows powders and other bulk materials to be safely conveyed in hazardous environments without concern for explosions. Explosion-proof by design, the INEX-PPC introduces nitrogen or other inert gas to create an inert atmosphere within the vacuum receiver for safe transfer into ATEX Zone 0 areas where an explosive mixture is present continuously or for long periods of time. The system conveys dry or semi-wet materials from storage into reactors, mixers or other vessels located in ATEX environments. The sealed, enclosed system includes stainless-steel construction with a polished interior and minimal connections for safe, smooth gas purging and fast disassembly without tools for easy cleaning. — Volkmann USA, Bristol, Pa.

www.volkmannusa.com

A rotary paddle switch for bulk storage

The BMR-100 rotary sensor (photo) offers simple, electromechanical measurement for ordinary storage and processing operations. It is generally wired to a light or horn to alert to high or empty levels. The level switch works with solid materials with a bulk density of 2 to more than 100 lb/ft3. This versatile level indicator is offered with a wide range of accessories. There are 19 different paddles for light, medium and heavy bulk-solid materials. Collapsible paddles are convenient for installation without entering the vessel. Point-level alarm panels display vessel level conditions via a blinking light and an audible alarm with up to 24-level indicator stations. — BinMaster, Lincoln, Neb.

www.binmaster.com

Vibrating screen with simplified maintenance

This company has added new features to its Niagara F-Class vibrating screen (photo) for simplified maintenance combined with maximum performance and longevity. The new design retains the technical benefits of the original F-Class, such as improving performance in material stratification and reducing blinding and pegging. The vibrating screen is now primarily manufactured with vibration-resistant lockbolts instead of the traditional welding used in previous designs. Lockbolts are more effective at maintaining structural integrity during the demanding load-bearing, high-vibration operation of a vibrating screen, while making maintenance more convenient, safer and cost-effective. — Haver & Boecker Niagara, St. Catherines, Ont., Canada

www.haverniagara.com

Software service streamlines industrial cyclone design

Last September, this company launched a secure cloud-based software service that enables users to design and build cyclones. Developed by subsidiary Heumann Software Company, the High Efficiency Cyclone Calculator — or HECyclone for short — represents the first of a suite of secure and validated software services for companies whose operations incorporate reverse flow cyclones. HECyclone provides precise cyclone performance modeling — from the prediction of cyclone pressure drop, to quantifying the impact that dimensional changes can have on the separation efficiency over the full range of particle sizes, to calculating overall total collection efficiency from a known particulate size distribution (photo). Through its easy-to-use interface, users can select a cyclone model and provide the conditions for its use. — Heumann Environmental Company LLC, Jeffersonville, Ind.

www.heumannenviro.com

A complete range of pneumatic-conveying vacuum receivers

Coperion K-Tron

This company’s vacuum sequencing central receivers are designed to high quality standards for pneumatically conveying powders, pellets and granular materials for the bulk material handling industries. The Series 2400 receivers provide a high-capacity sequencing system primarily used on multiple destination applications where larger conveying rates or long distances are required. Materials of construction include aluminum, carbon and stainless steel. Conveying rates range from 327 to 6,804 kg/h (720 to 15,000 lb/h). The P-Series receivers are ideal for applications requiring a higher degree of sanitary requirements. Three models include the P10 conveying up to 600 kg/h, the P30 conveying up to 1,800 kg/h and the P100 for up to 4,000 kg/h. The P-series sanitary receivers can be used for simple “up and in” systems or engineered for larger, central vacuum conveying systems. — Coperion K-Tron Salina, Inc., Salina, Kan.

www.coperion.com