One of the biggest part of our business is working with our customers in North Carolina and South Carolina to provide functional, well designed pneumatic conveying systems.  When we receive an inquiry for bulk material handling of any product we initially determine what kind of conveying system would work best for the application.  Some of the information we gather regarding the bulk material handling application is:

• Material characteristics (bulk density, friability, particle size, moisture content)
• Is the material explosive?
• What is the electrical classification in the operating area?
• Flow Rates (pounds or cubic feet per hour)
• Where is the material coming from – is it a metered flow, from storage?
• Will the material come from several sources
• Will the material convey to several locations
• How will the material be received at the destination (in a metered fashion to a process, to a storage container, to a packaging line)?
• What is the temperature of the material, is it heat sensitive?
• Is it reactive, or corrosive? What are the best materials to come into contact with the product.
• How far does the material have to travel from feed to discharge
• What is the best path to get from feed to discharge?
• How many hours per day will it operate, how many days per year?

Obtaining the above information is the first step in coming up with the best design for a pneumatic conveying system.   The first step is usually a plant visit where we can get a firsthand look at the material and plant environment (headroom available, obstacles in the convey route, aisleways, etc.).

Quite often we can put together a pneumatic conveying system based on previous experience with similar materials.  In the event that there are questions regarding the flow characteristics of the material, we can either request a sample for bench testing, or request a larger quantity for full scale testing.  In either event we work with Coperion to get a test no. assigned to the customer and provide them with shipping information for the material.  In the event of a full scale test, we also confirm a test date and get the test scheduled.  Our customers are free to witness the testing and the testing is done free of charge.

Some of the options available when considering the optimal pneumatic conveying system are:

• Vacuum Conveying – good for multiple pickup or discharge points
• Pressure Conveying – good for higher rates and longer distances
• Probe box pickup
• Metered inlet feed using a rotary airlock
• Metered discharge feed using a rotary airlock
• Cartridge filter receiver
• Bag filter receiver
• Rail car unloading systems
• Dillute Phase Conveying – usually a simpler system
• Dense Phase Conveying – for friable or abrasive materials. Can either be batch or continuous
• Closed loop Nitrogen – for explosive materials or materials that require an inert atmosphere
• Vacuum Sequencing System – for multiple discharge points

All of the above systems can be tested at Coperion’s test facility in Salina, Ks.

Once the pneumatic conveying method is determined, we can then go about laying out a flow diagram and begin putting together a cost proposal of the optimal pneumatic conveying system.  After presenting the resulting proposal to our customer, we can then work with them to tweak the system as needed to make sure the final pneumatic conveying system design is optimal for our customers’ needs.

We look forward to working with you to provide the best pneumatic conveying system design and equipment available.