Inside the Bulk Solids Innovation Center - Full-Scale Test Lab

July 7, 2015

4 Min Read
Inside the Bulk Solids Innovation Center - Full-Scale Test Lab
Bulk Solids Innovation Center full-scale test lab

The full-scale test lab at the Kansas State University Bulk Solids Innovation Center is the heart of what the center is intended to provide for students and industry workers. Here students will be able to see the equipment in action and learn what the difference is between dense phase pneumatic conveying and dilute phase conveying, and better understand powder flow problems. Below is a floor map, as well as an image that details some of the more specific equipment that makes up the full-scale test lab.

Room

Description

Supplier

Purpose

121

Full Scale Laboratory

Equipment and Controls for measurement of actual bulk solids behaviors including storage, conveying, gravity flow, blending, segregation, degradation, dust collection, safety, and air pollution control

BBU

Bulk Bag Unloader

Spiroflow

Holds a 2,000 lb bulk bag of product and discharges it into the process.

BBU

Hoist

Kenrich/Harrington

Lifts the bulk bag onto the bulk bag unloader

BBF

Bulk material filling system for bulk bags and other containers

National Bulk Equipment Inc.

Ensures reliable, repeatable, highly accurate bulk bag and bulk container filling and weighing; reduces dusting and material loss; provides optimal line speed; improves safety of personnel and product.

PLC

Programmable Logic Controller

Rockwell Automation

This is the "brain" of the control system. All devices, motors, and instruments are connected to it. It reads the status of each input and sends an output signal to control each device in the full scale lab.

PLC

Control Panels and Programming

Coperion K-Tron

Design and programming of the control system. Design and assembly of the control panels.

DePh

Dense Phase Conveying

Coperion K-Tron

Provides slow motion conveying to prevent damage to fragile products, or reduce wear with abrasive materials. Includes continuous conveying with rotary valve or batch conveying with a pressure vessel.

DilPh

Dilute Phase Conveying

Coperion K-Tron

Provides industry-proven higher velocity pneumatic conveying, using either pressure or vacuum

HMI

Human/ Machine Interface

Rockwell Automation

Touch-screen operator control screen. This is where the operator reads information, starts, stops, and controls all of the systems in the full scale laboratory.

HMI

HMI Progamming

Coperion K-Tron

Programming of all the controls automation. Design and assembly of the electrical enclosure panels.

Vac Seq

Vacuum Sequence Conveying

Coperion K-Tron

Provides inexpensive conveying for small and medium rates up to 15,000 lb/hr.

Vac DePh

Vacuum Dense Phase Conveying

Coperion K-Tron

Provides slow motion conveying under negative pressure.

LIW

Loss-in-Weight Feeders

Coperion K-Tron

Provides precise weighing and feed control of ingredients into processes.

Steel Structures/Mezzanine Supports/Stairs

Hawk Installation & Coperion K-Tron

RACK

Pallet Rack

Fastenal

Pallet rack to hold pallets of test material.

PIPE

Piping Systems

Coperion K-Tron & Morris Coupling

3, 4, and 6 in. pipe systems, with configurable distances up to 920 ft horizontal length and 65 ft vertical height.

BFLY

Butterfly Valves

White Equipment Controls

Uses a rotating disc to open or close the valve, which allows or prevents flow through the valve.

LC

Load Cells & Weighing Instruments

Rice Lake Weighing Systems

Hoppers and vessels are mounted on load cells, which send an electronic signal indicating the weight of material in the vessel. A floor scale is used to weigh moveable containers.

CPLG

Pipe Couplings

Gruvlock

High pressure, re-usable pipe couplings.

KG

Knife Gate Valves

Vortex Valves

Uses a sliding knife plate to open or close the valve, which allows or prevents flow through the valve.

GRAV

Diverter Valves for Gravity Flow

Vortex Valves

Uses a pivoting blade to direct flow to one leg or the other.

LEV

Level Controls

BinMaster

Detects high or low level of material in a hopper or silo.

RV

Aerolock Rotary Valves

Coperion K-Tron

Feeds material into the process or conveying system.

RV

Motors

Barr-Thorp Electric /Toshiba

Industrial grade, high-efficiency motors, inverter duty.

DV

Diverter Valves for Conveying

Vortex Valves

Uses a slide gate with an orifice to direct flow to one pipe direction or the other.

WZK

Diverter Valves for Conveying

Vortex Valves

Uses a rotating tunnel to direct flow to one pipe direction or the other.

Images and equipment lists provided by Coperion K-Tron and Kansas State University Salina.

Click here to for an inside look of the first floor of the Kansas State University Bulk Solids Innovation Center.

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