Michael Thiel, chemical engineer, director of sales & marketing, HaF Equipment

HaF Equipment recently commissioned a successful Oatmeal batch and transfer system. The project requirements included loss-in-weight feeding from super sack stations and delivery to multiple batch mixers. HaF immediately visited the site to review the application and offer timely feedback and solutions. It was decided that mechanical screw augers were the best solution for this application. The following critical questions address the effectiveness of the decision to use screw augers.

1. Why Mechanical Instead of Pneumatic?

Pneumatic is a great option when looking to transfer material from point A to point B, but pneumatics is not the perfect solution for every application.

First, is available head height. The batch mixers at this site were elevated and there was not enough room between the mixer and the ceiling to fit in a filter receiver and hopper. These pieces of equipment are required in a pneumatic conveying system to receive the oatmeal and feed the mixers. There are ways around this, so pneumatic was not completely ruled out.

Second, are explosion mitigation considerations. With filter receivers, explosion mitigation equipment is often required. If you remove the filter receiver, this helps in the area of ancillary mitigation equipment.

Based on this assessment, the mechanical solution met the customer’s requirements and was more cost effective.

2. What About Cleanability?

With oatmeal transfer, cleaning the system is important. This is where HaF’s philosophy of “tool free quick take-apart” is effective. The top hinge screw auger design allows the operator to open up the screw augers quickly, easily, and safely, and wash down the system. The design included all washdown rated components.

3. How Do You Know the Oatmeal Was Transferred?

Through testing in the HaF lab, we confirmed that the transfer of the oatmeal met the batching weight setpoint tolerances. During commissioning, it was confirmed that the transfer system met the specifications of the customer in terms of batching accuracy.

It is good idea to partner with a company that is flexible in offering both mechanical and pneumatic solutions. The company must listen to the customer and respond with creative solutions. Every application is unique. 

Michael Thiel, chemical engineer, is director of sales & marketing, HaF Equipment (Maplewood, MN). For more information, call 651-653-5098, email [email protected], or visit www.hafequipment.com.