Pneumatic Conveying Focus - January 09

Blower Package Control
Omega frequency control (OFC) is available for positive-displacement blower packages. These complete, state-of-the-art frequency drives are designed to get the most out of a blower package. The control continuously adjusts the blower speed and precisely matches blower delivery to the actual process flow demand. OFC units also offer enhanced controls through a variety of signal inputs, outputs, and a profibus connection. OFC can be used with a variety of process followers such as vacuum transducers, pressure transducers, and dissolved oxygen sensors. The complete control system can be supplied including the process follower, parameterizing, programming, and interconnecting wiring.
Kaeser Compressors Inc., Fredericksburg, VA 800-777-7873 www.kaeser.com/omega

Conveying Control System
This series of control systems for conveying plastic raw materials can be expanded to include dozens of additional receivers, as well as pumps and purge valves. It can be operated without special training. The FlexMaster is also unique for its ability to be remotely accessed via an Ethernet connection. From any computer the user can view the same screens that appear on the control panel in the plant and input changes with the click of a mouse. The system can even automatically e-mail system alarms to a PC, Blackberry, or Smartphone.
Novatec Inc., Baltimore, MD 410-789-4811 www.novatec.com

Rotary Airlock Valves
Drop-thru, blow-thru, and side-entry heavy-duty rotary airlock valves come standard with regreasable bearings, helical gearboxes, predrilled body vents, and predrilled air purge connections. These valves are measured up to 20 psi and are available for temperatures in excess of 1000°F. All units feature large rotor shafts with thick beveled blades. Numerous options are available to meet all application requirements.
Carolina Conveying Inc., Canton, NC 828-235-1005 www.carolinaconveying.com

Pneumatic Conveying and De-Dusting
Pelletron Corp. provides pneumatic conveying and de-dusting solutions for the plastics industry including de-bottlenecking existing lines, new systems, or the conveying of hot pellets. Available products include: dense-, dilute-, and strand-phase conveying systems; rotary valves, diverter valves, and pellbows; de-dusting solutions; a test lab; and equipment leasing. Applications include railcar loading and unloading systems, truck loading and unloading systems, pneumatic transfer systems, bagging stations, and extruder feeding.
Pelletron Corp., Lancaster, PA 717-293-4008 www.pelletroncorp.com

Rotary Airlock Valve
The CI series rotary airlock valve is available in 10 sizes. Features include heavy-duty rugged construction, precision machining of components, unique shaft seal design, pressure differentials up to 15 psig, square flanges, and high-temperature options up to 750ºF. Valves are available in cast iron, as well as Types 304 and 316 stainless steel. The valves also come standard with an eight-vane rotor design that is complete with beveled tips and sides. A six-vane rotor design and several other options are also available.
ACS Valves, North Caledonia, ON, Canada 800-655-3447 www.acsvalves.com

Vacuum Conveying System
Vertical integration of various features enables this FIBC vacuum conveying system to assure free flow from the bulk bag. The system minimizes the escape of airborne product and provides a precise, continuous rate of delivery, all in a compact footprint. Equipment includes a hoist-and-trolley–style unloader with bag agitation, an integral dust collector, a lump breaker, a posiportion feeder, and a minivac vacuum-pneumatic conveyor.
Hapman, Kalamazoo, MI 800-427-6260 www.ideasthatmove.com

Custom Short Radius Bends
These custom short radius bends and components feature compound bends, welded fabrications, expansions, swaging, and beading. They are produced to customer specifications using thin-wall (0.065 in.), Types 304 and 309 stainless-carbon steel, and aluminum tubing in sizes ranging from 1½ to 8 in. in outside diameter.
Morris Coupling, Erie, PA 800-426-1579 www.morriscoupling.com

Dual-Blower Railcar Unload System
This vacuum-pressure rail-unload system unloads powders, pellets, and granular material from railcars at conveying rates in excess of 100,000 lb/hr. A vacuum blower draws material from the railcar into a self-cleaning filter receiver that separates the product from the conveying air. Dual-blower systems are available in 3- to 10-in. line sizes and include a control panel, properly sized blowers, railcar adapter kit, and hoses.
Premier Pneumatics Inc., Salina, KS 785-825-1611 www.premierpneumatics.com

Manual Dumping Station
This manual dumping station for pneumatic conveying systems collects dust created during the manual dumping of bulk materials from bags, drums, and other containers, thereby reducing waste and eliminating the need to clean a remote dust-collection site. It also prevents the contamination of product and plant. An automatic reverse-pulse filter cleaning allows for continuous, efficient operation. Timer-activated solenoid valves release short blasts of compressed plant air inside the cartridge filters that cause dust buildup on the outer filter surfaces to fall into the hopper. Filters are easily accessed by removing the interior baffle and smoothly replaced by using quick-disconnect fittings.
Flexicon Corp., Bethlehem, PA 888-353-9426 www.flexicon.com

Ducting
The design of the Quick-Fit (Q-F) laser-welded, clamp-together ducting eliminates rivets, screws, welds, and other time-consuming and costly joining methods. The patented design allows straight pipes, elbows, branches, and custom pieces to snap together in seconds. This allows the user to install the ducting in half the time it takes to install traditional ducting. It is reusable and can be taken apart for cleaning, or to be reconfigured, without using tools. Its laser-welded seams and tight seal clamps make it leak-free and efficient. It is available in galvanized, aluminum, or stainless finishes and most orders ship in as little as four days.
Nordfab, Thomasville, NC 800-532-0830 www.nordfab.com

Vacuum Conveying Systems
Pneuvac vacuum conveying systems are ideal for long-distance conveying and where product degradation is a concern. Capabilities include vacuum conveying of up to 6000 lb/hr of material at distances of up to 300 ft. This makes the systems well suited for rapid discharging of material from road or rail tankers into silos, or the transfer of product from bulk bags, hoppers, or silos to production processes. The systems assure dust-free operation since the product is conveyed under vacuum within the conveying line. This makes the equipment particularly suitable for transferring hazardous materials and pharmaceutical preparations. The equipment is designed to meet sanitary standards and is flexibile, which makes for easy dismantling should thorough cleaning between batches be required.
Spiroflow Systems Inc., Charlotte, NC 704-291-9595 www.spiroflowsystems.com

Pneumatic Line Housing
Industrial Magnetics Inc. introduces pneumatic line housing (PLH) from the framework of its drawer-in-housing platform. Instead of a single, center-flow cartridge circuit, the PLH incorporates a series of 1-in.-diam 50 MGOe rare earth tubes on staggered centers that ensures all product has repeated contact with the magnets. The resulting capture rate of ferrous and weak magnetic stainless contaminants exceeds other products available. Typical applications include processing of dry, powder, and granular materials. It can be used ahead of processing equipment and bulk load-out stations to ensure product purity and protect machinery from tramp metal damage.
Industrial Magnetics Inc., Boyne City, MI 231-348-5730 www.magnetics.com

Magnets
Air-vey magnets are designed to remove ferrous contaminants from products in dilute-phase pneumatic conveying systems operating at 15 psi or less. These units are used to ensure product purity and protect process equipment. The flow-through area of the housing is engineered to maintain the same product velocity with no appreciable drop in pressure. The magnets install easily in horizontal, vertical, or angled positions with compression-type couplings or when welded in place.
Puritan Magnetics Inc., Oxford, MI 248-628-3808 www.puritanmagnetics.com

Pneumatic Conveying Systems
Each of Dynamic Air’s 16 pneumatic conveying systems has it own set of operating characteristics for pressure, conveying line velocity, efficiency, and performance. Because each material reacts differently under a given set of operating conditions, it is critical to match the system operating characteristics to the material to be conveyed in order to achieve the most desired conveying performance and to provide the best value. Each system has the ability to convey at almost any conveying velocity. Conveying capacities range from just a few hundred pounds of material per hour up to 500 tn/hr, with conveying distances exceeding 6000 ft.
Dynamic Air Inc., St. Paul, MN 651-484-2900 www.dynamicair.com/systems.html