From tips on overcoming powder mixing challenges to an overview of agglomeration, here are the top technical features PBS ran over the past year.

John S. Forrester, former Managing Editor

January 7, 2022

3 Min Read
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Representative imageImage courtesy of Pixabay

Powder and bulk solids professionals are always on the hunt for the latest technical information and insights on how to use equipment more efficiently and safely. Engineers across a variety of industries that handle dry particulate and bulk solid materials turn to Powder & Bulk Solids to stay on top of these developments and gain practical knowledge.

These pieces touched on powder mixing, conveyor design, size reduction, powder flowability, sieve testing standards, agglomeration, dust collection systems, and more.

Here are the Top 10 Technical Features that appeared on PowderBulkSolids.com and in Powder & Bulk Solids’ print magazine during 2021. Click further to learn what piqued the interest of engineers over the past year.

1.) How Material Size Directly Affects Size Reduction Energy

Jet Pulverizer Co. Inc. Sales Manager Brian L. List discusses a study of how the size of the starting material can influence the processing rate, tightness of the particle size distribution, and energy costs associated with particle size reduction and three physical laws that describe the energy required for size reduction.

2.) Designing Inclined Screw Conveyors for Industrial Applications

Inclined screw conveyors are used in a wide array of applications. Bill Mecke, president and owner of KWS Manufacturing Co. Ltd., provides insights on the history of screw conveyors, basic screw conveyor theory and design, and an overview of modern design considerations. 

3.) Powder Mixing Challenges and How to Overcome Them

This technical article by Dpharma Group Inc. president and CEO Dilip M. Parikh, highlights some common challenges operators encounter when mixing powders and granular materials in equipment and underscores the importance of material testing to achieve optimal blends.

4.) Dust Collection Systems: 10 Common Questions

A number of factors influence the performance of dust collectors, from dust particle size to the diameter of ducts. Aerodyne Environmental Business Development Manager Cole Solberg dives into some common concerns that arise among users of dust collection systems and ways to solve the issues. 

5.) How to Eliminate Electrostatic Charging of Powder Processing Equipment

Newson-Gale describes the various types of processing equipment that can cause electrostatic charges in powders and ways to increase static grounding protection in powder processing operations. 

6.) Factors that Impact a Powder's Flowability

Moisture content, temperature, particle size, and time of storage at rest can have a tremendous impact on your material's flow properties.  Learn more in this informative technical feature penned by Joseph Marinelli of Solids Handling Technologies.

7.) What is Agglomeration?

A classic technical article that has withstood the test of time. Agglomeration is a perennially popular topic among professionals who work with dry particulate and bulk solid materials. Read further to broaden your understanding of this core concept.

8.) Containment System Concepts for OEB1 through OEB5

The production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) increasingly requires the implementation of directives such as Q7A from the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). This article describes the type of facility that can be designed to handle and contain APIs with operator exposure limit/operator exposure band (OEL/OEB) levels 1 through 5.

9.) How Wall Friction Affects Hopper Angles

Solids Handling Technologies' Joesph Marinelli illustrates why measuring a bulk solid's wall friction is critical to ensuring reliable flow and why using the correct hopper angle is of the utmost importance. 

10.) Sieve Testing Standards, Certification and Calibration

Learn how sieve testing is used for analyzing particle-size distribution and go over the ins-and-outs of test sieve standards in this helpful technical feature by CSC Scientific Co. Inc. president Arthur Gatenby.

Stay on Top of the Latest Technical Articles

These are just a handful of the many technical articles that appear in Powder & Bulk Solids. For more, please visit our Technical Features section.

About the Author(s)

John S. Forrester

former Managing Editor, Powder & Bulk Solids

John S. Forrester is the former managing editor of Powder & Bulk Solids.

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