t-SupplierTips-80:C-Masters_old 2/20/08 11:33 AM Page 80

everal factors should be considered

How can I select a pneumatic Ssystem
when selecting a pneumatic conveying
to convey abrasive materials in a
conveying system to handle my tant factors aresystem.
dilute-phase The two most impor-
system pressure and mate-
abrasive material? rial velocity. These factors can have an
associative relationship as well as inde-
pendent functions. Paying careful atten-
tion to these factors can significantly
hen selecting the most cost-effective pneumatic conveying system for your abra-
W sive material, its important to research all of the technologies and equipment avail-
able and choose the right one for your application. Many pneumatic conveying systems
extend the life of your pneumatic convey-
ing system.
Air decompresses as it expands from
look the same, but their operation method and construction materials differ widely. Your
the source to the destination for both pres-
suppliers experience and material testing ability is important in establishing the lowest
sure conveying and vacuum conveying.
and safest conveying velocity profile for your material. As wear in a conveying system is
Higher system pressures will have a
directly proportional to velocity cubed, its important that the right velocity be chosen.
greater decompression and resulting ve-
Supplier tests should include chemical and physical characteristics as well as the ability to
locity if the conveying lines cross-sec-
run the material in a test loop to determine the right velocity profile. Dont be led astray by
tional area remains constant. The elevated
a low initial equipment cost capital investments are a one-time event, but continual
velocities impart higher energy to the par-
wear, insufficient equipment reliability, and unacceptable downtime last much longer.
ticle, creating a more abrasive event.
Jack D. Hilbert, consultant, Pneumatic Conveying Consultants, 610-657-5286 Therefore, lowering the system pressure
will result in a lower particle velocity.
Some applications have enough decom-
the correct piping or tubing size is critical. pression to change line sizes without be-
Scallyeveral factors affect system design and
piping or tubing selection for pneumati-
conveying abrasive materials. First,
A larger pipe size to reduce velocity is pre-
ferred. Last, pay attention to the piping or
coming plugged. Expanding the line size
at the proper location will allow the mate-
the characteristics of the material being tubing material selection, especially where rial to accelerate to a point at which the ve-
conveyed, such as particle hardness, there are directional changes. Induction- locity at the new cross-sectional area is
shape, and size, will affect system perfor- hardened and specialized materials can ex- acceptable. The result is lowered velocity
mance and durability. Large, hard, and tend and improve system life. Consult with and less abrasion. Higher system pres-
sharp particles typically require a more ro- your equipment supplier to determine the sures can also increase wear on ancillary
bust system design. Next, dense- or dilute- best solution for your application. equipment, such as rotary valves. Look
phase conveying is best for abrasive Jeffrey P. Gilmore, for arrangements that allow the material to
materials, but pay close attention to system director of sales, abrade against itself, such as elbows and
velocity. As velocity increases, system Ultra Tech Pipe, hopper inlet configurations. Sometimes
wear can increase to nearly an exponential 800-626-8243 simply using a harder grade material for
rate. Therefore, designing the system with equipment construction can make a sig-
nificant difference.
Abrasive wear cant be completely
he primary problem when conveying abrasive materials is the abrasive wear it causes on
T the conveying components, especially the line charger and the pipeline. The line charger
feeds the material into the pipeline. A continuous, rotating line charger will last longer under
eliminated, but several techniques can
prolong the systems life and reduce
downtime. Before choosing a supplier,
abrasive conditions if its designed with hardened materials, such as carbide and ceramic. A ask if they have any experience convey-
pressure tank line charger reduces abrasive wear by introducing materials in a batch mode ing abrasive materials and what tech-
and minimizing high differential pressures and velocities on material valves. niques they suggest using.
In terms of the pipeline and components, wear prevention is key. Some materials can be Justin Johnson,
conveyed in a dense-phase flow. In these cases, material velocity within the pipeline is min- systems engineer,
imized and wear is reduced. Special change-of-direction pipeline components, such as Premier Pneumatics,
wearback elbows and destination target boxes, can also extend life. On occasion, the mate- 785-825-1611
rial may be separated from the airstream using a cyclone or filter-receiver with wear-resis-
tant features. Ultimately, a knowledgeable supplier can help determine which system is
best for your abrasive material. Equipment suppliers are a valu-
able source of information about
R. Glenn Lunger, sales manager, FLSmidth, 610-264-6011 equipment and processes. In light
of this, each month we ask suppli-
ers a question of concern to our
here are many factors to consider when your plant? Once youve determined the an- readers. Answers reflect the sup-
T choosing a pneumatic conveyor to han-
dle abrasive material. How abrasive is abra-
swers to these questions, start researching
various pneumatic conveying options and
pliers general expertise and dont
promote the suppliersequipment.
If you have a question youd like
sive moderate, very, or extreme? Are discussing your findings with equipment suppliers to answer, send it to Ali-
you installing the system in a developing suppliers. cia Tyznik, Associate Editor, Pow-
world where spare parts are readily avail- der and Bulk Engineering, 1155
Larry Fox, Northland Drive, St. Paul, MN
able? Whats more important low instal- president, 55120; fax 651-287-5650
lation costs or engineering reliability? Does Fox Valve Development, (atyznik@cscpub.com).
power consumption trump reliability for 973-328-1011