PARTICLE TECHNOLOGY

1st Semester, B.Sc. Chemical Engineering Session 2010 Delivered by: Usman Ali

Department of Chemical Engineering University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore

Synopsis
Conveyers Conveyer selection Types of conveyers

CONVEYER
Conveying is a term used to transport bulk of solids. Conveyers are volumetric machines that transport material fed to them at controlled rate at desired location.

CONVEYOR SELECTION
Selection of the correct conveyor for a specific bulk material in a specific situation is complicated by the large number of interrelated factors

Workability is the first criterion, but the degree of performance perfection that can be afforded must be established.

Contd..
The best conveyors can perform disappointingly if material characteristics are unfavourable.

It is often true that conveyor engineering is more of an art than a science; problems involving unusual materials or equipment should be approached with caution
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Capacity Requirement
Capacity requirement is a prime factor in conveyor selection. Belt conveyors, which can be manufactured in relatively large sizes to operate at high speeds, deliver large tonnages economically. On the other hand, screw conveyors become extremely cumbersome as they get larger and cannot be operated at high speeds without creating serious abrasion problems.
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Length of travel
Length of travel is definitely limited for certain types of conveyors. With high-tensile-strength belting, the length limit on belt conveyors can be a matter of miles. Air conveyors are limited to 305 m (1000 ft); vibrating conveyors, to hundreds of meters or feet. In general, as length of travel increases, the choice among alternatives becomes narrower.
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Contd..
Lift can usually be handled most economically by vertical or inclined bucket elevators, but when lift and horizontal travel are combined, other conveyors should be considered. Conveyors that combine several directions of travel in a single unit are generally more expensive, but since they require only a single drive.
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Material Characteristics
Material characteristics, both chemical and physical, should be considered, especially flow ability. Abrasiveness, friability, and lump size are also important. Chemical effects (e.g., the effect of oil on rubber or of acids on metal) may dictate the structural materials out of which conveyor components are fabricated. Moisture or oxidation effects from exposure to the atmosphere may be harmful to the material being conveyed and require total enclosure of the conveyor or even an artificial atmosphere.
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Processing Requirements
Processing requirements can be met by some conveyors with little or no change in design. For example, a continuous-flow conveyor may provide a desired cooling of the solids simply because it puts the conveyed material into direct contact with heat-conducting metals. Screen decks can be readily attached to vibrating conveyors for simple sizing and scalping operations, and special flights or casings on screw conveyors are available for a wide variety of processing operations such as mixing, dewatering, heating, and cooling.
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Conveyors for Bulk Materials

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Feeders for Bulk Materials

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Conveyor Drives
Conveyor drives may account for from 10 to 30 percent of the total cost of the conveyor system, depending on specific job requirements. They may be of either
fixed-speed or adjustable-speed type.
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Contd..
Fixed-speed drives are used when the initially chosen conveyor speed does not require change during the course of normal operation. In any event, the conveyor must be shut down while the speed change is made.

Adjustable-speed drives are designed for changing speed either manually or automatically while the conveyor is in operation, to meet variations in processing requirements.
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SCREW CONVEYORS
The screw conveyor is one of the oldest and most versatile conveyor types. It consists of a helicoid flight (helix rolled from flat steel bar) or a sectional flight (individual sections blanked and formed into a helix from flat plate), mounted on a pipe or shaft and turning in a trough. Power to convey must be transmitted through the pipe or shaft and is limited by 15 the allowable size of this member.

Contd..
Screw-conveyor capacities are generally limited to around 10,000 ft3/h. Screw conveyors can also be adapted to a wide variety of processing operations. Almost any degree of mixing can be achieved with screw-conveyor flights cut, cut and folded, or replaced by a series of paddles.
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Contd..
screw conveyor to be used for heating, cooling, and drying operations. A further advantage is the fact that the casing can be designed with a drop bottom for easy cleaning to avoid contamination when different materials are to be run through the same system.
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Typical feed arrangements for screw conveyors. (a) Plain spouts of chutes.

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BELT CONVEYORS
The belt conveyor is almost universal in application. It can travel for miles at speeds up to 1000 ft/min and handle up to 5000 tons/h. It can also operate over short distances at speeds slow enough for manual picking, with a capacity of only a few kilograms per hour. However, it is not normally applicable to processing operations. 19

Contd..
Belt-conveyor slopes are limited to a maximum of about 30, with those in the 18 to 20 range more common. Direction changes can occur only in the vertical plane of the belt path and must be carefully designed as vertical curves or relatively flat bends.
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Contd..
Belt conveyors inside the plant may have higher initial cost than some other types. Temperature and chemical activity of the conveyed material play important roles in belt selection. There are many elastomers available for belt construction, these include neoprene, Teflon, Buna N rubber, and vinyls.
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BUCKET ELEVATORS
Bucket elevators are the simplest and most dependable units for making vertical lifts. They are available in a wide range of capacities and may operate entirely in the open or be totally enclosed.

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VIBRATING OR OSCILLATING CONVEYORS

Most vibrating conveyors are essentially directional-throw units which consist of a spring-supported horizontal pan vibrated by a direct connected eccentric arm, rotating eccentric weights, an electromagnet, or a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder.

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Contd..
The motion imparted to the material particles may vary, but its purpose is to throw the material upward and forward so that it will travel along the conveyor path in a series of short hops.

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Vibration-conveyor classification

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CONTINUOUS-FLOW CONVEYORS
The principle of the continuous-flow conveyor is that when a surface is pulled transversely through a mass of granular, powdered, or small lump material, it will pull along with it a cross section of material which is greater than the area of the surface itself.
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Contd..
The continuous-flow conveyor is a totally enclosed unit which has a relatively high capacity per unit of cross-sectional area and can follow an irregular path in a single plane. These features make it extremely versatile.

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PNEUMATIC CONVEYORS
One of the most important materialhandling techniques in the chemical industry is the movement of material suspended in a stream of air over horizontal and vertical distances ranging from a few to several hundred feet. Materials ranging from fine powders through 6.35-mm pellets and bulk densities of 16 to more than 3200 kg/m3 31 can be handled.

Contd..
Material is dropped into an air stream (at above atmospheric pressure) by a rotary air-lock feeder. The velocity of the stream maintains the bulk material in suspension until it reaches the receiving vessel, where it is separated from the air by means of an air filter or cyclone separator.
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APRON CONVEYORS
Probably the most common chain conveyors, these are available in a wide variety of designs for both horizontal and inclined travel. An apron conveyor is a type of conveyor made from individual apron plates that are linked together with hinges on its underside, thus creating a looped carrying surface where materials can be placed. 34

Contd..
The typical design is a series of pans mounted between two strands of roller chain, with pans overlapping to eliminate dribble, and often equipped with end plates for deeper loads. Pan design may vary according to material requirements.
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What do YOU think?????

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Why it matters

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