SHAPA Supplement Summer 2019

Page 1

Summer 2019

NEWS


Introduction

By Ian Birkinshaw, General Secretary - Solids Handling & Processing Association

THE

PICTURE

The last 18 months has been a period of uncertainty and subtle change – at least for many parts of the UK economy, as we all await the outcome of the Brexit divorce negotiations and indeed the future trade deals not only with the EU but with our other trading partners throughout the world. For many of us at an individual level according to the mainstream media are viewing this uncertainty as frustrating and leading to disillusionment in our political system. However, businesses have to look forward and plan for the future whatever that may be, and SHAPA Member companies are making plans for both a deal and no deal Brexit. However one area of concern for many of our members is the situation regarding harmonised standards and the requirements going forward relating to notified bodies and manufacturers of machinery where CE marking is required, and we all hope that this area of uncertainty can be resolved quickly in the upcoming negotiations so that we can put this matter to bed. But we have to look ahead, almost everything that is manufactured or a sold as a processed product, for example foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, plastics, chemicals etc. has some materials that are supplied and used in bulk solids form, which is where SHAPA plays its part. Indeed, the Solids Handling & Processing Association was initially set up nearly 40 years ago to help likeminded companies share knowledge and increase their sales and marketing effort. For all of these 40 years a wealth of knowledge and experience has been accumulated and disseminated by SHAPA within the solids handing industry. SHAPA’s Technical page on its website www.shapa.co.uk offers advice on technical standards, legislation, equipment as well as sound commercial and marketing information. Of course, all this vital material is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure it keeps up to date with the latest changes and innovations in the bulk solids sector. Collective expertise Clearly no single person or even company can be expert at everything, but within the manufacture and use of solids handling equipment a vast range of expertise is needed. SHAPA offers valuable resources to enable to enable all members to widen their knowledge and experience. Within any major solids handling project, the supplier of each individual component within a process will most likely have both inputs and outputs from other components within the process, making the manufacturer potentially a customer and supplier in the total process. In order to achieve a successful outcome each supplier will need to know the characteristics, mass, volume and desired flow rate of the materials delivered to their part of the equipment. Similarly, they will need to pass on appropriate information about the discharge of their product to the next part of the process. Such communication is essential and coincidentally, many SHAPA member companies are either suppliers to or customers of each other, within the same project.

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Disseminating expertise SHAPA is well known for holding regular interactive seminars for members and the wider solids handling community and increasingly, for other industry professionals. Speakers include experts from member companies as well as key figures from third party organisations such as HSE, standards institutions, bank of England, legal and commercial. This year two such seminars have been held, again the Digital Marketing workshop was held in March for the 11th successive time with the topics including Content Marketing and Digital Strategy, B2B Social Media, Forms, Cookies, Voice search, E-Privacy law and what is SEO and how does it improve a website. The second workshop of the year was Safety of Machinery and CE Marking for Machinery this seminar was organised with the current political situation in mind and how members could and should prepare for the future, the main topics covered were; Europe and Directives, CE marking under the Machinery Directive, Assemblies of Machines, European Harmonised Standards and Design of Safety Related Control Systems. Both workshops attracted large attendances and the delegates left knowing considerably more and how they can use the knowledge and information provided to assist and benefit their own organisations. Celebrating Success Once again SHAPA held its 2019 AGM and Awards Dinner in an iconic venue, this being the Royal Armouries in Leeds. The evening started with a presentation of knights in armour and concluded with the presentation of the solids handling industry awards. The below video is an overview of the evening; There were five awards presented during the evening to the following companies and individuals


Introduction Newcomer Award –

Innovation Award –

Lontra Ltd, designed and tested a new type of Low-pressure air compressor which can be used widely for bulk transport in pneumatic conveying systems - delivering materials around factories to processing, packaging or transportation points.

Company of the year –

Export Award –

Vortex Global Ltd, during 2018, expanded into markets in Finland and revised their strategy in the Middle East, contracting with new equipment representatives in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar – as well as nearby Egypt with significant increases in sales.

Technical Papers Total cost of ownership has been a major theme throughout the first part of 2019 for SHAPA and will continue to be over the coming years. This is a very important area that needs to be considered when looking to procure solids handling equipment. This principle applies to not only all SHAPA members, but their clients and the whole of the industry at large. It is well known and documented that the capital cost of equipment is only a small part of the overall cost. Therefore professional engineering purchasers probe operating, planned maintenance and repair costs, all set against the costs of unplanned downtime. Total life span and depreciation are obviously part of the mix too. All of these areas have been addressed by the SHAPA technical committee and a new paper has been produced to give assistance to suppliers and purchasers in navigating the processes involved to ensure that the installed plant operates in line with the overall expectations. This paper

Tom Bullock (Prospare Ltd) has become a central figure in the Prospare business, overseeing, and being involved in more than 500 individual engineering projects over the last 30 months.

is now available has been uploaded to the SHAPA website and can be downloaded here. Commitment to the future So, SHAPA may well have celebrated nearly forty years’ valuable service to our industries, but our drive to educate, advise and celebrate the successes all around us is as strong as ever, our dedicated and innovative members will ensure that the future is assured and therefore any company involved in the supply of solids handling equipment and services should really consider membership of the association, on the other hand if you are considering investing in new plant and equipment it would be advisable to headfirst for the Equipment Finder on our website – just a click or two away at www. shapa.co.uk , or email info@shapa. co.uk.

Spirotech York Ltd, part of the Spirotech SRD group started its operations in York, 5 years ago and has steadily grown its workforce and turnover. From starting with a single employee, they now have 10 people working out of the York office and contribute significantly to the group and recently moved into new purpose-built premises with a workshop facility.

SHAPA Arkwright Student – Georgina Edwards

SHAPA presented a special award to Georgina following the completion of her time with SHAPA as part of the Arkwright sponsorship scheme. During the evening Georgina gave a presentation and demonstrated some of the engineering projects she has been working on with the help of SHAPA. As she now moves on to university, we wish her well and look forward to hearing about her successes in the future.

Ian Birkinshaw info@shapa.co.uk 01904 373040

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DEVELOPMENTS IN MAGNETIC SEPARATION AND METAL DETECTION. Magnetic separation is widely used in various industries such as mining and recycling for the removal of ferrous metals. Although not widely known, powerful rare earth magnets are also used in process industries to remove small metal contaminants from product streams.. As designs and magnetic strengths have improved over recent years with the introduction of rare earth magnets, magnetic separators are now considered to be critically important process equipment in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. Typically magnets are used in the primary (raw material intake) and secondary processes (production)

while metal detectors are used a final check at the end of the process. As well as helping to eliminate batch rejection, magnets also have the advantage of protecting high value machinery from costly repairs and act as an alert to possible damage by collecting broken parts of the process equipment. Magnets are not considered to be an alternative to metal detectors but as an additional control mechanism. Bespoke Solutions Greenwood Magnetics design and manufacture bespoke magnets for a wide range of industries including »» Food processing and production »» Pharmaceuticals »» Powder handling »» Ceramics »» Glass »» Plastics »» Recycling »» Textiles »» Wood »» Oil and gas »» Animal feed

New general manager at British Rema Processing

With our primary area of expertise in high-specification magnetic separator solutions for the food and pharmaceuticals industries, Greenwood Magnetics are developing an enviable reputation as leaders in our field. Greenwood are preferred suppliers to the many of world’s largest food corporations and we export worldwide. Ongoing Research & Development We are also proud of our R & D capabilities. Below is a recent example of our Semi Automatic Grid Box for gravity fed free flowing granules and powders. Benefitting from an easy clean facility the magnets are tested and certified to 12000 gauss: National Standards Requirement Magnetic separators are now deemed so important that the BRC (British Retail Consortium) requires that all food companies test and document their magnets on a

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will consolidate the unique role our team and technologies play in transforming high-performance materials for use worldwide in aerospace, chemical, mineral and medical applications. +44 (0)1246 269 955 knowhow@britishrema.com www.britishrema.co.uk

Gauss Test underway

Greenwood Magnetics offer these services and are the UK leader in magnet testing to BRC requirements. If you require bespoke magnets, manufactured to requirements or you would like us to test and certify your existing magnets, please do not hesitate to contact us : Greenwood Magnetics Tel : 01706 645824 Email : sales@greenwoodmagnetics. com

Self-Aligning Couplings

British Rema is pleased to announce Mark Sale has assumed responsibility for British Rema Processing Ltd. Mark joined British Rema group in May of this year bringing to the team extensive experience of managing supply chain quality and leading business development and commercial activities, gained principally in the automotive sector working for international companies including Bentley, JCB and Cummins. He has extensive experience in the application of manufacturing process improvement techniques such as Six Sigma and Kaizen. Mark’s appointment as general manager of our processing division

regular basis. Procedures should be put in place for the inspection, cleaning, strength testing and integrity of the magnets.

Tuf-Lok ring grip couplings are low cost, heavy-duty self-aligning couplings for either high pressure, to 150 psig, or full vacuum rated applications. Utilized in all industries where pipe ends need to be connected, they are ideal for pneumatic conveying systems as well as gas and liquid applications. These couplings install quickly and easily, reducing installation costs. They are available in 2-inch (50mm) through 10inch (250mm) pipe sizes and are made for use on plain end pipe or tube, regardless of pipe

or tube wall thickness..Other features include self-grounding, vibration resistant, leak-proof, with an extremely high end pull for difficult applications. No machining or grooving is required to maintain pipe integrity. Every coupling becomes a union, providing easy, low-cost maintenance when piping components need replacement. Standard gasket materials are available to meet special design conditions, such as food grade, higher temperatures or special chemical resistant applications. http://www.tuflok.com/primary/ products.html Tuf-Lok UK Phone: +44 (0) 1706.822512 E-mail: sales@tuflok.co.uk www.tuflok.com


Consultancy and Short courses for the Process Industry: Bulk solids handling technology

We support industries that are seeking to resolve process problems, develop design schemes for plant expansion, or simply improve product quality.

Consultancy services

Some of our Consultancy services include advising on: Storage and Discharge of bulk materials Pneumatic Conveying of bulk solids Spoiling of materials in storage and in transit Plant and Equipment design/redesign Ship Unloading/ quayside operations Control of plant wear Dust control Bulk Materials characterisation ATEX/DSEAR compliance Expert Witness services

• • • • • • • • • •

Short courses for Industry

We also provide a range of short courses to help delegates identify potential bulk materials handling problems and advise on how to avoid and/or overcome these issues.They fall under 4 main categories Pneumatic conveying:

storage of bulk materials:

•Pneumatic Conveying of Bulk Materials • Pneumatic Conveying System Design • Rotary Valves; Design, Selection and Operational Issues • Commissioning and Troubleshooting ‘Hand’s On’ Pneumatic Conveying Systems

general bulk materials handling:

• Storage and Discharge of Powders and Bulk Solids • Design of Equipment for Storing and Handling Bulk Materials • Biomass Handling, Feeding and Storage (can be adapted to

other materials such as waste, recycled goods, pellets)

sPecialist areas of concern:

•Overview of Particulate Handling Technology • Dust Explosions - How to demonstrate DSEAR/ATEX Compliance • Port and Terminal Operations for Bulk Cargoes Measurement of the Properties and Bulk Behaviour of Particulate Materials • Introduction to Processing Dry Solid Materials

• Caking and Lump Formation in Powders and Bulk Solids • Undesired De-blending and Separation in Processes and Equipment • Electrostatics in Powder Handling • Numerical Modelling of Solids Handling and Processing • Dust Control in Processes Powder Handling and Flow for Additive Manufacturing

bulksolids.com

SHAPA Newsletter | 59


Süleyman Salihler, General Manager, Polimak Process Solutions Inc.

Designing Storage And Conveying Systems For Problem Free Dosing Of Bulk Solids Depending on the process requirements, a wide range of bulk solids batching, dosing and weighing systems are available in the market. It’s a fact that, properly selected weighing systems will provide many years of a problem free service with minimum loss of raw materials due to improper measurement. In general, end users are focused on the determination of proper configuration of dosing systems. Consequently storage and conveying systems that supply raw material to dosing systems are generally ignored or overlooked. As it is essential to achieve the most appropriate configuration for minimum budget and shortest return of investment, these systems should be investigated in depth.

Raw Material Storage Systems The main points to decide initially are: »»How much raw material is to be stored in the site? »»How the raw materials are to be stored? »»How the raw materials are to be conveyed from storage to dosing system? »»How to protect the dosing system from disturbances of conveying systems? The amount of raw material to be stored in a site depends on the throughput of production line, ingredient delivery logistics, site location and operating budget. Dry bulk materials can be stored in silos, small temporary hoppers, octabins, sacks and FIBC / big bags. Silos and big bags are generally preferred for major ingredients for ease of use. If brought by a bulk tanker truck or inside a liner bag, raw materials are directly transferred to storage silos with minimum effort. If brought inside big bags, there should be a system for unloading big bags and filling the silos. There arise some questions about big bag handling: Are the big bags to be stored in a warehouse for some time? Are the silos to be filled as soon as possible? Is there enough space in the warehouse?

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How are the big bags to be handled? For example, by forklift or overhead crane? What about safety issues? Plant managers should be very careful about answering these questions. The next question is determining the big bag discharging system. Big bag discharging systems are used for the safe unloading of big bags and filling the silos. The conveying capacity of big bag dischargers is a very important aspect here. Equipment suppliers generally state the capacity on conveying systems between the big bag discharger and silo, however operator efficiency is much more important. Total time of handling a big bag includes big bag delivery from warehouse, lifting it, putting it on the big bag unloader, untying or cutting the discharge spout, waiting for the product to be discharged and removing the empty bag. Therefore, selection of a big bag unloading system should be made carefully. The same questions arise for ingredients brought in sacks or octabins. There are a wide range of sack and octabin emptying systems connected to pneumatic or mechanical conveyors in the market. Integration of these systems should also be studied in detail in order to have problem-free production. In addition to big sized storage silos, small temporary hoppers could also be used for storage. These hoppers are generally preferred if the total capacity of a plant is relatively low. Again, loading systems for these hoppers are to be designed accordingly. Conveying Systems All dosing and batching systems incorporate loss in weight and / or gain in weight units. These units generally


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have hoppers on the top to temporarily store the ingredient. Mechanical or pneumatic conveying systems are needed here to transfer ingredients from silos, sacks, big bags or octabins. The capacity of conveying systems are to be determined carefully to supply needed material whenever required. Next, we go through the details of calculations to achieve a simple way of determining proper conveying capacity. Let’s look at a simple dosing system that has both loss-in-weight and gain-in-weight units (Fig 1.) There are two major ingredients filled to the gain-in-weight hopper, which are then transferred to the mixer. And two minor ingredients directly fed into the mixer. Mixing starts after all ingredients are loaded into the mixer. The system works as follows (Fig 2.): > Mixer starts mixing of raw materials of previous batch. > Major ingredient 1 is fed into the weighing hopper (gain-in-weight). > Major ingredient 2 is fed into the weighing hopper (gain-in-weight). > System waits for the mixer to finish mixing and then discharges the mixed product.

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> Weighing hopper discharges ingredients 1 & 2 together with minor ingredient 1 & 2 at the same time to the mixer. Cycle finishes. > New cycle starts, mixer starts mixing again. Therefore the total duration of one dosing and batching cycle can be written as follows: (T = time consumed, Q = quantity) Case 1: If (Tmixing + Tmixerdischarge) < (Tmajor1 + Tmajor2) and Thopperdischarge < Tminor2 and Tminor1 < Tminor2 Tcycle = Tmajor1 + Tmajor2 + Tminor2 Case 2: If (Tmixing + Tmixerdischarge) < (Tmajor1 + Tmajor2) and Tminor1 < Thopperdischarge and Tminor2 < Thopperdischarge Tcycle = Tmajor1 + Tmajor2 + Thopperdischarge Case 3: If (Tmajor1 + Tmajor2) < (Tmixing + Tmixerdischarge) and Thopperdischarge < Tminor2 and Tminor1 < Tminor2 Tcycle = Tmixing + Tmixerdischarge + Tminor2 Case 4: If (Tmajor1 + Tmajor2) < (Tmixing + Tmixerdischarge) and Tminor1 < Thopperdischarge and Tminor2 < Thopperdischarge Tcycle = Tmixing + Tmixerdischarge + Thopperdischarge

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Tmajor1, Tmajor2, Tminor1, Tminor2 are the times needed to finish the dosing of each ingredient. Thopperdischarge is the time needed for discharging of the weighing hopper. Tmixing is the time needed for mixing all the raw materials. Tmixerdischarge is the time needed for discharging the mixer. In a wide range of applications, dosing can be done during the mixing process. Some materials can be mixed first and some additives can be added whilst the mixer is working. Time is also required for stabilising the weighing hoppers after filling or discharging. Calculations are to be done accordingly. Now we can calculate the time available to fill each ingredient hopper. For example the time available to fill a hopper with one ingredient is: Tfilling1 = Tcycle - Tmajor1 Capacity of a conveying system can be calculated as: Capacity = Qingredient1 / Tfilling1 Where Qingredient1 is the amount of material to be used in one batch. As an example; if 50kg of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and 100kg of PVC is to be used in a mixing process; TfillingCaCo3 is 5 minutes and TfilingPVC is 8 minutes; Tcycle is 12 minutes

Capacity of a CaCo3 conveying system = 50kg / 5min = 600 kg/hr Capacity of a PVC conveying system = 100kg / 8min = 750 kg/hr Number of cycles = 60min / 12min = 5 cycles / hour = 120 cycles / day If the plant runs 24 hours in a day: Daily consumption of CaCo3 = 120 x 50 = 6.000 kg Daily consumption of PVC = 120 x 100 = 12.000 kg Assuming that CaCo3 is delivered by 25-tonne bulk trucks, one truck of CaCo3 is enough for 4.2 days of production. So there is a need for a bulk truck delivery every 4 days. A 25-tonne capacity silo is required for this operation. There should be some amount of reserve in the silo to prevent any production loss in case of any delay in logistics operation. Therefore 30 tonnes of capacity will give approximately one day of extra time. Depending on site conditions, plant managers could decide on purchasing higher capacity silos to decrease the truck traffic. If PVC is brought in 500 kg big bags, there will be a need for handling 24 big bags per day. At this point, there are two options for PVC handling: First, big bag discharge stations could be directly connected to a dosing system so that the PVC can be transferred directly from the big bags to the hoppers (Fig 3.).


Pro-Phase Watch in Action The following points are to be taken into consideration:

An operator should put a full big bag on the discharger unit and remove empty big bags every hour. The capacity of the conveyor installed between the big bag discharger and the dosing system would be 750kg per hour as stated above. The other option is connecting a big bag discharge station to a storage silo and using higher capacity conveyors, e.g. 6 tonnes per hour. (Fig. 4.) 12 big bags are to be discharged per hour and two hours of loading would be enough for daily production. The importance of determining the capacity of the PVC silo is the same as calcium carbonate.

Small sized sacks or bags are widely used for minor ingredients. These bags are generally kept close to weighing systems so that operators can fill the hoppers manually whenever needed. A good automation system should warn the operator before the hopper is empty. Therefore level sensors or similar equipment are needed to monitor the level of product inside the hopper. Preventing Errors To have problem-free weighing, all upstream and downstream equipment should be isolated from the weighing system.

»»Mechanical vibrations coming from conveying systems are to be isolated. Flexible couplings, vibration dampers might be used, the production line is to be designed accordingly. »»Air pressure effect is another issue. Powdered materials can be loaded by pressure or vacuum conveying systems. Any pressure difference between the weighing system and connected equipment might cause measurement errors. Venting the air and using a flexible connection between chambers would decrease the negative effects of air pressure. »»Inlet port of weigh bin should not absorb any of the load the scale is trying to weigh. It is important to check how the material is loaded onto the scale. Although a good weighing scale compensates errors caused by off-centre loading, it is good practice to distribute the load evenly. »»Storage and conveying systems are to be cleaned easily in case of recipe changes. Mechanical design of these systems should be done accordingly. »»There should be minimum tension

on connected electrical cables, compressed air hoses and similar utilities. »»Being the most important component of weighing systems, load cells are designed to compensate temperature changes, but there are minimum and maximum temperature limits for load cells. Maintaining relatively constant air temperatures would prevent reading errors. Achieving optimal dosing Determining the configuration and system selection are typically budget-driven and the return on investment provides the justification for both supplier and equipment selection. A wide range of engineering solutions are available in the market and plant managers have to choose the most appropriate ones in terms of expandability and flexibility. Solving a technical problem at hand is not an option for this type of investment. A good and detailed study at the beginning allows for future growth and many years of problem free service.

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Spiroflow conveyor solution improves workflow efficiency at Chemique Adhesives A conveying solution from Spiroflow, the leading manufacturer of dry ingredients conveying and bulk bag handling equipment, has provided West Midlands-based Chemique Adhesives with a new automated system for batching product.

Spiroflow Solution: Spiroflow introduced a conveyor system to automate the batching of the product.

more accurately judged the machine running time has been reduced from 90 minutes to 60 minutes.

A sack tip hopper is located on ground level where the bags of raw materials are loaded into. Connected to a hopper is a model 80 screw conveyor which feeds a 75mm (3”) aeromechanical conveyor, elevating the raw materials past the mezzanine and into the mixer. A full electrical control included in the system.

The Result: Simon Cashmore - Operations Manager at Chemique Adhesives commented: “The solution presented by Spiroflow has allowed us to more accurately load bags of raw materials into our manufacturing process. The whole system has resulted in a cleaner working environment and every batch now runs for the same amount of time. This was my first experience in dealing with Spiroflow but I will definitely be using them again!”

The new Spiroflow system allows raw materials to be safely loaded into the hopper on the ground floor, eliminating the need for staff to climb the mezzanine.

Customer Requirements: A global leader in the manufacture and supply of high performance industrial adhesives, Chemique Adhesives, supplies premium bonding solutions for virtually any industry, including construction, transportation, marine, commercial production and more.

Spiroflow has been a Global leader in the field of powder handling and dry bulk solids processing for more than 45 years. To learn more visit spiroflow.com, email sales@spiroflow.com or call +44 (0) 1200 422525. 64 | SHAPA Newsletter

Chemique Adhesives produces a range of products using powders which had historically been ripped and tipped from sacks into a mixer on a platform by an operator. This has led to inconsistencies with the rate at which raw materials were fed into the mixer. Furthermore, the raw materials were unloaded from a platform which was reached with a fork lift truck. This resulted in an unclean environment as raw materials often spilled out when being loaded. System objectives: 1. Improve batch consistency 2. Improve hygiene 3. Improve safety

After Sales: Spiroflow fully commissioned the equipment at the Chemique Adhesives factory. The Spiroflow in-house service technician checked the equipment and tested the raw materials running through the system to make the necessary adjustments. Spiroflow has also supplied spare parts for the screw conveyor and provided technical support when an issue occurred. Simon Cashmore added: “The after sales team at Spiroflow were outstanding. When they commissioned the equipment the whole team received training on how to get the system running efficiently for our product. When we did have a small issue an engineer was sent out to us very quickly and solved our problem in a matter of minutes.”

As a result the system is cleaner with the dust tight conveyor transferring the product up to the mixer. The key benefit of the system is that the loading speed of the raw materials is governed by the conveyor, so the management team can determine how long it takes to make a batch. Previously they were relying on manpower to load the bags and the loading speed varied depending which team was on shift. Because the loading time can now be


Baghouse performance monitoring for reduced operating costs and maintenance times to be scheduled saving time and resources by highlighting which bags require changing prior to potential emission limit excursions.

For optimum performance, fabric filter baghouses require correct and timely maintenance. ENVEA’s UK business (formerly PCME) manufacture a range of particulate monitoring systems, from simple leak to QAL1 certified measurement instruments providing Process Operators with an improved understanding of their baghouse operation. Designed to monitor dust releases from single or multiple filter compartment baghouses, sensors installed in the clean gas output of each filter chamber are able to detect leaks as they develop, even down at very low emission concentrations. Knowing where leaks are developing enables process stoppages

In addition, ENVEA now provide sensors to warn of hopper blockages, often a cause of bag filter abrasion and which can potentially result in explosions within the filter. For Combustion applications which require sorbent injection such as lime or activated carbon, PicoFlow sensors are available to measure the quantity of injected sorbent. Ensuring the correct amount is injected maintains acidic conditions in the filter at the desired level preventing costly damage to the baghouse and also helps to prevent sorbent over usage and consequent wastage. Further details of ENVEA’s range of Particulate Emission and Solids Flow instrumentation can be found at www.enveauk.global For further information contact Linda Furnell, l.furnell@envea.global

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By Dr Robert Berry, Senior Consultant Engineer for The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology

Hoppers;

how they work and general advice on how to avoid gravity flow problems As a consultant engineer to the bulk solids handling and processing industry, problems relating to unreliable flow from storage vessels (hoppers, silos, bunkers) are a regular occurrence. This paper sets out to explain how hoppers work, how design for reliable flow for a new vessel and retrofit techniques that be used to improve the discharge from existing vessels. Flow patterns When a silo is discharging material, there are two distinct flow patterns that can occur; core-flow (funnel-flow) and mass-flow as illustrated in fig 1a, b & c. The core-flow pattern is the default pattern that most vessel operate in (unless mass-flow has been specifically designed for) where by material flows down a preferential flow channel above the outlet and the material around the walls remains static. If the product is free-flowing and the silo has a tall parallel section the flow channel can expand to the walls in the upper silo as shown in fig 1a. If the material has a degree of cohesion, the flow channel expansion angle will be very steep, so the flow channel will extend to the top surface of the inventory in the silo. This core-flow pattern gives a first in last out form of stock rotation, can lead to;

• flushing of aeratable materials, i.e. freshly loaded aerated material passes straight into the flow channel, • caking (unwanted agglomeration) of time sensitive materials, i.e. static regions around walls can harden over time and take up permanent residence in the silo, • segregation of materials with a wide size distribution, i.e. if centrally loaded, an angle repose forms in the silo, coarse particles roll to the base of the pile (wall) and the fines are less mobile and collect in the centre of silo. When discharged in core flow fines come out first followed by an increasing proportion of coarse particles. The alternative and desirable flow pattern for difficult to handle materials is mass-flow (shown in fig 1c) where the hopper has

much steeper walls so that material slip occurs at the walls and all the material is in motion when discharge occurs. This gives a first in first out discharge pattern and all material has a consistent residence time, minimising chances of agglomeration and flooding. While segregating material separate within the silo during loading the uniform draw down causes them to remix on discharge. Mass-flow also gives a gravity discharge rate that is more consistent over time and independent of inventory level. The key disadvantages of mass-flow are the potential for wear of the walls if product stored is very abrasive (either core-flow or a wear allowance must be made), the higher pressures on the wall during discharge (because all contents is live) particularly at the transition from the parallel to converging sections of the silo, and a greater head room requirement to store a given volume of material due to the steeper hopper.

Fig 1 Silo flow patterns

a) core-flow (free flowing material)

66 | SHAPA Newsletter

b) core-flow (cohesive material)

c) mass-flow


Wall Friction measurement The determination of whether a material will mass-flow or core-flow requires a measurement of the friction between the hopper wall and the stored powder. This can be done by shearing a cell of consolidated powder over a sample of wall measuring the shear force whilst controlling the normal force. The shear force is plotted as a function of normal force, the wall yield locus, the angle of which represents the wall friction angle, i.e. the angle at which the wall must be inclined to cause slip of the powder down the wall. The relationship between mass-flow hopper half angle and the wall friction angle is presented in fig 2a&b and shows that as the wall friction angle reduces the limiting hopper angle for mass-flow becomes shallower. I.e. the higher the friction between the powder and the hopper wall, the steeper the hopper required for mass-flow. Two extremes of hopper shape are presented a conical hopper and plane or wedge shape hopper. The latter gives mass-flow at larger half angles because material converges in only one direction rather than two for a cone.

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Fig 2 Mass flow limits for conical and plane (wedge) shaped hoppers

Flow obstruction When a silo fails to discharge under gravity there are a three primary types of flow obstruction namely mechanical arching, cohesive arching and rat-holing, see fig 3a, b & c respectively. Mechanical arching is the relatively trivial case where the particles are too big, relative to the size of the outlet, and several particles can mechanically jam over the outlet. To avoid this the diameter of a circular outlet (or diagonal of a slot outlet) must be approx. 10 times greater than the maximum particle size. Fig 3 Silo flow obstructions a) mechanical arching

b) cohesive arching

c) cohesive rat-holing

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UWT (UK) Ltd • 01743 718883 •

sales@uwtuk.com www.uwtuk.com SHAPA Newsletter | 67


Cohesive arching and rat-holing are where the material gains strength when consolidated due to cohesion as a function of either a fine particle size typically below 100microns (where van-der-Waals forces dominate over gravity forces) or presence of surface liquid where the surface tension binds the particles together. With cohesive material if the size of the outlet is too small then an obstruction will form, and gravity flow will only occur when outlet diameter/ width is sufficiently wide that the weight of the bulk solid in the arch exceeds the unconfined strength of the material. Cohesive arching is the flow limiting condition in a mass-flow silo, rat-holing is the flow limiting condition in a core-flow silo.

Fig 5

a.) Incorrect belt interfacing

The rat-hole occurs because for the diameter of the core, the hoop stress is insufficient to overcome the strength of the material, so as before the outlet diameter must be increased thus increasing the hoop stress until failure occurs. For a mass-flow silo, the critical outlet dimension is largely independent of the size of the silo, however for a core-flow silo the critical rat-hole dimension can increase significantly as the vessel gets larger (of diameter and height) and the consolidation stress in the pipe increases. Flow function To size the outlet of a silo to overcome cohesive arching or rat-holing, the cohesive strength of the material is measured and represented as the flow function (fig 4a) which is a blue print for the flowability of given material. The flow function measurement is best illustrated by the concept a sand castle test (see fig 4b). In the first stage of the “sand castle” test, the bulk solid is compacted uniaxially in a mould (bucket) to a given normal stress. In the second stage of the test, the mould (bucket) is removed to reveal the bulk solid “sand castle”. An increasing vertical stress is then applied to the unconfined bulk solid (sand castle) and the peak strength at failure recorded. The horizontal axis of the flow function represents the consolidation

b) Correct belt interfacing

stress,“the stress applied to compact the sand castle in the bucket”, versus the unconfined failure strength “the strength of the free-standing sand castle” on the vertical axis. Although the means of measurement in practice is by shear testing rather than uniaxial action, the meaning is the same. Time consolidation For both types of silo time consolidation can be a significant factor. This is where the material strength increases as a function of the time-period of static storage, where particles move closer together increasing the strength. Thus, if the material is left static in the hopper over a week-end a large outlet size required to get the material to flow on Monday morning. This can be designed for by characterising the strength over the required time-period. Alternatively, if this time-period is used infrequently discharge aids could be employed from the outlet to the diameter of the time outlet to be used only when reinitiating flow from a long static storage period.

Feeder Interfacing Having got the geometry of the silo correct for reliable gravity flow, it is possible to convert a mass-flow silo back to a core-flow one, through inappropriate feeder interfacing. There are numerous feeder types used to control the discharge rate of products from silo including; screws, belts, chains, vibratory slides, ploughs, rotary valves and for each there is a correct and incorrect way to interface. A screw and a belt are used below to describe the principal of good interfacing practice. A standard incorrect interface for a screw is a constant pitch and diameter which gives a fixed transport volume. Thus, screw moves material forward from the first pitch, so the only place material in the silo can enter the screw is from the back of the slot. Thus, a mass-flow silo discharges in a core-flow manner because of poorly

Fig 4

a.) The flow function

68 | SHAPA Newsletter

b) the sand castle test


design feeder interface geometry. What is required to support mass-flow is a screw with fixed outer diameter, but an increasing pitch and reducing shaft diameter in the direction of feed. Thus, the volume moved by the screw increases in the direction of feed and material flows along the full length of the slot in mass-flow. Similar principals apply for a belt, a horizontal interface will draw from the font of the slot only see fig 5a. What is required is an outlet that increases in height at approx. 5° so that slot width has taper to give an increasing width in the direction feed, creating a progressively widening and heightening pile on the belt in the direction of flow to support massflow see fig 5b.

Fig 6

Retrofit techniques silo inserts A common approach that can be used to correct discharge problems with a corea.) core flow flow silo are static inserts. Surprisingly, an internal obstruction within the silo (usually an inverted cone) if of the correct size and in the right position Summary can dramatically improve the discharge To adequately design a silo for reliable characteristics of a core-flow silo to flow you need to know your material. something approaching mass-flow. This If the material is free-flowing and technique works by changing the shape always remains so and segregation is of the flow channel from a cone to wedge not a problem than core-flow may be wrapped into an annulus. As shown acceptable for your process. However, if previously the wedge achieves mass-flow your material is cohesive, time dependent at significantly lower angles and is less (prone to caking), fluidises readily, or sensitive to changes in inventory. highly segregable, then a mass-flow Isolator (2019) Ad (130x190)_Layout 1 26/02/2019 15:41 Page 1

b) flow correcting insert

pattern is probably required. To achieve mass-flow you need to measure the flow properties of your material, the; wall friction, flow function, internal friction, bulk density and time flow function so that the critical outlet size and converging angle can be specified to give reliable flow. Finally remember that the feeder interface geometry must be correctly designed to support mass-flow.

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SHAPA Newsletter | 69


Superb Scale-up From Boone Lab Mixer Boone Mixers have supplied Nicholls and Clarke (N&C) with a versatile and accurate Universal Lab Mixer at their factory in Burslem, Staffordshire, along with interchangeable mixing blades to test the full range of products produced by N&C.

N&C produce tile grouts and adhesives in both powdered and ready-made forms, using ingredients including Portland and high alumina cements and graded sand, together with additives, polymers and pigments.

The Boone lab mixer provides N&C with the invaluable ability to guarantee an accurate scale up from an 8kg test mix directly to a full 2.7 tonne production batch.

One of the biggest challenges when manufacturing a wide range of coloured tile grouts is to get the correct ‘dosage’ of pigment when moving from lab tests through to full-scale production, and the

Boone Universal Lab Mixer allows N&C Technical Manager Peter Till to be confident that he can guarantee an accurate scale up, achieving the same colour in production as was approved in the lab. It also enables N&C to maximise the effectiveness of the pigment dispersion which will lead to colour repeatability batch to batch. Key to that is the variable speed drive of the lab mixer that allows the speed to be calibrated to match the performance of the production mixer, which is another Boone mixer installed several years ago. The Boone Universal Lab Mixer is a compact but robust, bench-mounted device with a variable speed drive and short length to diameter ratio for fast, efficient mixing. To accurately model the range of powders and pastes that N&C produce, Boone supplied both a high-shear delta blade and a horizontal helical blade mixer (HHBM) centre, either of which can be easily mounted in the easy clean stainless-steel mixer shell. The Universal Lab Mixer can be configured to match almost the full range of Boone production mixers, meaning that trace and micro-ingredients can also be incorporated into the mix with as much consistency and accuracy as they would be at production scale. As Peter Till put it, ‘There are two ways in which the lab mixer saves us time – firstly, I don’t have to develop a separate mix method for the production mixer, I know that the 8kg lab mixer method will translate accurately to the full 2.70 tonne batch. The main thing, though, is that we now have a “pilot” batch piece of plant giving us the opportunity to hone product requirements instead of progressing directly to producing 2.7 tonnes of product from making 600g in the laboratory, thus saving us time, materials and money.’

For more information, contact JR Boone Ltd 18 Silk St, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 4DH, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1260 272894 email: sales@jrboone.com www.jrboone.com Boone Universal Lab Mixer guarantees N&C an accurate scale-up to their production mix.

70 | SHAPA Newsletter


Understanding Dense Phase Conveying is made easier by Schenck Process A new collection of insightful animations from Schenck Process are available on their YouTube channel (Schenck Process Group), showing how a dense phase pneumatic conveying system optimally operates; using their ProPhase range.

bottom of the pipeline, using high pressure and low gas volumes.

Dense phase pneumatic conveying is a process for moving material and is used across a variety of light and heavy industries. It transports materials through enclosed pipelines, from one silo to the next; carefully moving the material, along the

Their ProPhase system proudly leads advancements, in dense phase conveying. It offers the ability to provide variable handling techniques, all from one unit. It also intelligently includes an IoT controller, for remote simple operation, performance

This form of pneumatic dense phase conveying, ensures there is no damage to the material and thereby, provides lower wear on the conveying system.

monitoring, as well as to avoid site tampering. ProPhase has also been designed to have minimal moving parts, low wear, very low maintenance, and low attrition of material. These animations are available to watch now at the Schenck Process Group YouTube channel, in their dedicated Pneumatic Conveying Playlist!

Custom Designed Pneumatic Conveying Systems

Railcar unloading, storage and conveying systems. Dry, granular materials can be moved gently, reliably and with significant reduction in product degradation and/or system wear with a Dynamic Air pneumatic conveying system. Each Dynamic Air pneumatic conveying system is custom-designed to achieve the optimum performance characteristics at the highest efficiencies. Dynamic Air has developed 16 different pneumatic conveying concepts, utilizing both pressure and vacuum, for handling a wide variety of dry bulk solids to

provide a conveying solution that fits the process perfectly. Because each and every material to be conveyed reacts differently under a given set of operating conditions, it is extremely 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. Dynamic Air’s 16 different pneumatic conveying concepts have the ability to convey at almost any conveying velocity desired to suit a given material to be conveyed. Dynamic Air pneumatic conveying systems improve efficiency and reliability and significantly reduce operating costs. http://www.dynamicair.com/ systems.html

Dynamic Air Ltd. Milton Keynes, United Kingdom Phone: 44 1908 622344 E-mail: sales@dynamicair.co.uk www.dynamicair.com

SHAPA Newsletter | 71


By Robert Slauson Assistant Sales Manager Advanced Detection Systems

Protection by Detection Intro

Metal detectors are a common sight in today’s processing facilities, and for good reason. Metal detectors offer protection. They protect processing equipment from damage caused by metal, they protect the products people consume, and they protect brand image against recalls that can arise from contaminated product. Most products, regardless of the industry, are in constant contact with metal machinery throughout the entire production process. Products are cut, shaped, mixed, packaged, and transported using equipment and components constructed primarily of metal. Modern metal detectors come in many different sizes and configurations depending on the type of product they are inspecting and the methods used to convey the product through the detector. Regardless of the detector used in an application the questions of; why do I need a metal detector? how do I determine which detector to use? and how do I use the detector to meet my requirements? should all be considered to ensure your metal detector is being used in the most effective and efficient way possible.

Why should I use a metal detector?

The goal of just about every metal detector in operation is the same, to detect metal within a product that shouldn’t have metal in it. The reasons why a company will use a metal detector varies. In the food industry, metal detectors are a key component in many company’s HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) Plans which are required to comply with food safety standards from governing bodies like GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative), SQF (Safe Quality Food), and the BRC (British Retail Consortium). Many product retailers have their own food safety standards that require a higher level of 72 | SHAPA Newsletter

contamination prevention and detection before a product can be sold on their shelves. If you want to sell your product on these retailer’s shelves, it will first need to be inspected for foreign contaminants by a metal detector or X-ray system. Outside of the food industry, metal detectors are often used to ensure product purity and to defend processing equipment from damage caused by metal contaminants. Depending on the product and process used to create it, a metal detector can be placed at the end of a production line to make sure there are no metal contaminants within the product. A metal detector may also be placed in front of hightolerance production equipment, like an injection mold or extruder, to protect them from damage. Metal contaminants pressed in a mold or forced through an extruder can damage those components and create imperfections in every subsequent product produced by that mold or extruder die.

Pre-Purchase Considerations

Metal detectors are a very important tool in safeguarding products, people, and equipment from metal contaminants. As with any tool, using the correct one for the job can be the difference between success and failure. The first things to look at when considering the purchase of a metal detector are your goals and requirements. Are you getting a metal detector to comply with safety standards? do you need a metal detector to prevent damage to processing equipment? or maybe both? The other main facet to metal detection is determining what steps to take if your metal detector does find a contaminant. Detecting the metal is the first step. Removing the contaminated product from the production line, documenting the

occurrence, and determining how to prevent it from reoccurring are all subsequent steps that need to be taken into consideration. Sensitivity limits also need to be considered when deciding what type of metal detector is best for you. There are a lot of factors that determine the sensitivity of a metal detector but a good general rule of thumb: the larger the detector aperture is, the less sensitive the detector will be. A small detector will be able to find smaller pieces of metal than a large detector could when running the same product. The type of product being run through the detector and the environment it is in all factor into the detector’s sensitivity to metal. Most reputable metal detector manufacturers offer product testing services to determine what their detector’s sensitivity to metal within your specific product will be. Product testing generally involves sending samples of your products to a metal detector manufacturer who will then put them through metal detectors in their lab and report back to you with the sizes of metal they can detect within your products. Because there are so many variables that factor into determining a detector’s sensitivity within a single product, product testing is the only way a metal detector manufacturer can guarantee a specific detection level.

Metal detection systems are generally configured in three different ways: conveyor mount, pipeline, and gravity drop. A quality metal detector manufacturer will work with you to determine which configuration is best suited for your application. Each configuration of detector can also be broken down into three main components: the detector head which does the metal detecting; head support structure that supports the detector head and components; and a reject device to remove contaminated product from the production line. Regardless of what configuration is chosen; the functionality of each detector head will be the same, only the way it is constructed for your application changes. Conveyor: Packaged or bulk product is carried through the detector using a conveyor belt. Conveyor mount systems are the most prevalent configuration due to their versatility in working with both packaged and bulk goods. The metal detector and conveyor will be sized based on the dimensions of your product and the system can be designed with a multitude of reject devices depending on your needs. Common reject methods for packaged goods are stopping the belt upon detection for manual removal of the product or automatic sweep arms/rams


that push the product off the belt without stopping production. Bulk goods are commonly rejected using a retracting pulley or flop gate to divert the product into a collection bin without stopping production. A conveyor mount metal detector should generally be sized 2 inches taller and 2 inches wider than your largest product.

Gravity Drop: Like pipeline metal detectors, gravity drop systems are configured to inspect flowing, bulk products such as powders or granules before they are packaged. Gravity Drop systems consist of the metal detector head, automatic reject valve, and a support stand. Gravity drop detectors are often used at the end of a production line, right before

end of production where there is little to no chance of metal contamination after the product has gone through the metal detector. If you are using a metal detector to protect processing equipment or inspect raw ingredients before value is added during processing, the detector should be placed just prior to the equipment it is supposed to protect form metal contaminants.

Installation & Startup

Metal Detectors are extremely sensitive instruments that need to be setup and installed properly to avoid difficulties during actual production. Metal Detectors are very susceptible to electrical interference generated by other equipment nearby or connected to the same power source. Most metal detector manufacturers will recommend a dedicated power line be ran to the metal detector to avoid interference or power dips/spikes generated by other equipment in the plant. If a dedicated line cannot be installed an inline power conditioner can be used to help create a clean power source for the detector.

Pipeline: These metal detectors inspect liquids and other viscous products that can be pumped through the detector. Pipeline units can be configured with an automatic reject device (commonly a 3-way ball valve) to divert contaminated product out of the product flow tube and into a reject receptacle without slowing down or stopping production. A pipeline detector will be sized based on the required diameter of the product flow tube used to move the product through the detector. Generally, the detector aperture is 1-2” larger in diameter than the product flow tube. One of the major benefits of a pipeline detection system is the ability to inspect large quantities of product using a small aperture. For instance, a company producing 10 gallons of chicken noodle soup would have poor detection level results using a large conveyor mount metal detector to inspect their final 10 gallon container of soup. A more appropriate solution would be to use a pipeline detector placed around the product flow tube that is filling their final container. That way the metal detector is only inspecting a small amount of product at once –as it flows though the detector­– instead of trying to inspect all 10 gallons at one time. In this situation the pipeline detector would be able to detect far smaller pieces of metal. The detector itself would also be much less expensive, and if metal was detected, a small portion of the product could be diverted instead of all 10 gallons being wasted due to contamination.

final packaging. Just as with pipeline systems, large quantities of product can be inspected over a short time period. As opposed to inspecting all the final product at one time, after it is packaged. Some metal detector manufacturers offer ‘slim line’ gravity drop detectors for use in close proximity to form fill and seal machines. These slim line detectors are often used to inspect small quantities of product immediately before they are packaged in situations where the final package is made of metal or contains a metallic film that cannot be passed through a metal detector. The location of your metal detector on the production line is an important factor in meeting many safety regulations. If the primary goal of the metal detector is to ensure product purity and keep consumers safe, it should be placed near the

Once your metal detector has been installed, setting the system up for your product and training your employees on how to properly use the detector is paramount to the success of your inspection program. The functionality of a metal detector can be a difficult concept for many people to fully grasp because you cannot see what the metal detector is doing. The detector is creating an electromagnetic field and measuring the level of disturbance in that field as products pass through it, none of which is visible to the human eye. Every metal detector manufacturer has created their own way of adjusting and controlling their metal detectors, so it is important that your employees are trained by an expert on your brand of metal detector. That expert should walk you through every facet of your metal detector and make sure you are comfortable adjusting the system parameters. If your metal detector supplier does not offer on-site training, find a different supplier.

Daily Use & Documentation

One of the most important aspects of owning and operating a metal detector for the food industry is documentation. Due to the enormous number of factors that go into determining how well a metal detector will detect metal within a specific product, there is no straight-forward pass/fail rule to judge all metal detectors by. Instead, risk assessment documentation is used to demonstrate that your metal detector is being used as effectively as possible for the application. Daily Performance Validation is a routinely performed test of the metal detector’s functionality and accuracy done by employees during production. It involves purposely introducing metal contaminants (test pieces) into the product being produced and verifying that the detector is able to reliably detect the test-contaminants within the product. Validation tests are usually performed multiple times per day at prescheduled intervals, such as a shift change or product change. If the detector settings have been incorrectly adjusted or the system is not working properly, it will be discovered during the performance validation. Many food safety programs require a yearly Performance Certification visit by a 3rd party to certify that your daily performance validation tests are accurate. At its root these tests are no different than the performance validation tests your employees are doing on a daily basis, but they are being conducted by a qualified 3rd party such as the metal detector manufacture. Many modern metal detectors are capable of digitally recording and documenting metal detector usage and events. Be sure to speak with your metal detector manufacturer about how these features can be integrated into your production documentation systems.

Conclusion

Metal Detectors offer protection. They protect your equipment from damage, they protect your product from contamination, and they protect your company image from recalls due to adulterated product. As metal detectors become more advanced the basic guiding principles stay the same. Knowing why you should use metal detection, what you need to consider before buying a machine, how to install and use the system, and what aspects of use you need to document will always be pertinent questions to ask. Every company’s metal detector needs and requirements will have unique aspects to be addressed, and a quality metal detector manufacturer will help you determine what those aspects are and design a metal detector to meet your needs.

SHAPA Newsletter | 73


Croston Engineering partners with DMN for process speed and safety Croston Engineering has developed an innovative and economical answer to the problem of maintaining and monitoring a clean, dry air state in silos used for storing flour by using a DMN-WESTINGHOUSE SPTDS diverter valve and the existing silo intake pipe. When storing flour and other similar products in bulk silos it is critical to maintain the condition of the air in the silo in order to prevent humidity which can lead to product degradation and contamination. Croston Engineering’s customer was using independent dehumidifiers that were mounted on the top of each silo to provide a constant supply of clean dry air. The installation of the dehumidifiers meant that important monitoring of the dehumidifiers performance and maintenance was difficult and time consuming. Staff at Croston Engineering have extensive experience in designing bulk flour handling and pneumatic conveying systems. They identified a potential answer to the monitoring problem by using existing equipment

Genesis Process Solutions at PPMA Total Show

and infrastructure and adding a pneumatic conveying diverter valve from DMN-WESTINGHOUSE. The Croston Engineering design uses the fill pipe on each silo. A number of silos were involved which meant that work could start as soon as one silo was emptied. After the dehumidifier had been relocated to ground level, the fill pipe was parted to allow a connection to the dehumidifier. The DMN-WESTINGHOUSE ‘SPTDS’ Single Pipe Plug Diverter was installed in such a way that a constant supply of conditioned air could enter the silo through the existing tanker fill pipe. Now, when it’s time to refill the silo with flour, the SPTDS diverter diverts to the tanker and allows the efficient filling of the silo. After filling is completed, the diverter valve reverts to conditioned air from the dehumidifier.

125 years of Gericke: A Truly Global Celebration

It’s all about the new products on the Genesis Process solutions stand at this year’s PPMA Total Show at the NEC from 1st to 3rd October. Genesis is the UK and Ireland distributor for a number of wellknown manufacturers. At this year’s PPMA Total Show just two manufacturers will be displayed, Brabender and Farleygreene. From feeder manufacturer, Brabender, the new Universal feeder will be displayed for the first time in the UK. In addition to powders, granules and flaked material, the Universal is also able to handle fruit and nuts. Also, on the stand will be a Flexwall feeder fitted with a blue trough which complies with all the worldwide food safety regulations and a Loss-in-Weight vibrating tray feeder that has been designed for pellets and fine-grained materials. In January this year, UK sieve manufacturer, Farleygreene appointed Genesis their distributor for England and Wales. This was a good move for both companies which provided Farleygreene with a high-quality, extremely

74 | SHAPA Newsletter

knowledgeable sales agency and for Genesis, a BREXITproof distributorship. From the Farleygreene range, Genesis will be displaying three machines. A Rota centrifugal screener for sieving lumpy, sticky and dusty materials, the new Sievmaster Easilift which combines a sack tipping station and vibratory check screener which is idea for large volumes and the new Sievmaster E400 grading sieve which is modular and has been designed primarily for the food and chemical industries. For more information please contact Phil Cameron at Genesis Process solutions on 01270 766300 or visit www.genesisps.co.uk

Markus H. Gericke, CEO Gericke Group Founded by Walther Hermann Gericke in the year 1894 in the heart of Zurich, the company Gericke evolved into a globally positioned and successful provider full of solutions in the bulk goods industry. With a number of events around the globe, the Swiss Gericke group is now celebrating its 125 years anniversary.

During the celebration year, several customer seminars are organized in all key markets in Europe, Asia and the Americas and are open to the interested audience. These seminars are a great opportunity to learn more about the basic processes in powder handling such as mixing, feeding, size control or conveying.

With a customer conference and an open day, employees and their families, press and business partners had the opportunity to visit the Gericke headquarters in Switzerland, see fascinating demonstrations of powder handling equipment and follow the production steps of a mixer from a piece of metal to a high-end product.

New Web Address To underline the global presence and better integrate the Gericke subsidiaries, all activities are now combined under a new umbrella, www. gerickegroup.com.


When the holiday is over and it’s time to pan your winter training schedule.... look no further than The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology for all your Bulk Materials Handling training needs 24-26 September Storage and Discharge of Powders and Bulk Materials 22-24 October Overview of Particulate Handling Technology

www.bulksolids.com

SHAPA Newsletter | 75


COMING UP IN OUR OCTOBER ISSUE... Compressors

Sector At Risk

Industrial Automation

SIL Analysis

Water & Wastewater

Level Measurement

Robotics

Pumps & Valves Special

Bearings

Metals, Minerals, Glass & Ceramics Industry Focus

Process Engineering

Don’t forget to log onto www.processindustryinformer.com/podcasts for all the latest audio!


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