A vacuum system conveyor can be a highly useful addition to your production line because it will allow you to move powders around your premises with a minimum escape of dust.
They are ideal for conveying and discharging dust on demand for operations that need to move bulk quantities of powdered material from bulk bags and silos.
Larger systems can convey up to 25,000 lb/hr over distances of up to 300 ft without contaminating the surrounding environment with potentially hazardous concentrations of dust.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, reducing dust levels in working environments is crucial because occupational exposure to some types of dust can cause health problems, including lung cancer and asthma, as well as fires and explosions.
Here are five more things that you should think about when you are buying a vacuum conveyor for powders.
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1. Define Your Upstream Process
Before you start the process of purchasing a system from a supplier of Vaccuum Conveyors, it is important that you define the way in which the material will be delivered. This could be a loss-in-weight feeder or a volumetric feeder. You also need to decide if this will be a batch or continuous process.
2. Measure the Available Headroom
Automated processes often take up more room. At the very minimum, the conveyor will need another 30 inches on top of your current processes. You have to build in space for changing filters and inspecting valves.
3. Decide on Batch or Continuous
You may need a small conveyor that discharges into a surge bin, and this would be defined as a batch process. You need to determine whether the powder will be introduced via a feeder or an intermediate hopper. Continuous conveying requires feeders or rotary valves to discharge the material directly into the process.
4. Consider the Atmospheric Conditions
The altitude, temperature and humidity are important considerations when you are handling powders. At higher altitudes, more air is needed to move the material. Some powders will not discharge well at high humidity levels.
5. Choose the Most Suitable Materials for the Conveyor
The surfaces that come in to contact with the powder are often made of carbon steel, stainless steel or aluminium. Stainless steel is required for some food and medical processing.
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