location. Often installed in a series and precisely sequenced for maximum effect, the network can be timed to best suit individual process conditions or material characteristics. The air blasts help break down material accumulations and clear blocked pathways, allowing solids and/or gases to resume normal flow. In order to cus-tomize the air cannon installation to the service environment, spe-cific air blast characteristics can be achieved by manipulating the operating pressure, tank volume, valve design and nozzle shape. In the past, when material accumulation problems became an issue, processors would have to either limp along until the next scheduled shutdown or endure expensive downtime to install an air cannon network. That could cost a business hundreds of thou-sands of dollars per day in lost production. Many designers proac-tively include the mountings in new designs so that a future retro-fit can be done without hot work permits or extended downtime. A new technology has even been developed for installing air can-nons in high-temperature applications without a processing shut-down, allowing specially-trained technicians to mount the units on furnaces, preheaters, clinker coolers and in other high-tem-perature locations while production continues uninterrupted. ENGINEERED VIBRATION The age-old solution for breaking loose blockages and removing accumulations from chutes and storage vessels was to pound the outside of the walls with a hammer or other heavy object. How-ever, the more the walls are pounded, the worse the situation becomes, as the bumps and ridges left in the wall from the ham-mer strikes will form ledges that provide a place for additional material accumulations to start. A better solution is the use of engineered vibration, which sup-plies energy precisely where needed to reduce friction and break up a bulk material to keep it moving to the discharge opening, without damaging the chute or vessel. The technology is often found on conveyor loading and discharge chutes, but can also be applied to other process and storage vessels, including silos, bins, hoppers, bunkers, screens, feeders, cyclones and heat exchangers. There is another innovative solution that prevents carryback from sticking to the rear slope of a discharge chute. The live bot-tom dribble chute uses material disruption to reduce friction and cause tacky sludge and fines to slide down the chute wall and back into the main discharge flow. By addressing these issues, operators can experience a reduction in maintenance hours, equipment re-placement and downtime, lowering the overall cost of operation. Flow aid devices deliver force through the chute or vessel and into the bulk material. Over time, components will wear, or even break, under normal conditions. Most of these devices can be rebuilt to extend their useful life. Because clearances and fits are critical to proper operation, it’s recommended that flow aid devices be rebuilt and repaired by the manufacturer, or that the manufacturer specifically train plant maintenance personnel to properly refurbish the equipment. • Brad Pronschinske is a global product manager of Martin Engineer-ing’s flow aid division, where he is responsible for the development and management of the company’s air cannon products and vibration systems. PRODUCE PERFECT WOOD PELLETS. CSE Bliss hammermills and coolers paired with Graf Equipment pellet mills, we’ve got you covered. EXCLUSIVE | Cardinal is the only authorized distributor for Eastern Canada of BM&M Screening Solutions Ltd products. p S cre en in #1 C hi th A meric a N or [email protected] | 580.749.4895 www.csebliss.com www.cardinalsaw.com [email protected] Follow us Canadian BIOMASS CB_CSEBliss_Fall21_CSA.indd 1 2021-10-04 CB_Equipment 1:46 PM Cardinal_Spring21_CSA.indd 1 21 2021-02-22 2:47 PM
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