Powder and Bulk Engineering's

Understanding Vacuum, Pressure and Combination Systems; differentiating between Dilute Phase, Two Phase and Dense Phase; choosing between Vacuum, Pressure, Combination systems; Dilute Phase, Two Phase and Dense Phase; design considerations for conveying line routing; choosing the best feeding devices, special material characteristics, proper air supply; the economics of pneumatic conveying systems

A practical review of dust collection and vacuum technologies as applied to industry. Learn basic considerations of system components, component functions, system types and elements necessary for proper system design. A brief introductory overview of system maintenance and troubleshooting issues will be included as time allows.

This session reviews the storage and discharge of bulk solids in hoppers, bins and silos along with common material flow problems. The session will focus on how the measurement of flow properties in conjunction with well-established design principles can effectively solve these flow problems.

This session will review distinct differences of feeders versus conveyors; detail specific feeder design selection criteria, including variations on screw, belt, and vibratory types, U-trough vs. Vee-trough alternatives and examine how various powder flow properties influence proper feeder selection. Parameters of good feeder design including bin alignment and bin design considerations in conjunction with appropriate feeders will also be reviewed.

This workshop presents practical techniques for both preventing dust explosions and protecting people and facilities from their effects. It presents a systematic approach to dust explosion hazard assessment directed towards obtaining a Basis of Safety for the process. Areas included: employee exposure to combustible dust hazards; compliance with recognized and applicable codes and standards; powder and dust property information regarding the flammability, ignition sensitivity, explosion severity, electrostatic properties, and thermal stability of the raw materials, dust deposits, intermediates and final products of the operation.

Discuss relationships between size reduction and key material properties; the role that size reduction equipment geometry and operational parameters play in producing optimal product; review size reduction techniques; discuss strengths and weaknesses relative to particular materials; provide guidance in the selection of size reduction equipment.

Examine causes of, and explore solutions to pneumatic conveying systems problems of pipeline wear, particle attrition, reduced system capacity, and plugging; improve system efficiencies by identifying costly bottlenecks and safety hazards; optimize pneumatic conveying system operation. This session is for design engineers and plant personnel who are experiencing these common conveying problems and who want to eliminate, or at least minimize these problems by judicious use of proper system design principles.

This session builds on the powder flow concepts and considerations discussed in "Fundamentals". The various mechanisms of segregation, how to sample solids correctly, measurement of solids mixing quality, and approaches to a wide variety of mixing and blending problems will all be discussed. The different mixing and blending technologies will also be covered.

Learn real world methods to reduce CA system operating costs by 20-50% while improving overall system performance and air quality; how to control variations in air quality and pressure to secure repeatable systems performance; improve existing CA system capacity while avoiding excessive capital outlay; effective troubleshooting of common CA system problems, including line moisture abatement, reduced compressor output, excessive energy use, inconsistent air quality contributing to poor systems performance.

Designed for plant engineers and managers directly responsible for comprehensive management of plant dust collection and centralized vacuum systems. This session will involve in depth review of dust collection and centralized vacuum systems’ maintenance, troubleshooting, and combustible dust issues relating to OSHA’s NEP (National Emphasis Program).

Explore micro and macro properties of powders to identify causes of bulk solids caking; examine causes of particle attrition and how attrition can induce bulk solids flow problems, negatively impact product quality and performance; discuss how time consolidation and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity affect particle surface composition, hardness, moisture sorption/desorption characteristics and changes in shear strength. This session is for design engineers, researchers, product formulators, and plant personnel interested in understanding particle caking and attrition to avoid occurrence with their products.

Examine the relationship between Line Length, Line Diameter, Capacity, Pressure/Vacuum and Air Volume (velocity); define and calculate Saltation Velocity, pressure drop around a bend, and in vertical conveying; simplified estimation for designing dilute phase systems, two-phase systems, and dense phase systems; stepped lines; review cohesive materials, controlling pressure tank conveying, listening to a conveying system to analyze conveying phase.

This presentation will discuss testing protocol for classifying powders as to their suitability for particular handling/processing operations; laboratory tests that are most commonly used to determine the ignition sensitivity and explosion severity of dusts; factors affecting the ignition sensitivity and explosion severity characteristics of dust clouds; combustible dust hazards properties in Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS); OSHA Combustible Dusts National Emphasis Program (NEP) Proposed testing program and collection of samples of combustible dusts for laboratory analysis.

An in depth discussion of bin flow aids and their uses, including the pros and cons of various devices; mass flow versus funnel flow characteristics of dry materials; the use of chemical flow aids such as Magnesium Stearate to improve material flow and aid in tableting; use of wall vibrators, bin blasters, bin aerators, cone vibrators, mechanical screws; overview of specific chemical flow aids and specific situations where they are useful.

Understand how susceptible particular particles contribute to various types of breakage; what potential breakage events can be induced in a particular process; discuss the interaction of process behavior, particle breakage mechanisms, and operation parameters; provide guidance to reducing unwanted particle breakage in handling processes.

With particular emphasis on pharmaceutical, food and chemical process applications, a focused discussion on batch blending and handling effects on unit dose accuracies; strategies for addressing major problems of batch-to-batch cross contamination, blender clean-ability, blender selection to minimize particle size degradation and protect against compromised unit dosing.

An in depth review of major energy-intensive operations common to dry material processing plants; examination of how costs are impacted by energy subsystems utilizing compressed air systems, including material handling systems, packaging, storage and transport; details on energy consumption auditing and pitfalls to avoid when establishing an energy reduction strategy.