Sourcing Industrial Equipment

A plant that handles bulk products such as sugar should improve the flow of the material in cases where gravity is insufficient or impractical. A flow aid is a device that imparts mechanical energy to aid in material flow. There are several types of flow aids that clients can choose from, including aeration, forced extraction, vibratory, and agitation, among others. This article examines ways of optimising material flow in a silo using flow aids.

Material Flow Properties -- Cohesive strength is an attribute of bulk materials such as sugar, which causes the material to agglomerate, pack or cake. The caking of sugar might be due to consolidation and compaction pressure. The pressure inside a sugar silo or bin is usually very high, thereby leading to the agglomeration of the material. Before choosing a flow aid device, you should first conduct a material flow test to make sure that gravity is not achievable. The analysis also helps sugar manufacturers and packers to choose the appropriate flow aid device. For instance, materials that are sensitive to extreme pressures due to excess vibrations or high drop elevations into a silo should not use vibratory flow aids. Have an expert conduct a flow test on a bulk material before investing in a flow aid device of any kind.

Vibrators -- Material flow can be enhanced using vibrators such as mallets and sledgehammers.  Vibrators are the least expensive means of improving flow in a silo or bin, but the vibrators can damage the silo. However, other sophisticated vibrators that are electrically or air operated can be installed on the chute or side of a bin to initiate material flow. The vibrators include piston, eccentric, rotary, and turbine, among others. During installation, you should be mindful of the effect of such a device on the structural integrity of the bin or silo. Also, you should not use a vibrator on a pressure-sensitive material because of the risk of consolidation inside the container.

Vibrating Bin Discharger -- A vibrating bin discharger forces a material to flow. The device is installed in the storage bin using rubber bushed links, which insulates the bin from vibrations. When using a vibrating bin discharger, you must incorporate a feeder to regulate the discharge rate. Moreover, for funnel-flow patterns, make sure that the diameter of the discharger is larger than the particle size of the bulk material.

Agitators -- Agitators are flow aid devices that work by producing a downward movement of bulk materials into a discharge auger. Such an apparatus consists of multiple-segmented helical parts, which gradually revolve within the body of the discharger. The discharge auger must operate slowly to reduce the caking of the bulk material.