LEAN PHASE & MEDIUM PHASE Pneumatic Conveying System

Blo-Tech’s Lean & Medium Phase Pneumatic Conveying Systems are offered either on a vacuum based principle, which in broad terms lends itself to use where there are multiple pick up points, or as a pressurised line system which tends to suit multiple discharge / transfer destinations.

The alternative, Pressure Pneumatic Conveying Systems are again designed to include the most suitable type air movers, which includes roots type blowers, fan or side channel units. In the pressure system the blower is located at the commencement of the system, which provides air to pressurise the conveying line where the product is metered into the air stream from a variety of feed devices. The process feed system, which needs to provide a regular product input to maximise the efficiency of the air/product mix, typically incorporates, screw conveyors, air locks, slide valves or specialised valves such as double dump units. When the air product mix reaches the destination point, air extraction is again provided by the use of a cyclone, filter or separator.

Blo-Tech’s Vacuum Pneumatic Conveying Systems are designed to utilise the most effective exhausters, whether side channel units, centrifugal fans or positive displacement exhausters, the latter primarily obtained from Roots Blowers Ltd, a Rotolok Group company. The main function of the exhauster is to provide the requisite vacuum necessary to draw the air entrained product to the collection point where the material is separated from the air by means of a cyclone, filter or separator.

DENSE PHASE Pneumatic Conveying System

The Blo-Bin, Dense Phase Conveyor operates on high pressure compressed air at 6 to 7 bar g, and moves material along the conveying pipes at a relatively low velocity. The Dense Phase principal is suitable for conveying powdered and granular products at a rate in excess of 60 tonnes/ hour but the attainable throughput is dependent upon a number of factors including the travel distance, the number of bends in the system, as well as the specific characteristics of the product being handled. When the air product mix reaches the destination point, air separation is facilitated by a cyclone, filterised separator or similar.

The Blo-Bin pressure tank at the heart of the system is designed with few moving parts, to ensure reliable, consistent operation and is ideal for use with friable, cohesive, corrosive materials and copes extremely well with abrasive products such as Sand, Cement, Limestone, Pearlite and Sugars, both granulated and caster.

DUST EXTRACTION SYSTEMS

Blo-Tech’s Dust Extraction Systems are typically required in production process areas where the filling, transporting, discharging or general handling of products disturbs air and creates an environment, in which product particles become entrained in air. Areas surrounding sack emptying units, bulk bag dischargers, product transfer points, conveying lines even adjacent to sophisticated, fast fill, box filling lines have proven to be vulnerable but Blo-Tech have solved such dust extraction problems across a number of production processes. The Dust Extraction System operates by drawing air from the suction points and directing it to a fan and filter unit, which is sized against such parameters as the material characteristics, the number of pick up points, premises layout and the amount of simultaneous usage. The system design is facilitated by Blo-Tech’s, experienced engineers, who will respond to enquiries with a clear, concise specification and quotation.

CENTRAL VACUUM CLEANING SYSTEM

In simple terms a Blo-Tech, Central Vacuum Cleaning System, provides the facility to collect spillages from production areas, laboratories, clean rooms, polishing and sanding machine heads etc, using a series of suction points and flexible, hand operated extensions. Simultaneous usage is also a feature of the system as is the provision of a central exhauster and filtration unit, which ensures that any associated noise and air exhaust issues can be contained in one location.

AIR SLIDES

Air Slides sometimes known as Pneumatic Gravity Conveyors or Fluidised Gravity Bed Conveyors, however named, the operating principle is the same and is determined by the transfer of air under pressure into a plenum, which is located beneath a material support medium that allows the air to percolate through and into the product, moving it forward down a slight incline to the discharge point. There are a number material options for the product bed, all air permeable, a simple cotton/polyester weave, specialised polyesters or sintered plastics but in conjunction with the client the Blo-Tech engineers will determine the correct air filtration bed together with the required air provision, necessary system filtration and the design of the conveying body.

TYPICAL INDUSTRIES

Blo-Tech designed equipment for the bulk storage and transfer to process of dry, powdered and granular materials has been used across a broad spectrum of industries and includes chocolate manufacturing, soft drinks production, food processing, steelmaking, quarrying and battery production. As a benefit of Blo-Tech’s wide industry involvement the coverage of specific product knowledge is extensive and includes the transfer of raw and milled chocolate, roadstone dusts for asphalt plant, salt addition to brine tank and dust extraction for food dyes and lead oxide. A full list of product handling experience is available here.

LAND BASED TANKER / SILO FILL SYSTEM

Whilst the filling of Silos is normally associated with the direct use of self contained blowers on bulk tanker delivery vehicles, there are alternatives that offer a quieter, safer and more economical fill. Whether based around the use of roots blowers, screw compressors, hook & claw blowers or site supplied compressed air, Blo-Tech designed solutions incorporate all the latest silo protection systems, including auto shut off and pressure differential monitoring, ensuring that current legislative requirements are met, if not surpassed. Whilst safety is always a key issue, the control of pollution is also a factor being driven by legislation and one of the areas of concern is vehicle exhaust emissions and as such, tankers whilst pumping need to have their engines running, thereby adding to the problems. Again, the Blo-Tech response is to offer a complete integrated solution, which nullifies the engine run requirement and provides benefits in safety, pollution and noise control at competitive costs and at all times working closely with the customer’s H&S Engineers.