A rapidly growing global population is driving the endless need for goods hence there is an ever-growing demand for the movement of bulk materials.
“Moving goods through pipes from one point to another using air i.e. pneumatic conveying, is an extremely efficient method of transporting a great variety of products, provided that the right system is used and that it’s done correctly,” states JC Lombard, Atlas Copco Compressor technique business line manager, oil-free air division.
Air can be used to move materials ranging from powders, sand and grains to pellets, plastics and fly ash.
Given the tremendous versatility and efficiency of pneumatic conveying, combined with the process’s ability to move vast types of different materials, it’s easily one of the most widely used forms of materials handling.
Unsurprisingly pneumatic conveying is favoured by a great many diverse industries such as food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, mining, and even wastewater treatment.
Atlas Copco Compressor Technique offers a broad range of pneumatic conveying solutions that include air compressors, air blowers (screw, lobe, centrifugal and turbo) and ancillary products to meet the bespoke needs of these industries.
“Due to the wide range of materials that can be transported via pneumatic conveying, a one-size-fits-all solution is simply not possible,” continues Lombard. “While some materials can be moved more quickly and in greater volumes, other more fragile materials require careful transportation to avoid damage.”
To meet the varying requirements of the materials, there are different pneumatic conveying methods i.e. Dilute phase, Dense phase and Transient phase.
Lombard says that it’s therefore imperative to know the properties and requirements of the material that will be conveyed in order to be able to select the most appropriate conveying system that will guarantee optimum performance and product quality, and mitigate the risk of potential blockages and combustion.
Dilute phase uses a blower or low-pressure compressor to send material through the pipeline in a high-velocity stream, as though the material is floating, without material accumulation at the bottom of the pipe. As this process moves material at high speed, it is ideal for transporting any form of granular materials.
