Paper : Forced Powder Flow Characterization

Welland, UK -- At the Particulate Systems Analysis (PSA 2008) conference and exhibition (2-4 September 2008, Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire, UK) Reg Freeman, Managing Director of Freeman Technology, will present the results of a new study, ‘Measuring powder characteristics relating to forced flow into confined spaces using a universal powder tester’.

The work was performed using the company’s FT4 Powder Rheometer. This universal powder tester enables the independent assessment of factors affecting powder flowability, providing improved quality and control to powder processing industries.

Very cohesive powders tend to behave more like fluids when pressurized or subjected to forced flow. The study focuses on understanding these characteristics, and determining how they correlate with known powder flowability parameters that describe dynamic flow behavior, shear properties and bulk properties, including permeability and compressibility.

Powder extrusion, flow in confined spaces and the normal stresses generated when powders are sheared, are all examined. A number of different powder types are evaluated, including cohesive powders like CRM-116 limestone, free flowing powders such as spray dried and coarsely milled lactose, and calcium sulphite hemihydrate. The ways in which particle size, shape, texture and flow agents affect powder behavior is also studied.

The FT4 Powder Rheometer provides comprehensive powder flowability data that can be correlated with processing experience to aid efficient processing and quality control. It provides automated shear testing, dynamic flowability and bulk properties measurements making it a universal powder tester for formulators, process engineers and QA specialists.

Source: http://www.freemantech.co.uk/

PSA 2008

The Particle Characterization Interest Group [PCIG] of the Royal Society of Chemistry has recognized the diverse particle and powder technological applications encompassed in the chemical, pharmaceutical, biomedical, nuclear, mineral and food and household products industries, the PCIG committee has, once again, become involved in International Particle Characterization conferences to promote this.

For more information about the PSA 2008 Conference and Exhibition, visit the show's web site at: http://www.psa2008.co.uk/

George Tunnicliffe Named New MD at Kemutec

UK -- Kemutec Powder Technologies announces the appointment of George Tunnicliffe as the new Managing Director as of 1st August 2008.

George has 30 years experience in the Powder Handling and Processing Industry and was instrumental in the creation of Kemutec Powder Technologies, formed in 2005 as part of a management led buyout. More recently, George managed Kemutec’s acquisition of PPS in 2006.

George’s appointment is part of a management restructure at Kemutec. Tony Goodwin and Steve Bayley are appointed Operations Director and Technical Director respectively. They join Martin Thomson, Sales Director, responsible for all sales activity outside the US and Rob Dallow, President of Kemutec Powder Technologies Inc. Together, the Kemutec Board of Directors has extensive hands on experience in the Powder Processing and Handling Industry.

George commented, “Having spent the majority of my career at Kemutec, I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead a talented board and a company at the forefront of powder processing technology. I am excited at the prospect of being part of a management team that will take Kemutec forward and build on it’s leading position in the market.”

Kemutec Powder Technologies is well established as a leading manufacturer of powder processing equipment. Our specialist technologies are particularly suited to applications in the food, pharmaceuticals chemicals and plastics industries. In addition, we offer complete process packages combining equipment with full on-site installation, commissioning and validation support.

For more information contact:
Kemutec Powder Technologies Ltd.,
Telephone: +44 (0) 1625 412000
Fax: +44 (0) 1625 412001
Email: sales@kemutec.com
Web site: http://www.kemutec.com/

New Screen-Classifying Cutter from Munson

UTICA, NY -- A new Model SCC-15 Screen Classifying Cutter from Munson Machinery cuts hard, soft and fibrous materials into controlled particle sizes with minimal fines at high rates, according to Stephen Knauth, General Sales Manager of Munson Machinery.

The cutter features a patented helical rotor design with dozens of cutter heads attached to a helical array of staggered holders called "interconnected parallelograms" to continuously shear oversize materials against twin, stationary bed knives.

“Unlike conventional knife cutters that slice materials into strips in scissor-like fashion and require frequent sharpening, the SCC cutter is configured with carbide tipped cutter heads along the entire shaft, with no frontal gaps between the tips, making total contact with the product. As a result, the material is cut into uniform pieces with minimum fines and imperfections in the granulate, and little to no heat generation,” says Knauth.

The cutter tips are available in stainless steel, tool steel and tungsten carbide, and can be slid onto blade holders and secured with one retaining socket-head screw for rapid replacement.

Primarily employed for coarse grinding of materials into particles of uniform sizes ranging from granules down to 20-30 mesh, the cutter has a 15 in. (381 mm) throat width and can be fitted with 30 parallelograms with 60 cutter inserts. Bed screen perforations range from 1/32 to 1-1/2-in (0.79 to 38 mm) in diameter and up to 3 in. (76 mm) square, according to material characteristics and desired particle size. The shaft rotates at 30 to 3600 rpm, producing up to 500 cu ft/h (14 cu m/h) of sized product, depending on application.

The cutter reportedly handles fiberglass insulation, potash, herbs and spices, flake materials, chalks, clays, coal, filter cake, sugar, wood chips, foods, foundry materials, grains, minerals, pigments, powdered metals, medical waste, general chemical products and plastics, including scrap from thermoforming, molding and extrusion operations.

Material is fed through the top of an adjustable, double-baffled intake chute, or directly into the front of the chute though a hinged door. An independently powered, variable speed pinch roll feeder is offered for horizontal-rolled product feed. Discharge is via gravity, pneumatic transition or independently powered belt or screw conveyor.

The unit is equipped as standard with a multiple V-belt drive motor, and available with a direct-coupled gear-reduced drive.

For information contact
Munson Machinery Company, Inc.
210 Seward Ave.
Utica, NY 13503-0855
Telephone: 800-944-6644
Email: info@munsonmachinery.com
Web site: http://www.munsonmachinery.com/

Rhewum Supplies Optical Sorter to Salt Mine

Remscheid, Germany -- Chile's largest producer of rock salt, Sociedad de Punta de Lobos (SPL), ordered an optical sorting machine Datasort for their salt mine in the Atacama Desert. Rhewum awarded the order to supply another optical sorting machine of the new Datasort generation "Sisco".

The new generation Datasort represents a trend-setting electronic sorter. Different sorting criteria can be combined in one sorting program. Sorting parameters include brightness, texturing, shape and particle size.

Task is the sorting of pre-crushed salt by color to remove tailings. The sorted product will then be processed to salt for dishwaters. The feed grain size will be 2 mm up to 19 mm and the feed rate will be between 20 t/h and 30 t/h. Commissioning is planned for the 4th quarter of 2008.

The company SPL is part of the K+S Group and has subsidiaries in Brazil and Northern America. The Brazilian Sea Salt producer "Salinas Diamante Branco", a shipping company and an US-American sales company are also part of SPL.

Rhewum GmbH have been developing and manufacturing screening machines and vibrating feeders since the beginning of the 1950’s. These cover the entire field of dry, wet and analyzing screens for a vast variety of applications for leading companies worldwide. Optical sorting is the logical extension of our activities for the future of our company.

For more information contact:
Rhewum GmbH
Rosentalstr. 24
42899 Remscheid
Germany
Web site: http://www.rhewum.com/

I

Meyer Rotary Airlock Feeders Meyer Rotary Airlock Feeders offer the industry’s broadest range of sizes, features and capabilities.

New Portable Plant Literature Released
New brochure details Superior’s complete line of feeding, crushing, screening and wash plants.

MOD : New Weighing, Batching and Storage System Material On Demand (MOD) system creates "bottomless" storage hopper, the innovation saves energy and cuts waste.

More headline news...

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People post their requests for help and offer their suggestions to others in our open forum.

Mr. Roemerm needs help with ratholing in his stockpile:

We are seeking ideas, help or advice on how to improve the 'live flow' of our main sand stockpile. Any help is appreciated.

Background: About a year ago, a tunnel reclaim was installed under our main fine sand stockpile. The project wasn't well thought out, and the tunnel was actually installed above-ground - can't do much about that now. The purpose of the reclaim tunnel was to service a truck auto-load out, as opposed to using a sales loader.

The Problem: Due to the fine nature of the material, and the moisture content (between 6%-8%), the stockpile is experiencing severe 'ratholing' or 'coring', and on my rough calculations, approximately only 15% of the stockpile is 'live' feeding to the tunnel.

At Present: A vibrating draw-down feed hopper was installed on a gate, with no change to the problem, as once the sand in the immediate area vibrates, the rest hangs / holds up.

I'm currently exploring the ideas of screw feeds, airbags and even heating elements.   (to post reply, click here)

Thank you,
Walter Roemerm
Hanson Construction Materials
walterroemer@gmail.com

Mr. Saleh needs help bagging up CaO:

Do I need to insert an earthing rod into the CaO bulk bags during the unloading to a discharger? If yes, do I need any further precautions?
  (to post reply, click here)

Thanks,
Ahmad Saleh
Jordan Bromine Company
ahmad.saleh@jordanbromine.com

Click here to share your expertise with others in our Help Forum.

Sales Engineer Wanted for Louisiana

Top Houston-based Manufacturer's Sales Rep Firm is looking for an Outside Sales Engineer for Southern Louisiana and responsible for maintaining existing accounts and generating new opportunities through sales and technical service, problem solving, review of processes and equipment, explanation of value added products and relationship building.

The position requires the individual to demonstrate familiarity with solids handling and process equipment and systems.

College degree (engineering preferred) or equivalent experience required.

Candidates must be willing to reside in Louisiana. Regional Travel 45%, Interstate/International Travel 10%.

Compensation of base-salary plus bonus/commission

Contact:
Ms. Patsy Wilson
Robert K. Wilson & Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 90993
Houston, Texas 77290-0993
Telephone: (281) 443-1190
Fax: (281) 443-6253
Web site: http://www.drysolids.com/

The Job Fair is a free service of Powder and Bulk Dot Com.  You can post job opening for managers, engineers, sales, reps or other talented people you need. ...Or one can post their resume for companies who are looking to add talented people to their staff.

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Hope you are enjoying your Summer, here is some news to keep you up to date, read on!

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The Evolution of High Capacity Pellet Classifiers
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Kason Corporation

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This week's homepage photo is of CST Industries storage silos installed at chemical processing facility. CST Industries specializes in the design supply and erection of pre-engineered sectional bolted tanks, factory welded tanks and aluminum geodesic domes.

Photo courtesy of Tom Renich of CST Industries.

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