An Engineering Solution to Material Build-Up Problems

Power and Cement industries are the two critical core sectors in any national economy. In fact these industries hold the key for development of a country. These industries employ elaborate Material Handling Systems which have bulk storage bunkers, silos, bins, chutes etc. as a part of transportation of fuel/raw material from one part of the plant to the other. Smooth movement of the material such as coal from the storage area upto the crushing equipment is a very important factor in determining the availability of the plant as well as its plant load factor. The material handled e.g. coal has to pass through various system components such as Bunker, Transfer Chutes etc. and this material movement through intricate route poses great operation and maintenance problems. This causes various types of problems mentioned above. Particularly, in the rainy season, when the moisture content in the coal is very high, the problem is compounded.  

This is How it Works

The basic principle of MM Air Blasters operation envisages introduction of compressed air at a velocity which kinetically activates dust particles clinging to any surface, with this energy making them vibrate and break free from other particles and surface to which they had adhered.

The compressed air is stored in an air receiver which maintains the air pressure at 6 to 7 kgf/sq. cm. This compressed air is fed to the point of discharge through a 100mm. opening through operation of pneumatically controlled valves. The sudden but controlled release of compressed air into the stored material is at a rate faster than the material can absorb it, thereby causing the material to get dislodged and move. The controlled release of air ensures that the reaction is not transmitted to the support structure and also there is minimal effect of noise or vibration. The actuation of the blaster can be effected either manually or through Electronic Sequence Timer.

One cycle of filling and release is described as follows:
Filling :  Compressed air is supplied through air pipeline controlled by a solenoid valve to quick exhaust valve. The diaphragm of quick exhaust valve closes the 3/4 inch outlet. The compressed air flows past the diaphragm into the piston chamber. The compressed air flows past through an opening in the piston into the receiver and fill it with air until the pressure in it equals that in the pipeline. The pressure in the receiver is maintained and the unit is now READY FOR FIRING.
Release :  By actuating the solenoid valve, both the control air in pipeline and the compressed air stored up behind the piston are released by simultaneous actuation of the quick exhaust valve. The compressed air stored inside the receiver makes the piston to lift off its seat and after moving equal to only a quarter of the outlet pipe diameter releases the whole discharge cross section without restriction loss. The air is blown very rapidly within milliseconds into the Bunker, Hopper, Silo, Chutes etc. so that an almost explosive effect is obtained. After this, the spring forces the piston back to its initial position so that the outlet is closed again and no material can get into the interior of the vessel.
Firing sequence is from bottom to top in case of Hoppers, Bunkers, Chutes and Cyclones. AND the sequence is from top to bottom in case of cement pre-heater tower.

VIEW SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF AIR BLASTER INSTALLATION

THE ADVANTAGES

The MM Air Blasters offer several advantages coupled with diversity of their use or various industries which assume importance in view of greater necessity of uninterrupted plant operation.

• Cleaning without interruption of production !
  MM Air Blasters operation is totally independent; its operation does not require any stoppage in interruption of production; equally, it can be carried out during shut downs and maintenance operations. Being an on-line process, it significantly reduces... or even eliminates... down time, and increase equipment availability.
•  Cleaning without damaging !
  MM air blasters causes no damage to the surface of bunkers, chutes etc. and buildings or other structures in cases where manual hammering of other methods are applied, thus enhancing the life of the equipment.
• Cleaning improves plant efficiency !
  MM Air Blasters provide a faster and more flexible method, which provides no time or interval for dust or material build-up. This significantly increases the output capacity of various equipment.
• Lower service and maintenance cost !
  Having minimal moving parts and components, MM Air Blasters require negligible maintenance, service and spare parts costs.
• No special air quality requirements !
  MM Air Blasters uses the plant air quality only and no special quality of air is required. In fact, the quantity of air required is also small and in case, where plant air is not available at site, a small compressor can be installed which operates only when the air blaster needs to operate.

MM Air Blasters provide an efficient and effective engineering solution to all materials/deposits/dust build-up problems as well as flow-related problems, and enhance plant efficiency in any industry in which they are suitably used.