Chemical & Mineral
Chemical and mineral plants are industrial facilities where various chemical processes are employed to produce a wide range of chemical products. These products can include basic chemicals, specialty chemicals, and fine chemicals, among others.
Challenges
- Difficulty in conveyance : Many chemical powders demonstrate poor flow characteristics, this making them challenging to convey efficiently.
- Adhesive properties : A significant portion of the powders exhibits stickiness, leading to difficulties in discharging from storage tanks, and result in the formation of rat holes and blockages within the conveying pipeline.
- Elevated pipeline wear : Some powders possess cohesive characteristics, resulting in high frequency of wear and tear of pipes, bends during conveying operations.
Solutions
- Design the conveying system with smooth internal surfaces, and gradual transitions to minimise flow resistance. Furthermore, select the appropriate conveying equipment such as screw conveyors.
- Installing discharge aid at the tank’s discharge outlet, can enhance discharge rates by inducing oscillation. Additionally, employing discharge aid by air, impaction or vibration in the tank helps mitigate the stickiness of the chemical powder.
- Choosing wear-resistance materials for pipe and bend construction is crucial to mitigate the frequent frequency of wear and tear, reducing maintenance needs. (special coating)
