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Why should you test your pneumatic conveying system?

A pneumatic conveying system is an extremely efficient method of carrying bulk materials along a pipeline, but there are issues that can occur in the system, which reduces the effectiveness of the conveyor. In order to prevent these problems occurring it is necessary to conduct tests to determine the exact specification you require, depending on the type of materials you are using.

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Why carry out pneumatic conveying tests?

The use of a vacuum conveyor has a number of benefits when compared to using a belt or screw system, but you need to understand how to get the most from your conveyor in order to prevent problems arising.

The types of issues that can occur include throughput limitations if the system is not set up for the necessary capacity and a build-up of pipeline depositions, which can result in blockages.

These systems can also have the tendency to degrade from particle attrition or the pipelines can wear due to the abrasiveness of hard bulk materials.

The way in which you can prevent these problems is by understanding the exact characteristics of the particular powder, material or solid you are using. This will allow you to specify the pneumatic conveyor system you require, such as those available from http://www.aptech.uk.com/pneumatic-conveying/vacuum-conveying/.

Before starting any new project, a supplier, such as a packaging business, will assess the physical properties of the individual material, to ensure that the equipment is suitable for the task and will allow materials to flow continuously.

Types of tests

It’s essential that you determine the right conveying velocity and characteristics of the material across the whole variety of conditions that can be found on the production line, from a moving bed to full suspension.

You need to know how much damage will be caused to the particles across the conveyor, compared to the starting condition.

In order to test for abrasive wear the material will be sent into an impact plate, which assesses how much damage is caused.

A fourth test will convey the material along the pipeline to see the amount of build-up that is generated.

Once the tests have been conducted, you will have a report that details all the results and compiles recommendations for the type of pneumatic conveyor system that would be most suitable for your specific requirements.