Material handling is an aspect of every industrial process that starts with the transportation of raw material from its original location and ends when the final product arrives at market. During the process, bulk material handling equipment helps move raw and processed materials from one location to another within factories and between completely different locations in the manufacturing chain. The role of material handling is no less important within the agglomeration industry.
Hundreds of materials benefit from agglomeration, and in order to effectively deal with the unique nuances of the specific sample and its transportation requirements, a custom bulk material handling system should be employed to effectively move the material throughout every step of the process. Systems that are used within the agglomeration industry often include custom conveyor designs that incorporate bucket elevators, and belt conveyors.
Considerations
There are a number of considerations that will influence the design of bulk material handling equipment into an agglomeration process. These factors deal with the material itself and the specific processing set-up it will be put through, and all factors need to be taken into account when looking into material handling needs and solutions.
Application
The very first thing that needs to be taken into account when choosing a material handling system is the application. Any system you choose will need to be able to store or transport your material the way you want, for whatever distance you want, during the time frame that you want. Are you simply moving material through the agglomeration process? Will the material need to be moved from the facility to storage or shipping? Will the material be moving long distances? Are there steep vertical inclines the material will need to traverse? Will the material be transported outside where it is susceptible to inclement weather? All of these items are important considerations.
Material
After you have considered the application, you will need to consider the material itself, including type, volume, shape, size, and weight. In the agglomeration industry, many materials are dusty powders that are easily dispersed, and these difficult materials require material handling systems that can accept this type of challenge. Often times, a custom conveyor system design is required, especially with covers, to transport raw, dusty material fines without product loss due to airborne dust.
Flowability, or the way the material moves as a unit from point A to B, is also critical to the design of material handling equipment post-agglomeration. A round, smooth pellet cannot be piled as high as a rough, jagged granule, for example, because of the angle of repose. Thus a material handling system transporting pellets would be designed differently than one transporting compacted granules to accommodate the angle of repose, or the steepest angle of descent in relation to the horizontal surface to which the material can be piled without falling.
Space
Space is a particularly important consideration for in-factory transport. Factories have limited vertical and horizontal space, and any bulk material handling equipment will need to fit in a designated area and leave room for other processing systems. Space and building design will influence how materials are handled and transported throughout the specific agglomeration process, and no agglomeration process is necessarily alike.
Some raw materials may need to be crushed, pre-conditioned, or dried (or a combination of each), prior to agglomeration, while others require post-agglomeration drying or cooling, and even bagging. The appropriate bulk handling equipment must fit into the entire processing set-up, to efficiently transport the material as it is being transformed from a raw material to an agglomerated end-product.
Bulk Material Handling Equipment
Because material handling occurs at every stage in the manufacturing process, having the proper equipment is crucial. If the incorrect bulk handling system is used, then it is possible that some material may be lost at any stage- from processing to transportation for storage- and agglomerates may be damaged. To ensure care every step of the way, FEECO custom builds the following material handling equipment for agglomeration processing operations throughout the world:
Troughed Belt Conveyors
Troughed belt conveyors are ideal for in-factory transport because they cover limited distances and have a fixed track. Special conveyor systems can also be used outside, to cover long distances, or to transport a material from facility to loading.
Belt conveyors can be incorporated into process systems to cool or inspect materials, but they can also be used in transport and storage applications. Belt conveyor system design will depend specifically on the factory and material it will work with, with a range of customizations possible.
Bucket Elevators
Bucket elevators are incredibly diverse, able to transport both light and heavy loads, as well as granular products or material fines. The equipment features several bins, or buckets, which are moved vertically or at an incline on a conveyor belt to transport materials throughout the operation. Bucket elevators can be used in a variety of applications including transporting gravel, fertilizers, and pelletized chemicals. The material in the bucket elevator is not disturbed during transport, meaning that dusty materials are less likely to be lost to dispersion.
Choosing the correct bulk material handling equipment is incredibly important in the agglomeration industry, because raw materials may be difficult to work with, particularly when it comes to material fines. The material handling system needs to efficiently store or transport dispersible powders without losing valuable material. Losing this type of material can cause lost revenue, make processes inefficient, and can cause mechanical problems with machines or health problems for factory workers (i.e. inhalation of dust).
In order to determine exactly what kind of bulk material handling systems are needed throughout processing, transportation, and storage of materials, it is necessary to work with experts. For over 60 years, FEECO’s conveyor systems and bucket elevators have been serving the agglomeration industry. As agglomeration experts, we’re able to help with all parts of the process, including the design and construction of material handling equipment necessary for your agglomeration processing operation.
For more information on FEECO’s material handling line, contact us today!