Bulk Solids: Conveying – Dosage – Storage

Trouble-free processing and handling of solids is ensured by suitable means of conveying, dosage and storage. When choosing the corresponding process step, significant product properties like flowability, storage stability and storage behavior have to be taken into account.

Storage of the crude products represents the first step in the chain of almost any chemical production process. During the process, intermediates and additives as well as the final product have to be stored in silos, tanks or transport containers. A&D AS Solutions Process Industries experts can undertake the engineering and design of any kind of bulk container, thus guaranteeing that – even after a long time in transit or storage - the bulk material can flow out freely. Formation of bridges or long-term consolidation effects leading to blockage can thus be avoided.

Conveyors and proportioning devices are employed for linking single process steps. Here, not only the transport process itself but also prevention of product damage is brought into focus. Changes in bulk properties caused by mechanical stress can be avoided by selecting the appropriate technique combined with optimized process parameters.

With the help of the technical equipment in our bulk property laboratory we are able to determine the optimum conveyor and proportioning device as well as to design bulk containers or transport containers safely.

Our proficiencies:

• Conveying/dosage
  • Mechanical conveying
    • Screw conveyor or screw feeder
    • Vibratory feeder
  • Aeromechanical conveying
  • Pneumatic conveying
• Storage/silo design
  • Investigations using:
    • Ring shear tester
    • Rotation shear tester
    • Compressive strength tester
  • Abrasion tests
• Processing under inert conditions

Our services:

• Characterization of bulk solids properties
• Determination of wall friction angle
• Storage tests/long-term consolidation under various climatic conditions
• Silo design
• Characterization of abrasion behavior
• Physical analysis
• Concept studies encompassing the complete process chain
• Preselection of the optimum process or equipment
• Independent evaluation of experiments at the manufacturer's
• Selection of the optimum equipment, scale-up
• Pilot processing