Controlling conveyor dust
Published by Pippa Luck,
Editorial Assistant
World Fertilizer,
Companies around the world are continually looking for more efficient and dependable systems to alleviate problems associated with dust generation and belt misalignment in bulk handling. Common difficulties include dust, spills and contamination at the transfer points of conveyor systems, as well as misalignment, abrasion and subsequent belt damage.
Within the fertilizer industry, companies are faced with the additional burden of moist and sticky materials to transfer.
As a result, ScrapeTec has developed advanced solutions for conveyor systems used in diverse sectors, including the handling of difficult bulk materials, such as the fertilizer industry.
The company’s AirScrape® and TailScrape systems prevent dust formation, reduce material spill, enable thorough belt-cleaning and minimise the risk of explosion at critical sections along the conveyor route and at transfer points. In addition, the PrimeTracker belt tracker eliminates other problems associated with conveyor belt systems, including misalignment, abrasion and belt damage. The tracker system ensures the belt is constantly in the correct position during operation, thus removing problems associated with belt mistracking, while the other systems efficiently control dust, prevent material spillages and minimise explosion risks.
Conventional dust control measures, including side seals, covers, shrouds or enclosures around a dust source, can help to suppress dust generation and dispersal in the short-term, but many of these measures quickly wear-out as a result of friction and can damage the belt of the conveyor during extended periods of use.
Case study
The company were contracted to install an AirScrape, TailScrape and PrimeTracker belt tracker on a conveyor system at a fertilizer plant, which has recieved positive feedback from the customer. According to the plant manager, since the installation of this system over 1 year ago, dust and material spillage problems have been significantly reduced. It was also noted that there is no longer any need for extensive cleaning operations, and the required maintenance work on the conveyor belt is ...
Written by Thorsten Kith, ScrapeTec, Germany.
This article was originally published in the December 2020 issue of World Fertilizer. To read the full article, and other great technical articles in this issue, view the full issue here. You can also register to receive a free regular copy of the magazine here.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldfertilizer.com/special-reports/30122020/controlling-conveyor-dust/
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