Powdery material can be a headache to store, but OLI Vibrators has developed a solution that improves productivity and flow rates.
Bridging, ratholing and hangup are all common problems that wreak havoc on a site’s productivity.
Luckily, when flow issues begin to occur, there are several ways to solve them.
However, OLI Vibrators’ general manager Mark Thompson said prevention is much better than a cure.
“Fixing a problem after it happens can be expensive. The downtime it causes can lead to lost productivity and lower profits,” he said.
“For powders and other light, fluffy products, there is a simple way of stopping these problems from occurring in the first place – fluidisation. Not only can fluidisation stop ratholing, bridging, and hangups, but it can also improve the flow of materials, reduce energy usage, and increase productivity.”
Go with the flow
OLI Vibrators’ VBS vibro-aerator concentrates air flow more towards the outlet of a silo, considerably speeding up the discharge of the material and reducing the unloading times and productivity of a plant.
Developed after years of research, the VBS vibro-aerators prevent material under pressure from creating bridges or ratholes during unloading.
The Tramontana membrane technology also significantly reduces discharge times, improving the efficiency of the entire system.
The system is ideal for the treatment of powders such as flour, starches, lime, cement, dry chemicals and plastic resins.
Thanks to an optimised air flow, the VBS can work at a lower operating pressure, leading to a reduced air consumption for the same efficiency.
Thompson said key clients are looking for ways to make their processes more efficient, and as a result have been looking towards fluidisation.
“The cement industry in particular is looking for more energy efficient ways to fluidise their product, and have embraced the VBS,” he said.
“By incorporating the VBS, they can also ensure their product volumes are more accurate.
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“If you’re feeding into a screw conveyor or rotary valve, the fluidised product will flow into those areas at a consistent feed rate.
“It is also very energy efficient, as the fluidisers can be run intermittently. That’s particularly good for plants in the flour or cement industries, where resources are limited.”
The VBS vibro-aerator can come with several accessories and alternatives, including a stainless-steel version that is FDA-approved for the food and beverage industry. The fluidisers can even come equipped with a metal detectable or high temperature resistant membrane.
This variety of options is critical for OLI Vibrators, which supplies technologies from mining to confectionary.
With such a wide variety of materials and silos, OLI Vibrators works closely with its customers to find the right tool for the job. Its team will meet with the site staff to learn about their process and the characteristics of the material.
Thompson said that OLI Vibrators does not just offer a product, it shares its knowledge base with them.
“Because of the different industries we work with, we have a high degree of confidence in providing the right outcomes,” he said.
“For a lot of our customers, they’re walking into unknown territory. While they often know their product better than anyone, there are a lot of other factors that need to be kept in mind.
“We might not know everything about every potential product, but we have resources available at the global level to help analyse the situation and to find the right solution.
“That’s what sets us apart – our ability to provide in-depth analysis and capacity to provide an extensive range of products to fit any situation.”