The latest Air Cannon system designed by ESS is now the most powerful option on the Australian market.
The build-up of materials in bulk storage systems is a common issue. When silos and bunkers accumulate material around their perimeters it can slow operations down or even stop the flow of bulk material altogether. Air Cannons are pressure vessels with attached valve mechanisms that blast air at high velocity at speeds approaching c. They are frequently used to dislodge bulk material build-up and allow for maximum storage capacity. In the bulk materials and handling sector, Air Cannons have numerous applications. They can easily solve bulk flow problems in silos, hoppers, chutes and storage piles and are often used where vibration is not practical or other methods are too expensive.
ESS Engineering Services & Supplies have developed a new Air Cannon system that is highly effective and safer than those previously available. Engineers Mick Hutton and James Stievenard have designed a tank and valve that can be retrofitted onto any previously installed valve arrangement – an industry first. They’ve also independently tested their valves against competitors and have found their Air Cannons to be the most powerful option currently available.
“We’ve got a flexible offering. We have the ability to supply a valve that can retrofit any previous installations we’ve done. Importantly, we’ve developed a safer and more effective option for customers,” said ESS Engineering Manager, Mr Hutton. “To substantiate our claims of supplying the most powerful air cannon valve on the market, we engaged TUNRA Bulk Solids who compared our new valve designs with those of our competitors. Results showed the ESS air cannon options outperformed all others in terms of peak blast force and blast impulse.”
The newly-designed ESS Air Cannons are available in both internal and external valve arrangements with 4” (i4) and 6” (i6) valves. The direct blast design of the i4 and i6 valves allow stored air in 40L, 70L, 150L or 250L receivers to escape directly through the valve and into a discharge pipe without bends or obstructions. This is important, as the quicker the air discharges, the greater the force, velocity and impulse of the blast and therefore, a greater area of influence.
“The main advances with our new air cannon system includes more inherent safety features such as fill-on-demand, reduced hazard level rating and statutory inspection requirements for our larger pressure vessels. Our newly designed valve includes only one moving part with no metal on metal contact. We have also engineered out the requirement for fatigue-prone components such as springs that can cause premature failure, sometimes catastrophic,” explained ESS Mechanical Engineer, Mr Stievenard.
ESS Air Cannons can be remotely activated via a Sequence Controller that controls the fire time interval and the sequence of one or more Air Cannons. Mr Stievenard said that ESS can help customers optimise air blasting outcomes through certain design features such as tailored pipe designs or a chute mounting arrangement that will maximise the efficacy of a blast through proper design and firing sequence.
Air Cannons are most effective when they are fired at the right angle and direction, and blasts are usually directed at problem areas such as corners or the base of known areas of build-up. A custom chute mounting design will ensure an Air Cannon blast is directed to the inside wall of a vessel, shearing material away from the wall to restore material flow.
Additionally, ESS can offer customers more advanced options with automation.
“We’ve been interfacing with our customers’ SCADA systems so they can monitor blasting cycles and sequences from their control room. For example, we can provide the air cannons with transducers and pressure sensors to help optimise and measure the effectiveness of a blast,” Mr Stievenard said. “Basically, we can offer a whole host of automation that we can implement in conjunction with a customer’s requirements.”
Because of the wide range of applications for Air Cannons, it is common for ESS to provide their customers with an end-to-end service. They don’t just supply the products, but will match products and customise designs depending on a customer’s application and needs.
“Each application will be different. It’s our preference to come out to the site, assess what the customer needs, then design a system that will work best for them. We also provide all the installation and assist with servicing down the track,” explained Mr Hutton. “We can also provide other services such as onsite safety or hazard level assessments on pressure vessels.”