AIR-SUPPORTED CONVEYOR FILLS TALL ORDER FOR CLEAN, LOW-MAINTENANCE OPERATION
Newberry, FLorida, USA - The nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates has employed an innovative air-supported conveyor system to serve its new railcar loading station, allowing the firm to ship clinker in bulk quantities to its grinding facilities in Port Manatee and Tampa. With its stable ride and fully-enclosed construction, the system contains fugitive dust and reduces maintenance requirements, while taking excellent advantage of very limited space.
When company officials at the Vulcan Materials cement plant in Newberry, FL decided to ship clinker to remote grinding facilities, they knew it would require adding a new conveyor and load-out structure. The real challenge to the project came in designing the system so it would fit with the plant’s existing silos and conveyors.
“The only practical option was to locate the railcar loading conveyor next to the existing pan conveyor, which carries clinker to the finish mill,” explained Maintenance Manager Jim Kerns. “It was determined that the new conveyor would fit in a hallway running under the silos, but we knew that once installed, it would completely fill the available space,” he said.
As a result, clean-up of any fugitive material accumulating under or around the conveyor would be extremely difficult and potentially dangerous without stopping the adjacent pan conveyor and shutting down production. That realization led to the search for a highly reliable conveying system with the proven ability to operate for extended periods with very little maintenance, one that could prevent the escape of fugitive material and also protect the load from rain that would introduce unwanted moisture to the product.
Fig. 1: The Vulcan Materials cement plant in Newberry, FL
produces approximately 2,300 short tons per day (2,087 TPD)
Selecting an Air-Supported System
After reviewing a variety of designs and proposals, the company specified a Martin Engineering® Air-Supported Conveyor, a simple and economical system that resolves many of the issues encountered with conventional belt conveyors. With no moving parts that require maintenance on the load-carrying side, the system could be installed in the close quarters of the hallway under the clinker silo.
“Air-supported conveyors eliminate the carrying-side idlers used on conventional conveyors, and instead use a film of air rising from a troughed pan to lift the belt,” explained Greg Bierie, Global Project Manager for Martin Engineering. “By removing a source of friction that requires periodic maintenance, air-supported designs offer significant advantages -- including energy, environmental and safety benefits -- yet the cost is competitive with traditional belt conveyors,” he said.
The Martin Engineering system does not require a compressor, powering up to 600 feet (183 meters) of conveyor supported by a single low-power centrifugal fan. Extremely low friction inherent to the design can reduce overall drive power requirements by as much as 30% on a horizontal conveyor.
The use of air supported conveyors also eliminates the need for idler adjustment to correct belt tracking issues. The advantages include extended belt life and reduced maintenance costs, as well as improved safety by limiting employee exposure to moving components.
Fig. 2: The 24-inch wide (610 mm) air-supported conveyor
from Martin Engineering rises 25 feet (7.6 meters)
over its 290 foot length (88 meters) from the bottom
of the clinker silo to the top of the load-out structure
Simple Concept for a Smooth Ride
The concept of the air-supported design is fairly simple, with the load zone and carrying sections contained in a plenum that’s pressurized by the centrifugal fan. The carrying surface of the plenum is typically shaped to the parabolic curve profile of a conventional belt conveyor, with a 35º trough. Holes in the top of the plenum create an air film between the plenum and belt, which supports the moving load.
The return run does not require air support, and many systems incorporate conventional idlers on the return side. By using standard take-up drives, chutes and support structures, the air-supported design allows conversions of, or connections to, existing standard belt conveyors.
At the Newberry plant, the 24-inch wide (610 mm) air-supported conveyor negotiates a vertical curve to elevate the load 25 feet (7.6 meters) over the 290 foot length (88 meters) from the bottom of the clinker silo to the top of the load-out structure. Capacity is set at 400 ST per hour (363 tons) of 1-inch minus (25 mm-) material, with a belt speed of 350 feet per minute (106.7 meters per minute). The troughed conveyor is moved by a 25 HP (18.6 kW) drive motor, and the air support system uses a 15 HP (11.2 kW) blower to raise the belt.
Fig. 3: As the material enters the discharge tower, it passes
over a belt scale and into a retractable dustless discharge
chute, which extends down into the railcar opening
The air-supported design from Martin Engineering eliminates maintenance issues such as idler lubrication and belt alignment, and the modular system allows replacement of existing conveyor sections with CEMA standard construction. Air-supported and conventional roller sections can be mixed to accommodate loading zones, tracking idlers, belt scales or other needs. With its stable path, an air-supported conveyor can operate at a steeper incline than roller conveyors, which can reduce the overall length and installed cost.
Two belt feeders at the Newberry plant meter the material through rolling blade gates to deliver a consistent load to the conveyor and prevent the “starve and flood” conditions that can impede smooth operation. The material flows into ceramic-lined transfer chutes, also supplied by Martin Engineering, then onto the conveyor.
As the material enters the discharge tower, it passes over a belt scale and into a retractable dustless discharge chute, which extends down into the railcar opening. The discharge chute is installed on a positioner that delivers up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) of travel perpendicular to the tracks to accommodate various loading hatch arrangements. An insertable dust collector is installed at the head pulley to catch any material that becomes airborne.
“Fugitive material control was a critical element of this system,” Kerns added. “We needed to prevent the need for maintenance in the confined space location, but we also had environmental objectives. Alligators and other protected species inhabit this area, and we wanted to ensure that dust didn’t migrate from the process.”
Fig. 4: The air-supported conveyor design features a load zone
and carrying sections contained in a plenum that’s
pressurized by a 15 HP (11.2 kW) centrifugal fan
Results at Vulcan’s Newberry plant have been very positive, and the company reports virtually maintenance-free service from the air-supported system. “The product condition is excellent from the smooth handling,” Kerns concluded. “And with the fully-enclosed system, there is no contamination of the conveyed material or escape of fugitive dust.”
Vulcan Materials Company, based in Birmingham, AL, is the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates and a major producer of other construction materials, including asphalt, cement and ready-mixed concrete. The firm produces aggregates (primarily crushed stone, sand and gravel) that are used in nearly all forms of construction, particularly the large quantities of aggregates needed to build roads and commercial properties.
Martin® Air-Supported Conveyor Systems are employed around the world in applications on a variety of materials, including coal, cement/clinker, mining, biomass and grain. Founded in 1944, Martin Engineering is the world leader in making bulk materials handling cleaner, safer and more productive. The firm is headquartered in Neponset, IL, with global reach from operations in Brazil, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, India and the UK. For more information, visit www.martin-eng.comwww.martin eng.com or call (309) 852-2384. Global representatives for Martin Engineering can be found at www.martin-eng.com/rep-finderrep finder.
Air-supported Conveyor System
AIR-SUPPORTED CONVEYOR FILLS TALL ORDER FOR CLEAN, LOW-MAINTENANCE OPERATION
Newberry, FLorida, USA - The nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates has employed an innovative air-supported conveyor system to serve its new railcar loading station, allowing the firm to ship clinker in bulk quantities to its grinding facilities in Port Manatee and Tampa. With its stable ride and fully-enclosed construction, the system contains fugitive dust and reduces maintenance requirements, while taking excellent advantage of very limited space.
When company officials at the Vulcan Materials cement plant in Newberry, FL decided to ship clinker to remote grinding facilities, they knew it would require adding a new conveyor and load-out structure. The real challenge to the project came in designing the system so it would fit with the plant’s existing silos and conveyors.
“The only practical option was to locate the railcar loading conveyor next to the existing pan conveyor, which carries clinker to the finish mill,” explained Maintenance Manager Jim Kerns. “It was determined that the new conveyor would fit in a hallway running under the silos, but we knew that once installed, it would completely fill the available space,” he said.
As a result, clean-up of any fugitive material accumulating under or around the conveyor would be extremely difficult and potentially dangerous without stopping the adjacent pan conveyor and shutting down production. That realization led to the search for a highly reliable conveying system with the proven ability to operate for extended periods with very little maintenance, one that could prevent the escape of fugitive material and also protect the load from rain that would introduce unwanted moisture to the product.
Fig. 1: The Vulcan Materials cement plant in Newberry, FL
produces approximately 2,300 short tons per day (2,087 TPD)
Selecting an Air-Supported System
After reviewing a variety of designs and proposals, the company specified a Martin Engineering® Air-Supported Conveyor, a simple and economical system that resolves many of the issues encountered with conventional belt conveyors. With no moving parts that require maintenance on the load-carrying side, the system could be installed in the close quarters of the hallway under the clinker silo.
“Air-supported conveyors eliminate the carrying-side idlers used on conventional conveyors, and instead use a film of air rising from a troughed pan to lift the belt,” explained Greg Bierie, Global Project Manager for Martin Engineering. “By removing a source of friction that requires periodic maintenance, air-supported designs offer significant advantages -- including energy, environmental and safety benefits -- yet the cost is competitive with traditional belt conveyors,” he said.
The Martin Engineering system does not require a compressor, powering up to 600 feet (183 meters) of conveyor supported by a single low-power centrifugal fan. Extremely low friction inherent to the design can reduce overall drive power requirements by as much as 30% on a horizontal conveyor.
The use of air supported conveyors also eliminates the need for idler adjustment to correct belt tracking issues. The advantages include extended belt life and reduced maintenance costs, as well as improved safety by limiting employee exposure to moving components.
Fig. 2: The 24-inch wide (610 mm) air-supported conveyor
from Martin Engineering rises 25 feet (7.6 meters)
over its 290 foot length (88 meters) from the bottom
of the clinker silo to the top of the load-out structure
Simple Concept for a Smooth Ride
The concept of the air-supported design is fairly simple, with the load zone and carrying sections contained in a plenum that’s pressurized by the centrifugal fan. The carrying surface of the plenum is typically shaped to the parabolic curve profile of a conventional belt conveyor, with a 35º trough. Holes in the top of the plenum create an air film between the plenum and belt, which supports the moving load.
The return run does not require air support, and many systems incorporate conventional idlers on the return side. By using standard take-up drives, chutes and support structures, the air-supported design allows conversions of, or connections to, existing standard belt conveyors.
At the Newberry plant, the 24-inch wide (610 mm) air-supported conveyor negotiates a vertical curve to elevate the load 25 feet (7.6 meters) over the 290 foot length (88 meters) from the bottom of the clinker silo to the top of the load-out structure. Capacity is set at 400 ST per hour (363 tons) of 1-inch minus (25 mm-) material, with a belt speed of 350 feet per minute (106.7 meters per minute). The troughed conveyor is moved by a 25 HP (18.6 kW) drive motor, and the air support system uses a 15 HP (11.2 kW) blower to raise the belt.
Fig. 3: As the material enters the discharge tower, it passes
over a belt scale and into a retractable dustless discharge
chute, which extends down into the railcar opening
The air-supported design from Martin Engineering eliminates maintenance issues such as idler lubrication and belt alignment, and the modular system allows replacement of existing conveyor sections with CEMA standard construction. Air-supported and conventional roller sections can be mixed to accommodate loading zones, tracking idlers, belt scales or other needs. With its stable path, an air-supported conveyor can operate at a steeper incline than roller conveyors, which can reduce the overall length and installed cost.
Two belt feeders at the Newberry plant meter the material through rolling blade gates to deliver a consistent load to the conveyor and prevent the “starve and flood” conditions that can impede smooth operation. The material flows into ceramic-lined transfer chutes, also supplied by Martin Engineering, then onto the conveyor.
As the material enters the discharge tower, it passes over a belt scale and into a retractable dustless discharge chute, which extends down into the railcar opening. The discharge chute is installed on a positioner that delivers up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) of travel perpendicular to the tracks to accommodate various loading hatch arrangements. An insertable dust collector is installed at the head pulley to catch any material that becomes airborne.
“Fugitive material control was a critical element of this system,” Kerns added. “We needed to prevent the need for maintenance in the confined space location, but we also had environmental objectives. Alligators and other protected species inhabit this area, and we wanted to ensure that dust didn’t migrate from the process.”
Fig. 4: The air-supported conveyor design features a load zone
and carrying sections contained in a plenum that’s
pressurized by a 15 HP (11.2 kW) centrifugal fan
Results at Vulcan’s Newberry plant have been very positive, and the company reports virtually maintenance-free service from the air-supported system. “The product condition is excellent from the smooth handling,” Kerns concluded. “And with the fully-enclosed system, there is no contamination of the conveyed material or escape of fugitive dust.”
Vulcan Materials Company, based in Birmingham, AL, is the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates and a major producer of other construction materials, including asphalt, cement and ready-mixed concrete. The firm produces aggregates (primarily crushed stone, sand and gravel) that are used in nearly all forms of construction, particularly the large quantities of aggregates needed to build roads and commercial properties.
Martin® Air-Supported Conveyor Systems are employed around the world in applications on a variety of materials, including coal, cement/clinker, mining, biomass and grain. Founded in 1944, Martin Engineering is the world leader in making bulk materials handling cleaner, safer and more productive. The firm is headquartered in Neponset, IL, with global reach from operations in Brazil, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, India and the UK. For more information, visit www.martin-eng.comwww.martin eng.com or call (309) 852-2384. Global representatives for Martin Engineering can be found at www.martin-eng.com/rep-finderrep finder.
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© 2011 Martin Engineering Company. All rights reserved. Martin Engineering products are protected by U.S. Patents, corresponding foreign patents and patents pending.
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