Dear hochendro,

If the sand is really dry and free flowing, the pneumatic conveying part of this project does not seem to be a problem.

If a pressure system is chosen, the feeding could be a technological problem and in case of a vacuum system, the receiving part of the installation could be the technological problem.

The high abrasiveness of sand is an extra problem to master. (rubber or rubber lined equipment ?)

Maybe beltconveyor(s) and a bucket elevator is a better option.

The required rate (tons/hr) also influences the decision, as well as other considerations

How far are you in your evaluation ?

best regards ■

No problem at all. You can/should also check this with the tanker manufacturer. ■

This is quite a common conveying duty in glass manufacturing plants. Erosive wear is a problem, however, and any normal steel bends in the pipeline will probably wear out before the tanker is off-loaded, but there are plenty of solutions. Contact Prof Mark Jones in the Centre for Bulk Solids and Particulate Technologies at the University of Newcastle, NSW. ■

It took me 30 minutes to tip 25 tonnes. More correctly it took the blower about 25 minutes to punch the stuff into the bin & me the other 5 minutes to connect the hose onto the line.

Allow for reversing an artic combination, connecting the airline, returning to the cab to engage the PTO, charging the tank, opening the valves, tipping the tank if available, waiting for the hose to buck, closing the valves, disconnecting the hose, disengage the PTO, cleaning the hose, stowing the hose, fitting the caps, disconnecting the airline, releasing the trailer brake, venting the tank, breaking the manhole seal ...dear me I forgot to switch over the tachograph to other work & I could go to jail for that.

Now do you believe me. Tens of thousands of times a day it is done! If it wears out throw the thing away & buy another. ■

This is a simple silo loading situation. If you increase the length of silo inlet pipe off loading time increases and the increase will be dependent on length. Simple rule of them “if you increase the conveying length the solids rate decreases”. If you give some lenghts i am sure members will give you a rough off loading time estimate.

Cement tankers take an average of 27 min in a 4”pipeline with approx 450 m3/hr blower normally working at 1.8 – 1.9 barg. Sand will require higher exit velocities so don’t use the same blower.

Tanker type also plays an important role in off loading times. Tipping tankers off load faster then belly type tankers. As far as erosive wear is concerned as mentioned before use rubber hose try the ones used in quarry industries they work very well and shouldn’t be any problem. ■