Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1277345
21 www.spirofl ow.com 21 A huge variety of mechanical and pneumatic conveying equipment is available from bulk solids han- dling equipment suppliers, and this can make the prospect of choosing the right conveyor for your application a bit daunting. A good place to start is to consider these basic selection factors: • Your material's characteristics: Consider whether your material is dry or moist, extremely hot or cold, hygroscopic, abrasive, likely to segregate, or has other prop- erties that limit which conveying methods can reliably handle it. • The conveyor's required func- tion and performance. Will your conveyor require multiple inlets or outlets? Must it elevate mate- rial or move it through multiple planes? Must the conveyor pro- vide a variable conveying rate? Will it need to provide gentle handling? Must the conveyor be enclosed to contain dust or prevent material contamination, and will it require a dust collec- tion system? • The conveyor's operating fea- tures. Can the conveyor handle your required conveying dis- tance? Can it handle your re- quired conveying volume? Does the conveyor have high installa- tion costs? Can it be installed in your existing operation? • The conveyor's required service life. What is the projected dura- tion of the operation or process this conveyor will serve? Some conveyors are light-duty units suitable for intermittent or short- term operation, while others are heavy-duty machines designed for continuous long-term operation. Consider what service life your conveyor must provide to ensure that it can handle your application. • The conveyor's long-term ener- gy requirements. Consider how the conveyor's energy use will affect its operating costs over the long term. When you're selecting a conveyor, it's best to work with a supplier who offers several conveyor types. Such a supplier has the experience to satisfy your conveying performance needs and to ensure that the conveyor you select will withstand your process's duty level through- out the life of the process. This supplier can offer conveyor selection advice based on which unit can not only successfully handle your material but provide the best combination of low purchase price, low operating cost, and high effi ciency. Ideally, the supplier will also have a test lab with conveyors of various types to help you determine which conveyor can best handle your material and operating condi- tions. Ask the supplier for references to check whether previous custom- ers with applications like yours are satisfi ed with the conveyors they've purchased. Finally, make sure that your supplier provides assurances that the con- veyor will successfully transfer your material and perform reliably and cost-effectively for the long run. SOME ADVICE What to consider when selecting a conveyor