Alumina Carryback
It's a common problem in Alumina handling. We have supplied our motorised rotary belt cleaning brush with spiral wrapped bristles. Its best used in conjuction with a primary cleaner. The brush will handle the static charge of the alumina and its also effective if the belt is cracked or "crazed". The spiral wrap has a scrubbing effect across the belt. Hope this helps.
Neil Kinder
Kinder and Co.
Victoria , Australia
www.kinder.com.au ■
Re: Alumina Powder Sticking To Belt
Mr. Pillay:
As Neil has advised, a spiral rotary brush is generally effective when used with a primary full face polyurethane blade scraper (this needs to have an automatic tensioner).
An alternate is to use a wash box after the primary scraper. Wash boxes typically use two scraper sets with a water spray before each scraper. The down side of the wash box is that you must deal with the slurry that is created. This may, or may not, be a problem for you.
Regards, ■
Cleaning Belts
Hi Jesse,
I don't think that there is a simple solution because this problem seems endemic on many belt conveying applications, more so with damp products, but also the case with fine powders. Spiral brushes will be able to knock off much of the loose dust but then it is a question of whether this can be collected or allowed to fall in the vicinity. I suppose that it eventually comes down to how much should be spent on recovering a small amount and having a clean plant. Sorry that I cannot be of more help.
It crossed my mind that there may be merit in looking at how the belt is loaded and the pre-handling arrangement to minimise product dilation and generation of static. Whilst most engineers regard each step in a handling system as an independent situation and tend to be pretty liberal with the use of air to promote flow, rather than exploiting technology with the flow channel geometry, there is always a balance to be achieved between de-aerating to minimise dust and attaining an over-loose condition of the bulk to ensure the easy flowability of the bulk material. In general the best approach should be to consider accumulative behaviour of the bulk material in the total handling system and seek to secure optimum 'state' control of the powder condition through the flow route, as the behaviour of a bulk material at any point is always dependent upon its prior handling history as well as the circumstances applying at the time. ■
Re: Alumina Powder Sticking To Belt
Goodday Jesse!
The solution to your problem may not be as simple as you've thought.
Material carry back is common problem especially when it comes to damp, and adhesive materials. Unfortunately, it is also quite common that most belt users are not able to solve this problem effectively.
The most common solution many users take is to install appropriate cleaners. The effectiveness of cleaners may be improved by using the suitable type of conveyor belt. Many belt manufacturers today do produce anti-adhesion belts, which prevent material from adhering onto the belt surface when the belt turnt to return run.
Of course, some detail studies may be needed to justify the usage of such conveyor belts. More information can be obtained from the respective belt manufacturers such as Bridgestone(Stick free), GoodYear, and Contitech (Conti-clean).
Hope this helps
Cheers,
Albert ■
Re: Alumina Powder Sticking To Belt
Please contact Hannes Kotze at Scorpio Conveyor Products. Thay are loacted in Witbank South Africa. Phone 27-13-697-5051. Ha may have a solution. ■
Re: Alumina Powder Sticking To Belt
We've had great success with our scraper at 6 o'clock at the head pulley.
www.sterlingbeltcleaners.com ■
Almuna Handling
Dear sir
It is very difficult to clean belt in case of almuna handling. You use closed conveyors like pipe conveyor, pouch conveyor
A R SINGH ■
Alumina Sticking To The Belt
Hi Jesse,
The problem with alumina sticking to the belt is due to the very dry powder setting up a static electric charge in the rubber of the conveyor belt. I have seen instances where the alumina actually flows over the blade of a scraper as a consequence.
The standard approach such that normal scapers have a chance is to specify that the conveyor belt you install has anti-static covers. This is not difficult for the belt manufacturers as all it requires is a different form of carbon black. It does however add significantly to the belt price.
We encountered exactly this problem with Comalco and they could not justify replacing the belt. We designed and built an air knife cleaning system with a mechanism to collect the dust that worked perfectly.It has no contact parts and is very low maintenance. It is reasonably expensive compared to normal scrapers however.
If you want further details or additional information or references please email me on colin.benjamin@gcsm.com.au
All the best
Col Benjamin
Gulf Conveyor Systems ■
Alumina powder sticking to belt
Hi,
I'm sure that this problem has a fairly simple solution.....but I can't seem to find it.
We import alumina for the BHP Billiton group here on the North Coast of KZN, South Africa.
At the moment, well I guess its always been here, the guys are having a dust problem. The problem arises out of the fact that the return side of the belt still has product on it. They have tried many combinations of scrappers, wrappers and brushes on the belt but to no avail. I think that the static forces are they culprit.
We now have a wrapper on the return side, just as the belt comes out the transfer chute. The amount of product collected there on the floor has got our attention now that it is all in on place and not spread out over the entire return side, mind you their is still alot of product that the wrappers are not taking off the belt.
Is the a solution out their for me?
Preferably an agent in South Africa, or maybe some good advice on a solution ?
thks ■