Dust control for free flowing materials
A vital addition for Ports, Grain processing or Mineral and Chemical industries where dust control is an important part of materials handling is the patented dust suppression hopper now available from T H WHITE Projects.
A major challenge in the commercial handling of powdery, granular or other free-flowing materials has always been dust control. Depending on the material being handled, dust may not just be unpleasant and unsightly – it can cause health issues, environmental hazards and even the risk of explosion.
Many processing, storage and handling plants may think they have little choice other than to try and cope with a dust-polluted atmosphere, but this Dust Suppression Hopper solution distributed throughout England and Wales by T H WHITE virtually eliminates dust during transfer processes. Manufactured in New Zealand by DSH Systems Ltd, the Dust Suppression Hopper is an easily-installed loading spout, designed to be mounted immediately beneath an existing feed point. It’s ideal for use where free-flowing products need to be packed, bagged, or loaded into ships, railway wagons, trucks, silos or storage bins.
Simple in design, yet highly effective, the dust suppression hopper funnels material through a restricted orifice and cone, causing it to adopt a swirl. As the material exits the nozzle a combination of surface tension, compression and the induced vortex holds it together in a tight, highly controlled stream which contains any dust within the column.
The standard version has no internal moving parts and requires no power – it is simply configured before use according to the type of material being dealt with.
Where several different types of material may need to be out-loaded from the same conveying system there is an advanced model featuring a computerised positional feed control.
Both models are available in a range of 10 sizes and can be made from standard polyethylene, or tougher materials including steel (mild steel, electro-galvanised, Corten or Hardox) where aggressive or abrasive materials are being handled. 304- grade stainless steel can also be specified for the handling of warm or abrasive materials, and 316-grade stainless steel for food grade handling and corrosive materials.
Inspired by the need for safer handling of fertilisers, the design of the dust suppression hopper has proved to be equally effective when handling most other free-flowing granular materials. Goods which are already being widely handled with success include cereals, sugar, salt, pet foods, sand, gravel, limes, minerals, pellets and chemical powders. Other dry goods can be trialled.
Applications for the dust suppression hopper are enormous. Across the grain processing industry its benefits can be applied at grain storage and handling installations including co-operatives, milling plants, maltings, breweries and distillers.
Mineral and chemical plants including mines, quarries and glass works can benefit from far tighter control of potentially hazardous materials. And at ports – where it’s important to control dust drift while loading ships or transferring goods between ships
and rail, road or storage facilities – the benefits are equally rewarding.
Containment of dust is a considerable benefit in providing a safer, healthier environment for the workforce, but it also minimises wastage and increases the yield of saleable product. Added to that it's likely to lead to savings in cleaning and maintenance – a fantastic pay-back for an initial small investment.