Bulk material packaging system

National Bulk Equipment’s self-contained, high-volume bulk material packaging system processes up to 50,000 lbs./hr. of combustible materials of varied physical characteristics, including interlocking flakes and free-flowing, friable rods. Process operations include: material discharge from bulk bags; material introduction from belt flaker units; enclosed, vertical conveying; high-capacity bulk storage; material conditioning; and packaging into bulk bags. Integral to providing a reliable, consistent, high-volume material supply to the downstream bulk-bag packaging operation are three 1,060-cu.-ft. capacity storage vessels. Built to ANSI and ASME standards, each 12-ft. diameter vessel is constructed of 304 SS, and is internal pressure rated to 116psi. Material is supplied to each vessel from a 50-ft. tall bucket conveyor through a 3-way flange inlet that directs material to size reduction units, then into the storage vessel. Material is discharged from each storage vessel to the bulk-bag filling system using 12-in. cast SS rotary airlock valves rated to 150psi and 400ºF material contact.

National Bulk Equipment, Inc.; 616-399-2220; www.nbe-inc.com

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Wayne Labs has more than 30 years of editorial experience in industrial automation. He served as senior technical editor for I&CS/Control Solutions magazine for 18 years where he covered software, control system hardware and sensors/transmitters. Labs ran his own consulting business and contributed feature articles to Electronic Design, Control, Control Design, Industrial Networking and Food Engineering magazines. Before joining Food Engineering, he served as a senior technical editor for Omega Engineering Inc. Labs also worked in wireless systems and served as a field engineer for GE’s Mobile Communications Division and as a systems engineer for Bucks County Emergency Services. In addition to writing technical feature articles, Wayne covers FE’s Engineering R&D section.