Pneumatic Conveying FAQ

Pneumatic conveying selection begins with the bulk solid and the complete route. Pressure or vacuum describes how gas flow is created, while dense phase and dilute phase describe different material concentrations and conveying behaviour.

Define the material, transfer rate, route, elevation, bends, pickup and discharge conditions, operating schedule, utilities, filtration and control interfaces.

Testing is useful when material behaviour, stable conveying mode, degradation, wear or pressure loss cannot be predicted with sufficient confidence from existing evidence.

No. Lower velocity can reduce some damage mechanisms, but actual product behaviour depends on the material, equipment, route and operating conditions.

The budget should cover gas flow through straight pipe, bends and fittings, solids acceleration and elevation, the feed interface, and the receiver and filter. Check minimum, normal and maximum solids rates because the contributions change with solids loading and gas density. Pressure measurements at useful locations should show where the available difference is being consumed instead of relying only on the air-mover reading.

The feed device must introduce a stable solids rate while managing leakage across the pressure boundary. The receiver must accept peak solids and gas flow, its filter must remain within the intended differential-pressure range, and its discharge device must empty without upsetting vessel pressure or the downstream process. Source availability, destination capacity, level signals and valve positions should be coordinated as permissives in one operating sequence.

Trend pressure at useful locations together with gas flow where available, feeder output, filter differential pressure, receiver level and cycle time. These signals help separate insufficient gas, excessive feed, a restricted pickup, loaded filter, receiver problem or material buildup. Stop uncontrolled solids entry, place the system in its defined safe state and diagnose what remains in the pipe before recovery; repeated automatic retries can compact cohesive deposits or damage fragile product.

Use representative material to test minimum, normal and maximum rate, including the difficult condition identified during design. Record pressure, gas flow where available, feeder output, filter differential pressure, receiver behavior, cycle time and product condition. Include a planned stop and restart and relevant destination changes. Acceptance criteria should cover sustained capacity, stable operation, containment and product quality, with the healthy pressure and cycle signatures retained as the maintenance baseline.

Assess the actual material, gas, equipment and jurisdiction. For combustible dust, review ignition and electrostatic sources, frictional heating, connected vessels and propagation paths rather than treating the pipe in isolation. Define pressure monitoring, receiver air removal, level protection, safe isolation and the response to loss of power or a full destination. Any prevention, venting, suppression or isolation concept must be engineered for the documented dust properties and installed configuration.