Ash Unloading Chutes-Silos-Design Practices

[pmover]

Typically, fly ash unloading chutes are installed or orientated in a manner to easily unload the fly ash from a silo. That is drive the truck or rail car in, lower the chute, activate the blower/filtration system, and then unload the fly ash. Unfortunately, there is a location in which a contractor installed ash unloading chutes that are offset from truck centerline and requires the truck to be maneuvered under the unloading chute - a rather haphazard operation due to a haphazard design and in a limited space.

My question is anyone familiar with any industry standards or practices for the design and/or installation of fly ash unloading systems? IF so, please advise of such standard. I doubt there is such a standard or practice, but I'd be willing to bet there is not another location in the world similar to this one.

Thanks.
-pmover

 

[rmw]

pmover,

Why don't you go to

http://www.unitedconveyor.com

and post the question to their bulletin board?

Assuming this is fly ash instead of bottom ash, that stuff flows like water when it gets aerated, so why couldn't you attach a hose or a pipe from the chute to the loading point on the trailer or train car and just pipe it over??

rmw

 

[ccfowler]

pmover,

It seems likely that all you need is an air slide. With flyash, they can function very well with relatively little inclination.

For such an application, consider the following cautions:

1- Be sure that the aeration air to the air slide is very dry to protect against the formation of ash accumulations.

2- If your application is in a humid location, then it would also be wise to install heaters to prevent any condensation in the ash flow path.

3- The ash gate should be located upstream from the low-inclination air slide to avoid a situation of large amounts of stagnant ash on the air slide.