Ice Conveying

[Gertech1]

We need to convey ice cubes at a rate of 30 t/hr over a distance of 100 m. We plan to use a pneumatic conveying system - dilute phase. Two types of blowers can be used - centrifugal blower (cheaper) or a rotary positive displacement blower. Is there any specific reason why we should prefer the rotary positive displacement blower ? Take cost of pipes out of the equation.

 

[unclesyd]

I see no reason for the positive displacement blower. All the blowers I’ve seen used with blowing ice were centrifugal, probably the cheapest available. The ones I’m quite familiar with were used conveying ice to fishing vessels and to the trucks hauling the fish. The longest hose they had was in the range of 150 feet from the crushers. They started with crushing 300# blocks and now it’s primarily flake ice. At this distance there was still plenty of energy left in the ice stream as it would easily blow 60' feet to the end of a trailer and whip the man handling the hose. 180,000 #/hr was no problem. I don’t know the currently used prime movers. Until the mid eighties the most common power was 60 hp (on a good day) flathead V-8 Ford gas engines.
Once you get ice moving you would be hard pressed to find a better material for conveying. You can’t beat wet ice for a low friction coefficient. At one time wet ice was the gold standard.
One thing to remember is tough it conveys easily don’t choke the discharge, you will have the best plug ever made. All piping and hose were 6". All edges were made to face the down stream side. Also depending on the ice geometry watch your feed arraignment.

Good Luck in your endeavor