The base fluff, resin, pelletized, pastille, and granule polymer forms are all susceptible to flow problems. These may include blocking, sticking, erratic flow, inconsistent discharge, poor mixing and lack of first-in, first-out flow, as well as inadequate devolatilization (purging), tempering, catalyst deactivation, heating, drying, and cooling.

In addition to resolving flow problems, we enable our clients to achieve the following goals:

• Improved polymer tailoring to application (customer focus)
• Tighter specs on polymer properties through more rapid and reliable product change-overs (six-sigma)
• Smaller, more frequent batches (JIT)
• Reduced work-in-process and finished goods inventories (lean production)
• Tighter monitoring, tracking, and control of process variables (process automation)
• Elimination of low value-adding steps (efficiency optimization)
• Reduced operating and capital costs (margin realization)
• Debottleneck existing process limitations (level lined)

All of these areas are impacted by poor solids flow behavior as a result of the combination of incompatible solids flow properties and equipment design details.

Whatever the problem is, we can apply our industry-leading technology and years of experience to avoid process upsets due to mishandling of materials that are prone to arching, ratholing, flooding, or segregation .

KEY ENGINEERING SERVICES

• Plant visit for troubleshooting and process auditing
• Flow properties testing of bulk solids
• Pneumatic conveying testing and system design
• Functional design of silos, hoppers, chutes and feeders
  • Stripping/purge/degassing/drying vessels
  • Conveyors: screw, belt, pneumatic, bucket, aeromechanical
  • Gas-solids separators: dust collectors, elutriators, cyclones, bag filters
• Physical modeling of handling operation
• Structural engineering for silos and hoppers
• Detailed design engineering

If your plastics plant is currently experiencing flow problems or is planning for a new plant or production line, contact Jenike & Johanson to help you prevent and solve handling problems.