Flow-on effect
4 Apr 2014
Measuring the factors that affect a powder’s formulation is crucial, says Robert McGregor of Brookfield Engineering.
It is little wonder that plant managers appreciate powders that don’t have flow problems.
The consequences of using powders that do behave erratically can include equipment downtime, lost production, added cost to operations, and sometimes injury to technicians charged with dislodging powder jams.
So if a specific powder does flow well, shouldn’t that provide R&D with the recipe to make other powders the same way?
Unfortunately, there are many variables that affect a powder’s formulation. Consequently, the flow behaviour cannot be guaranteed from formulation alone.
One scientific method that is gaining popularity among industrial plant managers employs the use of a shear cell to test powder-flow behaviour during gravity discharge from bins with converging hoppers.
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