Bucket Elevator Research Articles

Aspects of explosion risk assessment in the case of bucket elevators

Many of the technological processes that take place in the installations in which cereal products are transported and / or stored, involve the existence of combustible dusts. These dusts may be suspended in the air, or in the form of accumulations in layers or deposits of dust of various thicknesses, and may lead to fires, explosions or catalytic decomposition in the presence of oxygen. If the combustible dusts are swirling in the air in appropriate proportions and an effective source of ignition is present, they can burn rapidly and with considerable explosive force. Given that most of the time, as a result of an explosion of combustible dust, the resulting damage is generally greater than that caused by an explosion of flammable gases, it is necessary to pay special attention to the way in which they are taken. and implemented measures to protect and prevent explosions of combustible dust. This paper highlights the principles and main factors that must be taken into account when conducting an explosion risk assessment for a bucket elevator carrying grain products, in order to establish and implement the necessary prevention and protection measures to ensure a minimum level. acceptable risk.

Production Capacity Requirements Planning Using The Capacity Method Requirement Planning

PT. ABC is a company engaged in the manufacture of Dolomite Fertilizer. The number of requests is greater than the amount of production. Due to fluctuations in the number of requests that tend to increase, this occurs due to a lack of capacity at the workstation. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate the capacity requirements planning analysis for each work station to know the company's capacity needs. The research aims to identify the shortage/excess production capacity and provide proposals for the balance of production capacity at PT. A B C. Production capacity research was conducted using the Capacity Requirement Planning (CRP) method. Results and Discussion, comparison of available capacity and required capacity (load) are as follows, work station jaw crusher available capacity 36.74 hours/week while required capacity (load) 36 hours/week, work station bucket elevator available capacity 36, 74 hours/week while the required capacity (load) is 14.4 hours/week, work station ball mill available capacity is 36.74 hours/week while the required capacity (load) is 45.6 hours/week, and work station silo flour the available capacity is 36.74 hours/week while the required capacity (load) is 51.59 hours/week. In conclusion, two stations experience excess capacity, namely the jaw crusher work station with an excess capacity of 0.74 hours/week and the bucket elevator work station with an excess capacity of 22.34 hours/week. The other two work stations experienced a lack of capacity, namely the ball mill work station with a capacity shortage of 22.34 hours/week and the silo flour work station with a capacity shortage of 14.85 hours/week. Efforts to balance capacity by scheduling overtime and adding equipment (machinery) to work centers that lack capacity, so that the company's production targets are achieved.

Analisis Kerusakan Bucket Elevator M-145 Dengan Metode Fishbone Diagram

Machine failure on the M-145 bucket elevator contributed to downtime in January 2021, as much as 605 minutes or 6.75 hours, starting from January 17-20 2021 with a total of 17 production downtimes. The purpose of this study was to analyze the damage to the M145 elevator to determine the root cause of the damage and in this study used the fishbone diagram method. From the results of research conducted there was damage to the M145 elevator that the cause of the overflow was due to the peeling of the rubber coating on the top pulley of the upper motor pulley so that the belt became loose and caused friction on the conveyor belt, the tightness of the conveyor belt which was rarely checked, from the beginning of the construction of the bucket which caused the material to be indirect. lifted to the top but first stirred at the bottom so that it inhibits the speed of the bucket elevator. In preventing overflow damage on the M145 elevator machine by repairing or replacing the top pulley with a new pulley or repair by providing a good pulley rubber coating, as well as changing the direction of the elevator inlet so that the bucket is no longer stuck with raw materials

MANAGEMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT OF THE INDUSTRY BASED ON THE SMART SYSTEM

High productivity and power of technological and transport mechanisms, large capacity and number of storage equipment, a variety of types of grain crops simultaneously processed at the elevator require the operator to make a lightning-fast decision, the optimal choice of grain transportation routes.One of the first control systems consisted of huge energy-intensive cabinets with starting equipment, allowing remote control of equipment, without the functions of elementary control of their operation.As storage volumes increased, these systems were supplemented with relay cabinets, whose task was to conduct interlocked control of an ever-increasing number of mechanisms, so that at least somehow it was possible to control such a complex. These relay cabinets had a low degree of reliability (contact elements), consumed a large amount of energy, and required the constant presence of large maintenance personnel.The era of microelectronics has come, which completely changed the idea of the capabilities of control systems. At first, it seemed very expensive and not a quick payback. But every year, the cost of automation equipment is decreasing, reliability has grown to high levels and this technique has come to the management systems of grain storages and elevators.Modern automation at the majority of Ukrainian elevators makes it possible to control technological processes. At the same time, many processes are regulated in a mode that requires a sufficiently high qualification of service personnel. The exchange of data on the operation of SMART-INDIVIDUAL equipment is carried out by logical controllers by polling sensors, generating control actions, monitoring equipment operating modes with display in the WEB-interface system. The SMART-INDIVIDUAL system has undeniable advantages over existing centralized control and management systems. SMART technology is inextricably linked with the dispatch control and data collection system - SCADA, designed to monitor and supervise a large number of remote objects or one geographically distributed object. The SMART-INDIVIDUAL system is equipped with a module with a regulation for monitoring parameters, equipment according to the passport characteristics. At the same time, the system maintains an archive and controls the timing of maintenance. The laboratory installation SMART-INDIVIDUAL includes technological and transport equipment, which is most used in the elevator industry: air filter ZEO-FCS, bucket elevator ZEO-BE, scraper chain conveyor ZEO-DC. On the basis of the SMART-INDIVIDUAL software and hardware complex at the Department of Technological Equipment for Grain Production of the Odessa National Academy of Food Technologies, students are trained in the new specialty "IT service of equipment".

Evaluating the distribution of African swine fever virus within a feed mill environment following manufacture of inoculated feed

It is critical to understand the role feed manufacturing may have regarding potential African swine fever virus (ASFV) transmission, especially given the evidence that feed and/or ingredients may be potential vectors. The objective of the study was to evaluate the distribution of ASFV in a feed mill following manufacture of contaminated feed. To accomplish this, a pilot-scale feed mill consisting of a mixer, bucket elevator, and spouting was constructed in a BSL-3Ag facility. First, a batch of ASFV-free feed was manufactured, followed by a batch of feed that had an ASFV-contaminated ingredient added to feed, which was then mixed and discharged from the equipment. Subsequently, four additional ASFV-free batches of feed were manufactured using the same equipment. Environmental swabs from 18 locations within the BSL-3Ag room were collected after each batch of feed was discharged. The locations of the swabs were categorized into four zones: 1) feed contact surface, 2) non-feed contact surface < 1 meter away from feed, 3) non-feed contact surface > 1 meter from feed, and 4) transient surfaces. Environmental swabs were analyzed using a qPCR specific for the ASFV p72 gene and reported as genomic copy number (CN)/mL of environmental swab processing buffer. Genomic copies were transformed with a log10 function for statistical analysis. There was no evidence of a zone × batch interaction for log10 genomic CN/mL (P = 0.625) or cycle threshold (Ct) value (P = 0.608). Sampling zone impacted the log10 p72 genomic CN/mL (P < 0.0001) and Ct values (P < 0.0001), with a greater amount of viral genome detected on transient surfaces compared to other surfaces (P < 0.05). This study illustrates that once ASFV enters the feed mill environment it becomes widespread and movement of people can significantly contribute to the spread of ASFV in a feed mill environment.

Design and Fabrication of Bucket Elevator

Bucket elevators are mostly used as transporting method for many industries. Selecting this method commonly depends upon material to be transported, its weight, height, matter. Usefulness of this system totally depends upon type of material to be transporting. This system comes under material handling equipment. In this paper practical application of bucket elevator is considered, where belt drive operated elevator is analysed.

INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF GRAIN COOLING AFTER DRYING AND HEAT TREATMENT

One of the main requirements for grain dryers is the need for high-quality cooling of grain material after drying. Today, the most widespread are grain coolers built into grain dryers. As the practice of operation has shown, the most widespread in agriculture mine grain dryers with their cooling zones are ineffective: the temperature of the grain after cooling often exceeds the ambient air temperature by 15-30 0C, which is unacceptable. Devices with boxes have such disadvantages as uneven distribution air in the volume of grain mass and the corresponding uneven temperature field of the cooling air, limited opportunities for intensifying heat transfer during grain cooling. More promising for agricultural grain dryers are external coolers, which are installed separately from the dryer and can operate in an independent mode, which has a number of advantages: the quality of cooling improves, the productivity of existing grain dryers increases due to the use of the cooling part as a dryer. The main disadvantages of using the existing external column coolers: the need for an additional vehicle - a bucket elevator for reloading grain from the dryer to the column; vertical arrangement, it is necessary to use transporting means for grain for feeding to a considerable height. But if a pneumatic transport loader with a pulsating air flow is used as a vehicle, then the efficiency of the coolers can be increased due to the removal of a part of the heat accumulated by the grain by the transporting air flow. The paper proposes an analytical rationale for increasing the efficiency of coolers with pneumatic transport in a pulsating air flow.

STRESS ANALYSIS AND TOPOLOGY OPTIMIZATION OF A CHAIN BUCKET ELEVATOR USING ANSYS

A failure of conveyor chain links in a production process can cause unscheduled shutdowns, which increase the throughput time coupled with damaged buckets and chain links, which increase maintenance and repair costs. Since failures of conveyor chains are inevitable, this research aims to modify the design of the chain bucket elevator by incorporating a ratchet mechanism, which will prevent the chain bucket assembly from dropping to the bottom of the chain bucket elevator whenever there is a chain-link failure and also avoid the jamming of the bucket chain assembly against one another when dropping to the bottom of the elevator during failure. The number of damaged buckets and chains will be minimal, thereby reducing the maintenance and repair costs. Also, the time required for replacing the failed chain link will be reduced, which in turn, will reduce the down-time, thereby increasing the production rate. The ratchet mechanism, which can withstand a maximum load of 38.10 kN, comprises a toothed wheel, a pawl, and a spring. An analytical method was employed for the initial analysis and the results were verified using the FEM. Topology Optimization was carried out on the beam and lever with results showing a 20% and 26% weight reduction from the original, respectively. The stresses induced in the beam and lever increased significantly by 36% and 47 %, respectively, because of the optimization, however, they remained within the acceptable limits.

Failure Analysis of a Bucket Elevator Shaft

Present work investigates the in-service break down of a bucket elevator in a chemical processing plant. The elevator was used for lifting bulk Di-Ammonium Phosphate and broke down due to premature failure of a shaft made of EN19 steel. The investigation comprises a detailed metallurgical failure analysis involving site visit, visual inspection, fractography, and metallography. The investigation reveals that, about 2 years prior to the failure, the shaft was tack-welded to the sprocket hub and a gib-head key near the keyway to avoid the frequent loosening of the key. The inspection during the site visit confirms that the shaft-sprocket assembly was subjected to in-service jerky loading condition along with uneven stress distribution due to misaligned counterweight. The investigation concludes that a crack was initiated in the shaft at the heat affected zone of the tack-welded spot, propagated transversely by fatigue due to in-service cyclic loading, and terminated catastrophically by a brittle fracture during the service. Tack welding, coupled with uneven stress distribution in the shaft due to misaligned counterweight system, is adjudged the root cause of this failure. Suitable remedial measures are suggested to avoid such a failure in the future.

Improving the Reliability of the Scraper-Bunker Peat Harvester

Cases of failures of peat scraper-bunker harvesting machines are analyzed. It has been proven, that the main cause of failures is the stumpiness of the peat deposit. When interacting with the stump, there is a sharp increase in the load on all elements of the transmission of the machine, which leads to their temporary exit from the working state. The first element, that the stump encounters is the machine's elevator bucket. As a result of interaction, the bucket gets damaged in the form of ruptures, incipient and developed cracks. Proposals are formulated to increase the reliability of the scraperbunker peat harvester by installing a simple tracking device at work of the bucket elevator and improving the design of the elevator bucket itself. It is noted, that due to the initiation and development of cracks in the zone of welded seams, buckets must be subjected to flaw detection at least once a year, during pre-season maintenance.

Paddy Straw Pelletization with other Feedstuffs and its In Vitro Evaluation as Livestock Feed

This study was taken up to pelletize paddy straw with other feedstuffs and to assess up to what extent paddy straw can be incorporated in such pellets and their nutritional evaluation by in vitro gas production technique. The sundried paddy straw and alfalfa hay were ground in a hammer mill and lifted in a bucket elevator to the mixer where these feedstuffs were mixed with rice bran and molasses and pellets were prepared in pellet mill fitted with 8mm stationary die. Pellets containing paddy straw up to 90% were prepared successfully, but beyond 60% paddy straw there was excessive load on the machine and supporting motor. Therefore, pellets containing paddy straw up to 60% were evaluated by in vitro gas production technique. With the increase in the level of paddy straw in pellets, the ash and ADF content increased linearly (P<0.01), while OM, CP, and EE contents decreased (P<0.01). The NDF, hemicellulose and cellulose contents remained similar up to 30% paddy straw in the pellets; thereafter these constituents increased (P<0.01) linearly. Compared to pellets without paddy straw (control), the total ash, NDF, ADF and cellulose content increased by 19.5, 29.5, 31.6 and 35.8% in pellets containing 60% paddy straw. The bulk density of paddy straw-based pellets varied between 560.33 to 655.35 kg/m3, and it increased with the increase in paddy straw level and was highest (P<0.01) in pellets containing 60% rice straw. The in vitro fermentation of pellets resulted in a linear decrease (P<0.01) in net gas production (NGP), true OM digestibility and availability of ME with the increase in the level of paddy straw in the pellets. However, the partitioning factor and ammonia concentration increased (P<0.01). The results revealed that total VFA production in control pellets was comparable to those containing paddy straw up to 30%, but decreased (P<0.05) in pellets containing paddy straw at 45 and 60% levels. The individual VFA production was not affected by the level of paddy straw, except that of acetate, which was depressed (P<0.05) in pellets containing more than 15% paddy straw. The microbial biomass synthesis decreased (P<0.05) with the increase in the level of paddy straw in pellets. The pellets containing 70, 80 or 90% paddy straw cannot be fed exclusively to any category of ruminants because of very low CP and EE content and do not meet the recommended levels of these nutrients in the complete feed of low yielders. It was concluded that paddy straw could be pelletized successfully; best results on net gas production, digestibility of nutrients, VFA production, microbial biomass production and ME were obtained in pellets containing paddy straw up to 30%.

Inclusion Modeling of Bucket Elevator Conveyor Chain Links

Inclusions, pores, and cracks which are defects in materials are important in determining the structural integrity and durability of components. Modeling accurately, these defects are hence of interest to both theorist and the practitioner. CAD models were designed using Autodesk Inventor software, and simulation was performed using ANSYS academic software. Material saving in design of conveyor chain links has gained popularity, and this has led to the introduction of necks in its geometry. However, the effect of necking on various parameters was not considered. Also, inclusions which are defects in material are known to have adverse effect on the conveyor chain link. It is, therefore, imperative to predict numerically, the effects that inclusions and necking have on conveyor chain links This paper focusses on modeling nonmetallic inclusions and also tests various models of different neck radii using the finite element method so as to predict its effect.

CHANGE OF STRESS CRACK IN CORN KERNEL DURING ITS PREPARATION FOR PROCESSING

The article presents the results of the study of the influence of stress crack in corn kernel on the change of its mechanical properties, namely, on the strength of kernel and its ability to grind during the technological process of preparation for processing. The research was conducted at the Dnipro Food Concentrates Plant. It is established that percentage of damage, i.e. grain impurities and foreign material (impurities), when receiving grain at the production elevator is within the norms of State standards of Ukraine (DSTU 4525:2006) – up to 7 % and not more than 1.0 %, respectively. But in the process of grain transportation this index is increasing. The maximum level of grain impurities (9.1 %) in corn grain can be observed before its preliminary cleaning on the separator BSH-100, then this indicator decreases significantly to 1.8 % in the cleaned grain, but then increases again in the technological process. Moreover, before sending grain into the degerminator the level totals 4.8 % - almost as much as when receiving grain from vehicles. One can say the same regarding the level of foreign material. Its minimum amount in the grain after pre-cleaning (0.5 %), and the maximum – at the end of the cleaning stage (7.4 %), which is much more than when receiving grain. The increase in the amount of broken grain (including that relating to impurities) in the technological process is accompanied by higher number of stress cracks in the corn kernel. During receiving, the studied grain has already had a high stress crack – 68 %. At the same time, there was more corn kernel with one crack (41 %). After transportation by a belt conveyor and the main high-performance bucket elevator, although the total stress crack increased not significantly – up to 75 %, but there were changes in the number of cracks: the number of kernels with one crack decreased to 22 %, but the number of kernels with many (three or more) cracks increased from 8 to 33 %, respectively. During further transportation and processing of corn kernel, the stress crack increased to a maximum value of 78 % (before separation on SAD-10-01), and then decreased to 72 % in the grain entering the degerminator. It is established that the decrease in corn kernel strength is influenced by both the total stress crack and its nature, i.e. the number of stress cracks in each kernel. The maximum required force for the corn kernel damage was observed exactly for grain entering the intake pit – 3.6 kg / 50 kernels. Here you can find more corn kernels stressed by only one crack (single) – 41 % or without cracks – 32 %. And the minimum effort – 3,0 kg / 50 kernels - for cleaned grain after conveyor and elevator No. 1, where the share of kernels with multiple stress crack (3 or more cracks) totaled 43 % (only 22 % of kernels were without cracks). A high inverse correlation of -0.84 was established between the number of stressed kernels with three or more cracks and the effort to break corn kernel. Based on research, it is recommended to use the index of stress crack in corn kernel to assess its quality when accepted for further processing, as this indicator is directly related to the yield of finished products. Key

Evaluating the Distribution of African Swine Fever Virus Within a Feed Mill Environment Following Manufacture of Inoculated Feed

With the global spread of African swine fever virus (ASFV) and evidence that feed and/or ingredients may be potential vectors for pathogen transmission, it is critical to understand the role the feed manufacturing industry may have in regard to potential distribution of this highly virulent virus. A pilot-scale feed mill consisting of a mixer, bucket elevator, and relevant spouting was constructed in the Biosafety Level-3 Ag animal room at the Biosecurity Research Institute at Kansas State University. A total of 18 different sites on the equipment and in the room were swabbed to evaluate environmental contamination before and after introduction of ASFV-inoculated feedstuff. First, a batch of feed was manufactured through the system to confirm the feed mill was ASFV negative; then a feedstuff inoculated with ASFV was added into the mixer and manufactured with other, non-infected ingredients. Ingredients were mixed and discharged through the bucket elevator. Subsequently, four additional ASFV-free batches of feed were manufactured. Environmental swabs were collected after each batch of feed was discharged with locations categorized into four zones: A) feed contact surface, B) non-feed contact surface but < 3.2 feet away from feed, C) non-feed contact surface > 3.2 feet from feed, and D) transient surfaces such as worker shoes. Environmental swabs were analyzed using qPCR analysis for the P72 ASFV gene in a BSL-3 laboratory setting to detect ASFV-specific DNA. Environmental swabs collected prior to ASFV inoculation of feed were negative for ASFV DNA. Environmental swabs collected after the manufacture of ASFV-inoculated feed resulted in contamination of zones A-D. Contamination levels with ASFV-DNA are reported as Ct value or genomic copy number (CN) per mL. In this setup, there was no evidence of sampling zone × batch interaction and no difference in the proportion of ASFV positive reactions between sampling location or batch of feed throughout the experiment. This indicates that once ASFV contamination entered the facility, the contamination quickly becomes widespread and persists on the environmental surfaces, even during manufacturing of subsequent batches of ASFV non-inoculated feed. Samples from transient surfaces (Zone D) had more detectable ASFV (a lower Ct value) compared to all other surfaces (P < 0.05), indicating high level of ASFV contamination (high CN values). Samples collected after manufacturing sequence 3 had less detectable ASFV (a greater Ct value) compared to samples collected immediately following manufacture of the ASFV-inoculated batch of feed (P < 0.05), indicating lower levels of ASFV

The relationship of power speed and bucket elevator capacity to the slope angle of the bucket at the palm oil mill

The bucket elevator is material transfer equipment which function is essential in the process of processing fresh fruit bunches into palm oil, the value of effectiveness and economics is the basis for designing equipment in a factory, and bucket elevators have a certain angle. This study aims to analyze the motor power, bucket speed, and damping capacity with varying slope angle. The analysis is done by making an angle of 30,45,60,80, and 90 degrees, with as the angular variation was analyzed. Theoretically, the result shows that at the slope of 30 degrees power of the motor is 3.2 kW. The bucket speed at 6.7 m/s the damping capacity 0.00062 m3, bucket speed of 4.6 m/s damping capacity 0.00088 m3, at the slope of 60 degrees motor power 5.7 kW. The bucket speed of 3.8 m/s damping capacity 0.00106 m3 at the slope of 80 degrees motor power 7.04 kW, bucket speed of 3.1 m/s damping capacity 0.00128 m3, at the slope of 90 degrees motor power 4.9 kW, bucket speed of 4.5 m/s damping capacity 0.00098 m3. The results above and analysis shows that the slope of the bucket angle on the elevator affects motor power bucket speed and damping capacity.

Development and Testing of a Power Tiller Operated Single Row Potato Planter with Bucket Elevator type Metering Mechanism

A study was undertaken for the design and development of a power tiller operated singlerow potato planter with bucket elevator type metering mechanism. The potato planter consisted of seed hopper, bucket elevator type metering mechanism, seed pipe, furrow opener, plate type ridge former, depth control wheels, ground drive wheel, and chain drive for power transmission to the bucket elevator mechanism. Two depth control wheels were provided for maintaining an optimum depth of sowing. The developed machine performed satisfactorily for sowing potato seeds with a mean seed spacing of 173 mm at a depth of 222 mm from the ridge top surface. The mean ridge height and width was 122 mm and 360 mm, respectively. The field capacity (fc) and field efficiency (fe) of the machine was 0.074 ha.h-1 and 65 %, respectively. Fuel consumption of the driving power tiller (9.7 kW) was 0.84 l.h-1 (11.39 l.ha-1) during field operation. The operational cost of machine planting with the potato planter was ` 2,307 per ha as against ` 16,500 per ha for manual planting using spade; thereby providing a saving of 86 % in planting cost.

Development and Testing of a Power Tiller Operated Single Row Potato Planter with Bucket Elevator type Metering Mechanism

A study was undertaken for the design and development of a power tiller operated singlerow potato planter with bucket elevator type metering mechanism. The potato planter consisted of seed hopper, bucket elevator type metering mechanism, seed pipe, furrow opener, plate type ridge former, depth control wheels, ground drive wheel, and chain drive for power transmission to the bucket elevator mechanism. Two depth control wheels were provided for maintaining an optimum depth of sowing. The developed machine performed satisfactorily for sowing potato seeds with a mean seed spacing of 173 mm at a depth of 222 mm from the ridge top surface. The mean ridge height and width was 122 mm and 360 mm, respectively. The field capacity (fc) and field efficiency (fe) of the machine was 0.074 ha.h-1 and 65 %, respectively. Fuel consumption of the driving power tiller (9.7 kW) was 0.84 l.h-1 (11.39 l.ha-1) during field operation. The operational cost of machine planting with the potato planter was ` 2,307 per ha as against ` 16,500 per ha for manual planting using spade; thereby providing a saving of 86 % in planting cost.

Analyzing Interaction between Seeds and Pre-Seeding Treatment Machines of Cyclic Action*

Damage and destruction of seeds by working parts of agricultural machinery affects the quality of future harvest. Presowing treatment of seeds is carried out, as a rule, with machines of periodic cyclic action. ( Research purpose ) To determine the degree of damage caused to seeds during pre-sowing treatment with chemical and biological dressing agents in cyclic machines, to analyze the interaction processes between seeds and working parts of pre-sowing treatment machines of cyclic action. ( Materials and methods ) The authors examined possible options of sequencing the interaction between working parts of machines and seeds and determined the shock mechanical impact on seeds made by working parts. Basing on research results obtained by other scientists as well as a wide range of theoretical and experimental studies and the best available practices, the authors have made a comparative analysis of the existing technological solutions. ( Results and discussion ) The authors have examined the effect of working parts on the degree of damage caused to seeds at various stages of pre-sowing treatment: while loading, mixing, and unloading. ( Conclusions ) The most sparing technological process has been identified, including loading the drum with a bucket elevator and unloading the material into piles or elastic containers. In this case, damage caused to grain seeds will amount to 2.2-4.5 percent, and those of legumes – not more than 6 percent. It is recommended not to use auger loaders and paddle mixers when designing cyclic machines, since they cause severe damage to seeds, especially those of legumes, of up to 20-32 percent. The seed damage rate can be decreased due to the use of modern materials featuring high elasticity and capable of withstanding considerable stretching within the limits of elastic deformations.

Design, simulation and construction of a pellets transportation laboratory

The article presents how three scaled down industrial machinery models were designed and built as an educational tool to present the transport of particulate material. The literature review showed calculation models for equipment at industrial level, not for laboratory level. There were chosen the most representative means of commercial transport for particulate materials: a conveyor screw, a conveyor belt and a bucket elevator. These three machines were calculated and built in polycarbonate to allow visualization of their internal functioning. The three devices are controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC) and connected to each other by a SCADA network. The equipment is modular so as not to alter the order of operation, being able to obtain different work sequences. In addition, a man-machine graphic interface (HMI) was developed to supervise and to control the designed equipment. The results of particulate material mass flow obtained are approximately coincident with those estimated, validating the use of calculation models for much lower levels of work. Finally, it is emphasized that the system obtained is an environment for students to implement control techniques using the sensors and motors used in the designs.

MODIFIKASI BUCKET ELEVATOR 536 PADA PT X

In the production process at PT X, such as casting process, required raw material in the form of casting sand. The sand transport process is done by a machine called a Bucket Elevator. The current condition of Bucket Elevator at Plant 2 PT X had some problems on its design due to the initial modification process to the machine that were deliberately done in order to ease the process of troubleshooting and repair on the machine to adjust the height of the drum shaft supported by the bearing, however, the modification causes a sand leak that impacted the lifetime of the bearing. The damage that occurs to the bearing of the Bucket Elevator can slow the production process at PT X down, which lasts between 120 hours to 134 hours per week. Therefore, it is necessary to modify the design of the Bucket Elevator machine in order to stop the sand leakage and be able to work optimally. The design modifications made, are changes to the shaft height adjusting mechanism of the Bucket Elevator 536 drum machine by providing a lock to minimize the leakage of sand that occurs and replace the bearing type to the type that is equipped with a seal to prevent the entry of sand into the bearings. The result of this modification can extend the lifetime bearing, thereby reducing production costs due to bearing replacement, and easing the troubleshooting and repairing process of the engine to adjust the height of the drum shaft supported by the bearings.