Posts: 3
From:Eastman, Georgia, USA
Registered: Oct 2005

posted October 05, 2005 03:17 PM            

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Hello,, Newbie here with a question about virgin material,We are having a problem with our virgin material (Polyethylene Resin) coming into the plant loaded off boxcars and trucks via,a vacuum / blower system, where in the system becomes clogged with log string like material, appearing to come from the supplier out of the boxcar or truck.You cannot really see anything in the virgin material,, because of the pure mass of material would take hours to dig through in search of problems.. When contacted about this problem the supplier of course denies their material is contaminated with these long strands. In turn saying our blower system is in fact creating the strands of plastic due to excessive velocity and distance of travel.
Now,, in the system over every entrance to a silo or holding tank there is a cyclone in place to slow the material down this is a primary area for these long strands to gather and stop up the system. But we get it all the way down to the floor in the way feeders and the mixing unit also.. But we blow our regrind also,, and never have this problem on the regrind side. Has anyone had similar problems or occurances like this blowing material? Is it possible for a delivery system to actually create this problem by just moving product from one point to another,, in no distance greater than 200ft.?
Thank you so much...

[This message has been edited by Stokes (edited October 05, 2005).]

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Posts: 621
From:Brodheadsville, PA USA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted October 05, 2005 09:09 PM               

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This is a very common problem caused by your air conveying system. High velocity problem as described. Try contacting the air conveying supplier for suggestions.

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Best Regards,

Tom Cunningham

Extrusion Technical Services

www.ExtrusionTechnicalServices.com

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Posts: 3
From:Eastman, Georgia, USA
Registered: Oct 2005

posted October 06, 2005 07:31 AM            

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Thanks Tom,

Would you know if there is anywhere this might possibly be documented on another site?
I'll need all the evidence I can get before I can take this to the Dept Heads, and get them to buy into the idea that our system is in fact causing the problem.

Thank You,

Dane

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Posts: 621
From:Brodheadsville, PA USA
Registered: Jun 2001

posted October 06, 2005 07:38 AM               

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Here is an article on the subject. There are many such articles on the internet.
http://pffc-online.com/mag/paper_pellet_transfer_preventative/

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Best Regards,

Tom Cunningham

Extrusion Technical Services

www.ExtrusionTechnicalServices.com

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Posts: 1
From:Canada
Registered: Sep 2005

posted October 14, 2005 10:12 AM               

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We get the exact same problem in our plant with stringers from polyethylene and PVC. It comes from blowing in the compound too fast and is difficult to correct. Our conveying system has never plugged but the strings clog the exit chutes of our gravimetric loaders. We clean them and run for another 6 months.

Hope this helps in your cause.

Jason VanDrunen

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