An Introduction to Pneumatic Conveying

When walking through the grocery store and picking up a bag of flour or sugar, you’ve probably never thought about the process that it took to get these items packaged. The small particle size of these materials requires specialized handling to ensure there is minimal damage or loss, which is called pneumatic conveying.

A pneumatic conveying system works by moving the material through an enclosed conveyor line using a combination of pressure differential and the flow of air (or another gas) from a blower or fan. Pneumatic conveying systems can be used to transport cement, starch, sugar, salt, polymers, plastic powder, and other powdered/granular bulk materials. The two most common forms of pneumatic conveying systems are dilute phase and dense phase.
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Controlling Temperature in Paint Booth Heat Exchange Systems

Jaguar. Ford. Ferrari. Three iconic automakers with storied racing pedigrees that have made some of the fastest and most beautiful cars in the world, each draped in a coat of paint of their own signature color: British Racing Green, Ford’s Grabber Blue, and Ferrari’s Rosso Corsa.

Beyond providing a bit of personality and character, a car’s paint also serves a practical purpose: protecting the body, frame, and other components from the elements, preventing rust and corrosion from destroying the raw material underneath. The earliest paint jobs were done by craftsmen such as furniture makers and carriage builders who applied varnish primers and oil-based enamel paints by hand. These finishes were inky, with low opacity and coverage, requiring multiple coats and lengthy drying times. And even with all that work involved, the paint would soon become brittle and start chipping away. Continue reading “Controlling Temperature in Paint Booth Heat Exchange Systems”

Protecting Lunar Samples from Contamination

For as long as humanity has been looking up at the sky, we’ve wondered what lay beyond the ground beneath our feet. When the astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission took their first steps in 1969, the world saw a future filled with spaceships and rockets. We dreamed of a lack of gravity, fueled by grainy images on a TV and the words of Neil Armstrong: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” The Apollo 17 mission in 1972 was the last trip to the moon for several decades.

Lunar science has become a thriving field of study which helps to define our knowledge of the formation of the universe. The lunar rock and soil samples gathered by Apollo astronauts are still studied to this day. 

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Monitoring Center Pivot Irrigation Systems

You arrive at a large field, small sprouts peeking out of the soil. At the center of the field lies a structure connected to a span of pipe from which sprinklers hang. Trusses brace and support its weight. From the air, this field would appear to be a perfectly circular patch of green.

Center pivot irrigation systems are one of many ways to distribute water to crops. As its name suggests, this method involves rotating around a central pivot point. When the machine rotates, it releases water from the sprinklers and irrigates crops. (Agrivi.com) By using this system, farmers can ensure a uniform application of water across an entire field.  Continue reading “Monitoring Center Pivot Irrigation Systems”

The Operation of Gages and Switches in Hazardous Environments

In many industrial processes, the materials and the end product or by-products of the process, such as dust or vapors, can create conditions for a hazardous environment. Processes that have potential for hazardous environments include: water treatment, oil drilling, gas and chemical processing, power generation, pharmaceutical, and food manufacturing. The measurement and control of these processes are essential in maintaining optimal conditions of the manufacturing system and preventing catastrophic events.  Continue reading “The Operation of Gages and Switches in Hazardous Environments”