Australian and International Manufacturing

You may be in charge of a food-processing facility, where high volumes of a particular product need to move from one point to another on a continuous basis. If so, then you know that you need to keep up with demand and make sure that the process is not interrupted. Your facility may rely on moving the material between silos or other storage devices, and from time to time, conditions may develop inside that can slow down your productivity. As this is the nature of the operation given the consistency of the material in question, you know that you need to put in place measures to deal with these blockages as and when they happen. Yet one size does not fit all in this situation, as you have to be prepared for different types of blockage. What do you need to be aware of?

Being Prepared

Many different factors can contribute to an internal blockage, and it's not always easy to predict how this will unfold. For example, the flow rate may be inconsistent or moisture levels may fluctuate, and sometimes these conditions combine to create an unpredictable situation. This is why you need a mechanical device like an air cannon, so long as it is correctly set up and able to deal with changing variables.

Problems Encountered

Occasionally, these materials will accumulate in one spot and rapidly congeal together to form a blockage that can quickly cover the full width of the vessel. It doesn't take long for productivity to grind to a halt in this situation, as the blockage will "bridge" the gap. In this case, you should instruct the cannon to blast air across the full width of the vessel to restart proceedings.

Sometimes, the material will tend to gather around the internal circumference of the silo instead and rapidly build. This will continue to narrow the gap and can lead to the development of a vacuum. Once again, productivity is affected until you activate the cannon, but in this case, you will need to force the air in a very precise direction. You may also need consistent, high-pressure blasts in order to get rid of this type of blockage, often known as a "rat hole."

Flexibility Needed

Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to predict the type of blockage, and you must make sure that your cannon is configured to deal with every eventuality. This is why you need a multivalve version that can be triggered into action to deal with a blockage in any location and with any type of consistency. Your industrial supplier will be best placed to advise you and to help you choose the type of machine for your facility.