Page 37 - Plastics News October 2019

FEATURES

trap in-line with the system piping, or an angel-hair trap ‡ 8VH (QHUJ\ 6WDU FRPSRQHQWV WR UHGXFH RYHUDOO HQHUJ\
box below a bin or silo. In some cases, a combination consumption in a panel.
of the two (re-sheave and trap) is used to reduce the
formation of, and to collect, angel hair. ‡ 8WLOL]H GLVWULEXWHG FRQWURO SODWIRUPV WR UHGXFH
diagnostic/troubleshooting time.
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monitored with sensors, to control the velocity of the ‡ 3HUIRUP UHJXODU PDLQWHQDQFH FKHFNV RI VHQVRUV DQG
sensor function.
air and the material in the conveying line. This results
in reduced wear on piping and elbows. However, the ‡ $GG DGGLWLRQDO DODUPV WR VLJQDO QR ÀOO FRQGLWLRQV LQ
maintenance of the system as well as the controls a process and prevent system shutdowns.
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of each option to decide what is best for the operation. schedule routine service on equipment.
Keep it simple to avoid unnecessary complexity in
control and replacement maintenance by using a simple, ‡ $GG SUHGLFWLYH PDLQWHQDQFH FRQWUROV³VPDUW VHQVRUV
standard system that will perform just as well with good to identify when there are system faults or problems.
preventive-maintenance routines. ‡ $GG D ´6PDUWµ V\VWHP ZLWK EXLOW LQ GLDJQRVWLFV IRU

If conveying lines are running too hot, a good idea to monitoring of the system from a central location.
prevent material degradation is to use an in-line heat Industry 4.0 is a control technology that leverages the
exchanger to pre-cool the conveying air. This will reduce data of your plant to help you make better decisions.
conveying air temperatures and minimize material It is a focused SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data
degradation in the piping. Sharpening granulator knife Acquisition) system intended to minimize downtime and
blades and improving general granulator maintenance GHYHORS LQWXLWLYH DQG SUHGLFWLYH FRQWURO RI WKH SODQW ÁRRU
will reduce dusting issues in many central conveying The goal is to keep machines and plants up and running
systems. This simple preventive-maintenance task has a with minimum downtime using predictive diagnostics
huge impact on other parts of the entire process. through data collection and analysis of the input and
historical data trends throughout the plant. Although
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DQG FHQWUDO ÀOWHU HOHPHQWV )LQGLQJ ZD\V WR PLQLPL]H WKHUH DUH VRPH WHFKQRORJ\ SULFH DQG ÀUHZDOO VHFXULW\
WKLV ZLOO LPSURYH FRQYH\LQJ V\VWHP HIÀFLHQF\ DQG UHGXFH concerns, Industry 4.0 protocol continues to develop and
your energy usage. Install specialty wear components improve. Standardization of equipment connectivity is
DQG ZHDU ZUDSV WR SURWHFW DJDLQVW JODVV ÀOOHG PDWHULDO being developed for injection molding and extrusion.
damage. Compressed-air systems are often overlooked in a plant.
Pumps & Controls 7KH\ DUH XVHG WR RSHUDWH DLU F\OLQGHUV DQG SXOVHG ÀOWHU
cleaning in a conveying system. In some cases, the
Several types of vacuum pumps can be used for central compressed air is used for Venturi loaders for minor
conveying. Each type has advantages and disadvantages, ingredients or low-throughput conveying. A rule of thumb
depending on the use and application. Choose the right for compressed air is that it takes approximately one
pump for the application (see table). brake horsepower to produce four standard compressor
There have been many changes and improvements in cubic feet per minute at 80 psig/4 bar. If there are leaks
central conveying control technology in the last few in the system, then there is wasted energy and the
years. Most control panels are easy to use and utilize compressor has to work harder. Look for ways to optimize
“off-the-shelf” components. These panels are easy compressed-air pipe runs and run the compressed-air
to navigate and typically come equipped with color systems at lower pressures. Install air-leak alarms to
touchscreen navigation. Improvements often include identify sudden pressure losses. Identify teams to review
built-in troubleshooting diagnostics and product manual SLSLQJ DQG ÀQG V\VWHP DLU OHDNV RU WR VXJJHVW LPSURYHG
information. ways of running compressed-air lines to reduce overall
system pressure drop and load on the system. Depending
Take these precautions with existing control systems: upon how changes are made, improving the compressed-
‡ (QVXUH WKDW DOO ZLULQJ FRQQHFWLRQV DUH VHFXUH air system operation can result in annual operational
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37 October 2019 Plastics News