Pneumatic unloaders

Sector analysis: steady advance is the keynote
One of the major strengths of the pneumatic unloader concept is that it has been developed to handle a wide variety of commodities extending from free-flowing cargo streams such as grains through to commodities with more corrosive and abrasive characteristics like alumina and fly ash. This has played its part in generating steady demand with this sourcing from both emerging and developed markets. The grain pump – a mobile pneumatic solution – particularly remains a popular solution in emerging markets but also generally in applications where flexibility is required. System designs continue to be refined – the pneumatic unloader system can be configured in multiple forms. There are basic standard designs but the supply sector is highly skilled in meeting bespoke requirements. In terms of the key components of design, power consumption and the method of power supply is an ongoing area of attention as is dust suppression and systems/attachments that ensure maximum cargo pick-up – i.e. pick-up from all corners of the hold of a vessel or barge. 

PRODUCT RANGES, SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS, DESIGN FOCUS

Buhler
Switzerland headquartered Buhler is a well known name in the international ports sector offering a range of mechanical and pneumatic products for the handling of dry bulk materials. The ship unloader Portanova RSKP is a leading pneumatic system targeted at the efficient unloading of grain and oilseeds with discharge rates in the range 250 to 345 tonnes per hour subject to vessel size.

Buhler notes the Portanova is distinguished by its high degree of mobility and ability to be configured for a range of different applications. It can be supplied as a travelling or stationary ship unloader – on rails or on wheels – with its own energy supply as well as electrical power supply. Particular attributes of the system highlighted are: a rotary blower system that ensures uniform material processing; ease of maintenance with this including the ability to lower the boom to the ground and a strong resilience to system wear due to the conveying pipes having thick walls and basalt linings at the pipe elbows.

Kovako ship unloaders are offered in three standard models designed to deliver optimal unloading capacity with typical vessel sizes. They are available as electric powered and in various configurations. Typically the model K01 model offers a discharge capacity of 200mtph with vessels of up to 8000dwt, the K02 a 200mtph rate with vessels of up to 20,000dwt and the KO3 320mtph with vessels of up to 45,000dwt.

FLSmidth A/S
This Copenhagen-headquartered company states: “Whether you receive and distribute material by ship, barge, rail, or truck, we have pneumatic systems designed to make your terminal operate efficiently and reliably. Prominent products for port or waterway applications are the Docksider and Kovako ship and barge unloaders.

The company claims that: “Starting with a range of four basic sizes, it can supply the right Docksider ship unloader for any terminal – whether you are unloading river barges or Handy max bulk vessels, and whether you are conveying to an adjacent belt conveyor or through a 1200m pipeline.”

Diverse discharge options, including pressure tanks, feeders and rotary valves reportedly enable the handling of a wide range of dry bulk materials – including abrasive products such as alumina and coarse limestone. For high capacity applications, a separate vacuum filter receiver facilitates continuous airflow and faster material transfer.

The Kovako pneumatic ship and barge unloader range was added to the FLSmidth product portfolio back in 1992 and since this time it has been subject to continuous refinement including the ability to handle challenging materials such as fly ash and ground blast furnace slag.

Neuero
Neuro offers a number of different models of pneumatic ship unloaders as part of an extensive ship unloader range which also includes mechanical ship unloading solutions.

The company, which serves the global marketplace, is a long established participant in meeting port sector and other ship-unloading requirements. The pneumatic unloading systems offered include:

• GSD: Mobile pneumatic suction pressure machines offering a capacity range extending from 20t/hr to 200t/hr – well proven in ship and barge unloading applications.
• Multiport: A single-line pneumatic ship-unloader offered in stationary, rail-mounted and rubber tyred versions with capacities extending from 250t/hr up to 800t/hr (based on wheat) with the ability to serve vessels up to post-Panamax dimensions. The company points out that broad coverage of a ship’s hold is achieved by a horizontal and vertical telescopic tube. Multiport AL: As its brand name suggests this is a specially designed pneumatic unloader for discharging alumina and petroleum coke at capacities of up to 800t/hr.
• Flexiport: The Flexiport is a pnuematic ship unloading system for non-free-flowing materials which can have a rotating feeder fixed to the vertical discharge tube in order to loosen the product for efficient discharge.
• Tower: The Tower unloader comprises a two-line ship unloader with optional mechanical loading system. Performance can be up to 1600t/hr based on each of the two lines handling 50 per cent each of the cargo volume. The system is rail-mounted.

Overall, Neuro designs pneumatic unloaders for grain, feed biomass, and diverse other dry bulk materials spanning food sector commodities, power plant products, the aluminium industry etc.

Van Aalst Bulk Handling
This company also ranks among those system designers and manufacturers who offer pneumatic unloading systems for diverse applications extending across large vessels and barges with capacities of up to 800t/hr. The product range includes:

• Stationary ship unloader: The company points out that this is ideal for use where limited space is available at the dock and has the added advantage of being a cost-effective solution as no propulsion system is required.
• Dock – mobile ship unloader: This unit, the company says is; “free to move around the dock area and has the advantage of being able to be stored at a convenient location. The system is versatile with Van Aalst pointing out that the suction pipe can, if necessary, be positioned underneath the dock surface or removable pipe sections can be employed to keep the quay area free for other operations.
• Gantry mounted ship unloader: Cited as ideal for dedicated operations with available shore power. It can be specified so as to make use of existing rails, if in place, thereby reducing investment costs.
• Barge mounted ship unloader: The vessel mounted arrangement allows for the barge to be towed to one or more locations for unloading. It also allows for tidal fluctuations.
• Road mobile ship unloader: The ability of the pneumatic unloader to be transported by road enables it to be easily used to service to discharge vessels of up to 5000dwt at multiple locations.

The company highlights as key features of its product range the inherent dust suppression characteristics of its pneumatic unloader range, the ability to unload directly from vessel to storage, low system wear and the reduced possibility of product contamination via a protective screen at the suction nozzle. It offers systems in a standard format and bespoke to meet specific client requirements.

Vigan
This Belgium-based company has gained a reputation for being one of the leading lights in supplying both pneumatic and mechanical unloader systems for application with vessels and barges. The pneumatic unloader range comprises three main products:

• Mobile or portable (also called vacuvators or grain pumps) offered in a capacity range from 120 to 250mtph.
• Barge unloader, as its name suggest for use with barges but also other vessels less than 15,000dwt. This is offered with capacities ranging from160 to 600mtph, and
• NIV or gantry type, mostly for all types of vessels up to post-Panamax. Offered with capacities in the range 200 to 800mtph

Vigan’s engineering capabilities span turnkey projects for port and terminal applications including ship unloading & loading, storage facilities and bagging operations.

The company’s pneumatic unloaders have been sold all around the world and in a number of countries – for example Algeria – are to be found in large numbers.