The importance of testing your Powder's characteristics for Pneumatic Transfer
Testing equipment is a wise and practical thing to do before fully investing in any technology that's new to your process. Regardless of whether your application and product are conventional or unique, you still want to have some sort of assurity that it's not going to totally fail once your system is installed and put into operation.
When it comes to solids handling systems specifically designed to transfer powder, you definitely want to make sure your material is going to move from where it is to where you want it to be before you commit to making the purchase.
Testing, however, is not always possible. That is to be expected, especially when you are dealing with chemicals that come with their own unique set of characteristics and dangers; but when it is possible, it can save you a lot of strife.
If no testing is possible but it’s a quality piece of equipment you feel strongly about, it’s important to obtain whatever data the manufacturer can provide to help assure it will effectively integrate into your process. If product testing is possible, then determining where the testing is conducted and what type of services the manufacturer can provide are some top questions to ask
Whether testing is available or not, the next step is to supply the vendor with detailed information about your product to be transferred. This will help the manufacturer identify possible issues that may present themselves prior to the actual test run, and to prequalify your product.
Along with the obvious advantage of seeing first-hand how well your product transfers, an additional benefit to conducting product testing is the opportunity it gives both you and the equipment manufacturer to develop new technical solutions to solve any potential problems that may present themselves during the testing phase.
Every application is unique in some way, so the ability to modify a process to create a customized solution can play a key role in your decision-making if in fact any customization is required to provide a solution to your process requirements. And what better guarantee is there than to have documented proof that the final system design will efficiently accomplish your powder handling objectives?
At De Dietrich Process Systems, we provide Powder Pump rental units for testing at your site, as well as in-house testing (on or off-site testing depends on your product physiognomies, among other factors).
If your material is too toxic to easily transport, it is best to perform the testing at your site with our rental equipment. This method of testing will help to determine:
- All of the above
- How the equipment is installed and operated
An additional benefit to testing at your facility is that you can get feedback from operators who might benefit most from reduced PPE requirements and ergonomic improvements. It gives them the chance to experience firsthand the improved safety and house-keeping that the new technology will bring to their process.
Before you think about making a big investment on new transfer equipment (or an entire new system), it helps if you know it is going to perform well. Product testing and “rent-to-own” options are two possible routes to help you make an educated decision before purchasing any powder transfer equipment.
The Powder Pump offers a simple, reliable way to pneumatically convey powders from one location to another.
For more information about De Dietrich Process Systems solutions that can meet the material handling challenges of your business,
