Dos Santos International fixes a sticky situation

Various materials have different properties such as size, abrasiveness and moisture which can diminish the efficiency and suitability of some conveying solutions.  Such was the case at a major steel producer in Northern Spain. The plant had previously installed a vertical pocket belt system to elevate raw coal to the blast furnace coal grinding plant.  PHB Weserhutte S.A. (PWH) of Gijon, Asturias, Spain stepped in to offer a system expansion which included increased throughput to a new and existing pulverizing plant.  The pocket belt, which served the pulverizing plant, proved to be problematic as it did not completely discharge the moist coal.  The carry back created a continuous clean-up problem.  A representative at PWH contacted Dos Santos International when they began to focus on a more efficient means of high-angle conveying that could completely discharge the coal without any carry back.

PWH recognized the capabilities of the DSI Snake Sandwich High Angle Conveyor.  The DSI Snake utilizes conventional, smooth rubber belts that completely discharge the material and scrape clean by belt scrapers.  This advantage solves the problem of losing material to carry back on the pocket belt system, while still allowing the high angle path.  The new DSI Snake replaced the pocket belt and provided the additional capacity for the new pulverizing plant.  A bifurcated discharge chute with flop gate, allowed direction of the coal flow to either plant.  The Snake elevates 250 t/h of coal at a 75 degree angle.  The DSI Snake proved successful in rectifying this sticky situation and offering a more efficient solution.

The success of this conveyor system did not go unnoticed.  Since this installation, two additional DSI Snakes have been installed in Spain for Repsol Refineries.  The first was installed for the Muskiz Refinery near Bibao in northeastern Spain.  The second is at the Cartagena Refinery on the Mediterranean Sea in southern Spain.

The DSI Snake at the Muskiz Refinery elevates coke and delivers the hot product to a truck load-out system.  Designed to operate in an enclosed, potentially explosive environment, this Snake is subject to, and compliant with, the latest and strictest ATEX standards.

The second DSI Snake at the Cartagena refinery is of “C-shaped” profile.   The refinery expansion consists of two complete storage facilities.  The first one is for petroleum coke storage and the second is for sulfur storage.  The DSI Snake is part of the sulfur storage facility.  Its function is to transport the solid particles generated during the solidification process at the plant, and to temporarily store them in piles to be taken to the port facilities.

These two DSI Snakes for Spain are part of a growing list of installations for Dos Santos International which includes a variety of applications throughout the world.  DSI offers many unique systems from stationary units in all sizes, to fully mobile high-angle shiploaders designed to accommodate wharves with limited space.  The versatility of the DSI Snake is demonstrated with each application, but the full potential of the system will only become realized as more units are installed for the wide range of industries that have yet to implement this well-established technology.

More information Snake Sandwich & High Angle Conveyors

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