DRY CARGO INTERNATIONAL July 2002

ALUMINA HANDLING coping with a hard to handle material

Engineering firm VIGAN, located in Nivelles, Belgium, has worked extensively in the field of alumina handling. The company's loading and unloading equipment is ideal for his fine, hard-to-handle product. Its equipment is also used extensively for other granular products, including animal feed, corn, gluten, soybean meal, malt, rice, soda ash and sodium sulphate.

VIGAN has more than 30 years' experience in the design, manufacture and assembly of pneumatic loading and unloading equipment.

VIGAN’s reputation is based on its skill in pneumatic engineering, high-quality equipment, field service and customer support. As a company, it is committed to high standards and competitive pricing. It also believes strongly in caring for the environment and its ship loaders and unloaders are considered "green" because great care is put into developing ecological solutions for environmental integrity and safety.

When faced with a bulk handling problem, VIGAN studies the project extensively before proposing a solution. Each solution is dependent on the local conditions and the requirements of
the client.

VIGAN is well equipped to resolve almost any bulk handling problem. The company's infrastructure includes:

  • ultra-modern 7,000 m2 modern manufacturing plant at Nivelles, only 30km from Brussels airport and 80km from the Port of Antwerp. The facility includes several fully equipped halls; and
  • engineering offices covering 450m2, with CAD-CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) system.

All of VIGAN's equipment, including its steel structures, mechanical parts and electrical switchboards are manufactured in its factory under strict quality control guidelines.

Alumina is a very fine, dusty material and therefore requires very careful handling. Some of the loading/unloading systems available are not suitable to handle the product. Grabs, for example, are not appropriate as controlling dust emissions would be excessive. It is therefore best handled using pneumatic equipment, which is fast and efficient - and totally enclosed.

Pneumatic unloading system

The main Vigan components of a pneumatic unloading system are:

  • blower - high-efficiency multistage turbo blowers; low noise <70dBa at 30m;
  • airlock - cast iron chrome plated; size from 75"""to 800 litres;
  • filtration - special Sinterlamel filter;
  • telescopic pipe - wear resistant steel tubes (manganese alloy);
    high efficient seals (long life),which are easily replaced;
  • elbow joint made with high chromium alloy plate; and
  • power consumption ± 1 kW/ton, about 50% of competitors' units.

The structure of a pneumatic unloading system from VIGAN includes the following specifications:

  • it is built according to FEM (European standards) ISO, DIN and so forth;
  • its boom is galvanized by hot dipping ; it is luffed by hydraulic piston
    (no cable); up to 29m long; it has a lifting winch for cleaning equipment
    (bulldozer) up to 8 tonnes (optional);
  • its machine- room boasts a slewing ring; it includes an airlock, blower,
    air compressor, hydraulic group and electrical room; it includes a winch for
    maintenance and maintenance access; and
  • its gantry is available fixed, rail mounted and on rubber wheels.

The electrical system for the pneumatic unloader is designed, manufactured and tested by VIGAN and can be supplied with a electrical cable reel and/or a-diesel generator.

The system's hydraulics are designed, manufactured and tested by Vigan, using first-class components (Rexroth, Danfoss and so forth).

The unloaders can offer a capacity of 150 tph and 300 tph for free-flowing alumina.

On heavy grain, it can process up to 500 tph per suction pipe.

VIGAN's equipment is in use throughout the world.

For handling alumina, its installations include:

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