Pneumatic Piston Vibrators VS Air Blasters As Flow Aids in a Coal Bunker

Effectiveness

NAVCO BH vibrators produce energy that is transmitted efficiently through the bunker wall and into the bulk material. Through the principles of conservation of momentum and energy, energy produced by NAVCO BH vibrators propagate through the hopper structure affecting material over a large area of influence. NAVCO BH vibrators effectively reduce sliding wall friction and material strength.

Air Blasters direct a high pressure burst of air into the bunker. The burst dissipates quickly and is not transmitted efficiently throughout the bunker. Air Blasters have a limited area of influence, especially with difficult wet or frozen coal.

Installation

NAVCO BH vibrators are simple to install. The available mounting plate simply welds to the bunker wall. The BH vibrator is then bolted to the mounting plate. Cutting or drilling of the bunker wall is not required.

Air blasters require complex and expensive installation. The bunker wall must be drilled or cut to accommodate the blaster nozzle. Additional access holes must be cut to attach the nozzle inside the bunker. The bunker must be emptied and cleaned prior to installation – adding to the cost and down-time.

Safety

NAVCO BH vibrators have excellent clean-out characteristics, effectively removing stagnant pockets of coal and potential for spontaneous combustion. Additionally, the external installation of the BH vibrator does not introduce additional air into the bunker.

Air Blasters principle of operation is to introduce a blast of high pressure air into the bunker. In a bunker full of combustible material (coal), blasting air into the bunker increases the potential for spontaneous combustion.

------------------------------------------------------
NAVCO recommends an integrated system using a coal flow indicator or mill demand to initiate vibrator action. An alarm can be sent to the control room to indicate flow and / or vibrator status. Ask NAVCO for complete system information.

NAVCO manufactures many other quality products for coal-fired power plants – Electric Vibrators, Railcar Unloading Systems, Vibrators for Fly Ash Handling, Electrostatic Precipitator Rappers, and Vibrators for Coal Chutes