Pneumatic conveyor for transporting bulk materials
View Patent ↗A pneumatic conveyor for transporting bulk materials, in particular tablets, has a compressor for conveyor gas and has a bulk material feed and a conveyor line, in particular hose, arranged therebetween, and a bulk material discharge. To prevent contamination of the environment during operation, a shut-off device is provided between a collection volume and the conveyor line. A method for operating a pneumatic conveyor conveys sample volumes intermittently.
1. Method for operation of a pneumatic conveyor for transporting bulk materials, wherein the pneumatic conveyor comprises
a compressor for conveyor gas,
a bulk material feed unit,
a bulk material discharge unit, and
a conveying line that connects the bulk material feed unit and the bulk material discharge unit,
wherein a return line for the conveyor gas is provided between the bulk material discharge unit and the compressor, so that the conveyor gas is conducted in a conveyor gas circuit,
wherein the bulk material feed unit has a collection volume that is separated from the conveying line via a shutoff fitting,
wherein operation takes place intermittently, and
wherein cleaning via supplying flushing fluid takes place between a tablet production change.
2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the conveyor gas circuit is operated at a partial vacuum.
3. Method according to claim 1 , wherein draining of the flushing fluid into a system connected downstream takes place.
4. Method according to claim 1 , wherein a sample lot is collected and conveyed lot by lot.
5. Method according to claim 1 , wherein maintaining the pressure takes place by way of a system connected upstream.
6. Method according to claim 1 , wherein maintaining control of the inert gas atmosphere takes place by way of a system connected upstream.
7. Method according to claim 1 , wherein conveying takes place under an inert gas atmosphere.
8. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the flushing fluid is conveyed in a circuit.