Kamengo Technology Inc. - Reliable Flow with the Moving Hole

Wet ash storage/load out system at pulp mill

The BC pulp mill previously handled fly ash from a wood fired boiler as a slurry. In 1995, the mill changed to a "dry" ash handling system. The ash is however, "conditioned" (wetted) sufficiently prior to storage, to quench any hot particles, and to control dusting during handling. The mill's circular bin with a conical hopper, proved to be ineffective to handle the "conditioned" ash as the bin totally plugged. In spring of 1995, Kamengo was asked to recommend improvements to the bin.

The flow characteristics of a representative sample of ash were determined over a range of moisture contents. As expected, the ash was easy flowing when dry and became more difficult flowing as the moisture content increased and peaked at a certain moisture content to give the worst case flow conditions.

The bin was designed so as to exceed the critical outlet dimension to avoid bridging and rat holing under the worse case flow conditions, and to provide first-in-first-out discharge of ash after "storage at rest" periods of up to 24 hours. To maximize the storage volume within the space restrictions, a "double mass flow" bin arrangement was arrived at.

The bin and feeder system has provided reliable service since December 1995. The mill is also able to utilize the full "live" storage capacity of the bin. The system is completely driver operated and loading of a "dump" truck is done in less than 10 minutes utilizing its full volume and avoiding any spillage.

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