TPi September 2014

products & developments

Dry material transportation hose Sometimes there is a need to convey dry materials such as powders or granules through a hose, through an elastic line or connection. When banded, a hose can become corrugated inside on the lower radius wall. A flow of dry materials then reacts with parts of the hose at higher angles, creating surface damage and wear of the hose, shortening its lifetime.

charge to a machine body and to the ground further on. The complete hose assembly has resistance of 0.075 Ω/mtr. The company states that customers like the transparency, which is not available with rubber hoses, as it allows the possibility of visual control while working. Couplings have to match to require- ments of devices to be connected by the hose, but their quality and internal shapes also play a major role. Made of stainless steel AISI316 and micro-polished for cleanliness, the surface is also important for smooth flow of the dry medium being transported.

In such cases a heavy solution like rubber hose is common, but the same job can be done sufficiently by thermoplastic hose, as illustrated by an example from Tubes International. Other than bore size, coupling types and food-quality materials, important factors in dry material transportation include temperature and pressure/vacuum parameters; abrasion resistance; ability to remove static electricity (resistance); transparency; and fittings quality, internal shape and method of mounting. The main factor that can disqualify thermoplastic hose is temperature, but only if greater than 85°C. In Tubes International’s model application, vacuum occurred with a value of 0.6 bar at bore size 50mm internal diameter.

The Tubes International solution fulfils abrasion resistance requirements: the structure of the hose keeps a smooth inner layer, even when banded. The hose is mainly built of PVC, but the internal layer is polyurethane. In the same conditions PU is four to five times more abrasion resistant than PVC. This further increases lifetime.

During dry material transportation, a large problem is static electricity.

Information supplied by Tubes International specialist Przemysław Majer.

Tubes International’s solution prevents this with the use of a copper wire along the rigid PVC spiral, attached to the material. On the ends this is connected to metal couplings that lead electric

Tubes International – Poland tubes@tubes-international.com www.tubes-international.com

IntroducIng …

PIPE FITTING ALIGNMENT SYSTEM TECHNIQUE

A P rofessionAl f it -U P s ystem f or t he f AbricAtor

3 Fit-up 1" to 8" flanges, fittings, reducers, caps and PUP joints 3 Capable of 300 lb pressure-rated flanges 3 Handles loads of 600 lbs / 270 kg

Align common fabricated fit-ups accurately and in amazing time. Fit and tack 75 – 90 joints in an 8 hour shift!

w w w . s u m n e r . c o m

32

Tube Products International September 2014

www.read-tpi.com