US 8,274,038 B2 · Dust control and flow control testing device and method of reducing airborne dust and increasing flow of bulk materials

Abstract

A method for determining quantity and/or a type of dust control agent for controlling dust of a bulk material or flowability thereof comprises dispensing a bulk material into an agitator and agitating the bulk material in the agitator to create airborne dust from the bulk material. A test method for determining a quantity and/or a type of dust control agent effective for reducing a quantity of airborne dust that separates from a bulk material during handling comprises: 1) dispensing a dust-containing bulk material into an agitator; 2) agitating the bulk material in the agitator to a degree sufficient to produce airborne dust from the bulk material; and 3) measuring a quantity of airborne dust produced from the bulk material; repeating steps 1), 2) and 3) after applying a particular dust control agent to said bulk material; and comparing the quantity of airborne dust that separates from the bulk material with and without the dust control agent.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A test method for determining a quantity and/or a type of dust control agent or flow control agent effective for reducing a quantity of airborne dust that separates from a bulk material during handling and/or increases the flow rate of a bulk material during handling comprising the steps of:

1) dispensing a dust-containing bulk material into an agitator;
2) agitating the bulk material in the agitator to a degree sufficient to produce airborne dust from the bulk material;
3) measuring a quantity of airborne dust produced from the bulk material;
4) repeating steps 1), 2) and 3) after applying a particular dust control agent to said bulk material;
5) comparing the quantity of airborne dust that separates from the bulk material with and without the dust control agent or flow control agent.

2 more elements

A method for determining the application of a quantity and a type of dust control agent or flow control agent for decreasing dust produced during handling or increasing flow of a bulk material comprising:

1) dispensing a known quantity of a bulk material into a hopper disposed above a downwardly inclined vibrating ramp;
2) measuring the time required for said known quantity of said bulk material to traverse the vibrating ramp or measuring the dust produced while traversing the vibrating ramp;
3) repeating steps 1) and 2) after applying a quantity of a particular flow control or dust control agent to said bulk material;
4) comparing the times or amount of dust collected from steps 2) and 3) to determine if the quantity and type of flow control or dust control agent has increased the flow rate, or quantity of material discharged from the vibrating ramp, or decreased the quantity of dust produced from said bulk material;
5) and optionally repeating steps 2), 3), and 4) using a different quantity or type of flow control or dust control agent to find a quantity or type of flow control a or dust control agent that further increases the flow rate of or decreases the dust produced from said bulk material.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dust control and flow control testing device and method of reducing airborne dust and increasing flow of bulk materials

Life of this patent

Dust control and flow control testing device and method of reducing airborne dust and increasing flow of bulk materials

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13