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Article
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NEUERO Pneumatics
for portable grain
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Article in DRY CARGO
International July 1999
- The use of portable pneumatic grain conveyors became popular many years
ago, when it was found that oil tankers bringing oil to the US could
economically load grain as a backhaul cargo. German manufacturer NEUERO
describes how the small 210mm suction lines would be inserted into the
butterworth holes to remove the grain by vacuum, which proved the most
efficient way of unloading oil tankers hauling grain. Coupled with low
freight costs and the ability to transport large volumes in one voyage, this
became a popular shipment method for many years.
- However the popular opinion that unloading grain with portable conveyors
is inefficient is no longer true, according to NEUERO. Many improvements
have been made to portable pneumatic conveyors to increase operational
efficiency. Both suction and pressure hydraulic operated booms are available
to reduce the amount of pipe handling, and to eliminate the need to use
ships gear for this purpose.
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- Portable conveyors, which can easily be moved from berth to berth or from
port to port, also enable smaller operators to control the discharge of
their own grain shipments to ensure this is done in a given time. They can
also discharge vessels carrying cargoes for more than one receiver
simultaneously and can act as a back up for large single line unloaders.
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- NEUERO's mobile pneumatic conveyors are currently operating at the
El-Dekheila Port in Egypt for the Silo Company. The operation is very cost
effective with high discharge rates compared to low investment costs. NEUERO
points out that in certain developing countries dust is not a big issue,
because grain dust is a biological product and will not cause the same
hazards as chemical dust. However, allowing the dust to escape into the
atmosphere is a cost to the receiver , and in many ports mobile pneumatic
conveyors are now connected to elevated receiving hoppers equipped with dust
control equipment. In addition to a cleaner environment, the hopper can
serve as buffer to allow the unloader to continue operating while the next
truck is pulled into position under it, further enhancing operational
efficiency.
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