SPECIAL STORY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE July 2022 55 Another system to investigate would be steam. Think of steam lines as a mediator for both gas and liquid. Condensate stays in the bottom of the pipe and flows with a headspace of gas above it. With increasing steam consumption, flow speed increases and condensate gets pulled with it and it could therefore easy overrun a drainage point where it is intended to discharge. Steam flow velocity would be 20-30m/s, it pushes the condensate at the same speed. It is not likely that water will run from 2” pipe at 20-30m/s into a ½” drain. Drains must be placed strategically, for example on 90° transition from horizontal to vertical and with the same diameter as the main pipe. As the pellet mill first ramps-up, especially in cold conditions, steam flow and condensate return flow rate will be high. Sudden draining point overruns increase the risk of water entering the conditioner and consequently cause rollers to slip and the pellet mill to block. How should these elements be optimized for efficient production? Your operator screen processes and displays all relevant information but these values are replaced a second later. Since the human brain responds better to pattern recognition than it does to plain numerical data, it may be challenging to determine process values that are systematically fluctuating. Periodicities and correlations with other process values are impossible to identify unless you store and display trend values from key process parameters. With a tabletop profile, stable trend curves could be determined, allowing for push load limits to be increased. To optimize for efficient production, adjustments must be performed but proper effect evaluation can only be done if you also measure the response variables (outcomes). Changes should be introduced carefully, systematically, slowly, and only one parameter at a time. Fixing the problem is usually not the most time-consuming part of the improvement. Rather, the most laborious task is the analysis necessary for identifying the situation and developing the best solution. What you do not measure, you cannot adjust. If we asked you to list four elements to increase feed mill efficiency, what would they be? 1. Stability 2. Stability 3. Stability is your main objective. Put effort into getting key equipment like grinders, boilers, and pellet mills into stable processing condition. Then the average load set point may be increased much closer to 100%. 4. Stability Can you tell us about the services and technologies that Andritz offers to feed mills for efficient production? What does efficiency mean for Andritz and what do you promise manufacturers in this regard? 1. Together with the products and aftermarket services, ANDRITZ offers in-depth process knowledge, together forming a cost-effective solution. At ANDRITZ we are there for you, even through the tough times. 2. ANDRITZ also offers complete plant solutions for customers looking for a turnkey solution. 3. With deep industry and process knowledge, ANDRITZ can offer process reviews of existing plants and thereby act as consultants for manufacturers wishing to optimize existing plants. 4. Process control systems not only let you control the key equipment, but also monitor trends. 5. The METRIS Vibe vibration monitoring system is tailored to feed pelleting applications, reducing unplanned stops and enabling you to carry out scheduled repairs and maintenance. 6. Feed expanders and automatic roller adjustment for pellet mills enable you to adapt dynamically to an ever-changing raw material market. Both instruments can keep pellet durability consistent, regardless of changing formulations. 7. Roll-slip sensors for pellet mills and automatic roller adjustment systems enable you to maximize the machine's potential.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==