Bulk Loading Applications for Inflatable Seals

The Client:

A bulk handling equipment manufacturer.

The Situation:

Bulk handling focuses on the movement, processing, and mixing of powders, slurries, pellets, liquids, various solids, etc.

Application Requirements:

The task is to move the material from one station, usually a batch, into smaller containers for processing and packaging. The intent is to prevent material spillage, minimize environmental problems caused by materials getting into the air, and generally guard against contamination of the material.

The Approach:

There were two pieces of equipment to be considered. One piece of equipment had a discharge port that required a 7-1/2 inch centerline diameter seal and the other piece of equipment required an 11 inch centerline diameter. Because of the materials being processed these inflatable seals were manufactured using FDA compliant EPDM.

General Applications for Bulk Handling:

Inflatable seals are utilized for bulk handling applications in the food processing industry ( moving cornstarch or grains), the pharmaceutical Industry (processing of powders, or drying slurries), and in general wherever materials are being processed to provide an end product (such as the movement of a batch of coke in metered quantities going to a blast furnace in steel production). Wherever and whenever the process calls for automated lines there is potential for an inflatable seal to be required in the process.