The Pneumatic Powder Trailer is the tank trailer you need for the transportation of powdered products such as cement and several others. For maximum benefit and use, it is important you learn how it operates. Here is a detailed guide for pneumatic powder trailer operation:

pneumatic powder trailer operation

What is a bulk cement / powder pneumatic tank trailer?

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1. Do a Pre-Starting Check

 

Prior to getting started with any operation on your powder, conducting a number of checks is very important. These are primarily for safety and to make sure that you get the best out of your trailer. Here is what to do:-

  1. Connect the hot air hose securely to the tank and do the same for the discharge hose leading to the silo.
  2. Proceed to open the trailer’s boost valve, the top air valve and the rear aeration valve of the tanker. In cases where the top air is not fitted, open the two aeration valves only.
  3. Next, close up the air dump outlet and the discharge valves as well

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2. Proceed to Operate the Trailer

 

After doing the checks outlined above, you can now go ahead to operate your pneumatic powder trailer. Here is what to do:

 

  1. Engage the trailer’s PTO and the air compressor used for blowing air directly into the silo. It is important to ensure that the compressor is not started when it is already loaded. This is the procedure to take to make sure that this is the case.
  1. Increase the rpm of the truck to the desirable speed for the compressor operation. The truck’s rpm should be good enough to support the working of the compressor onboard. More than that, the unit should be running smoothly. Confirm whether the reading on the oil pressure gauge is OK and that there are noises coming from the mechanical set up. Again, check the reading on the Air filter restriction gauge and make sure that it is also good. Before you carry on with the operations, it is important to make sure there are no loose parts and air leaks noticeable within the unit.
bulk powder tanker trailer 1

air compressor used for blowing air

  1. Close up the boost valve in order to pressurize the tanker to gain the recommended working pressure for the silo or tanker. This must be attained for a smooth operation.
  1. The next thing to do is to let the boost valve open and then suddenly open wide the rear discharge outlet valve to start discharging your product directly into the silo.
  1. It is important to watch closely as the discharge process goes on. Make sure that the tanker pressure is always below the set maximum value. The tanker pressure will tend to open the boost valve when the pressure in there is too high. On the other hand when it is too low, the boost valve will tend to close slightly.
  1. Check the tanker pressure to see when it drops quickly. When that happens, ensure that you close the discharge outlet valve.
  2. Build the pressure of the tanker by doing the following: opening the aeration valve adjacent to the cone, closing up the aeration as well as the boost valves. Repeat Steps 4 and 7 to a point when the tanker will be empty.
  1. Sometimes, some of you cargo may fail to discharge off completely. In that case, after the discharge to the silo is done, make sure you clean any residue product from each of the cones.
  2. Drain off any residue tanker pressure. This could be done into the silo or through the use o the tanker dump outlet valve.
  3. Open up the boost valve, lower the truck rmp and leave it idle as you blow air into your silo. This procedure is needed to cool down the compressor after which you can now dis-engage the PTO. This makes sure that the compressor is again not shut down when loaded.
  4. Close down the discharge valves and then leave the tanker air dump and boost valves open awaiting the next load. If needed, disconnect the hot air hose off the tanker.
  5. In an emergency case, all discharge valves should be closed. Once that is done, the next thing to do is to open the emergency dump valve located at the compressor outlet. At this point, you can now shut down the compressor.

 

3. Procedure for Unblocking a Dry Bulk Road Tanker

 

In some occasions, your tanker discharge line may get blocked especially when offloading your cargo, don’t panic. It is possible to unblock your tanker’s discharge line comfortably without even disconnecting any of the hoses. All equipment such as hoses, cam locks and valves should always be kept in good condition if you want this procedure to be effective. This unblocking procedure must only be conducted by a professional competent operator. Otherwise, the blockage may get to a worse condition or even lead to the damaging of the equipment.

Principle of Operation: The procedure works through the use of the blockage to trap pressure in between the tanker discharge outlet valve and the product blockage. Once this pressure is drained promptly back into your tanker, it forms a vacuum that draws along your product back with it. 

Pres-Starting check: Open up the tanker dump valve to reduce the tanker pressure back to zero. Establish whether the blockage has been caused by your silo fully filled or as a result of an absence of pressure when offloading. The blockage will be easy to deal with and clear back into your tanker cone when it is most empty and nearest to the blockage.

bulk cement trailers

Discharge Line

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How to Un-Block the Product from the Discharge Line Back to the Silo

  1. Start by closing all aeration valves and completely open up the boost line. After doing so, make sure that the tanker dump valve is left open.
  2. Start the compressor and make sure the rpm is set to the operating value. In such a state, the relief valve will be expected to go off.
  3. Open the discharge valve fully. This is the valve nearest to the silo or the most drained cone. Do this and close the valve almost instantly. Keep doing this until the relief does not get blown off.
  4. The cargo should get back into the tanker and the blockage gets cleared after such a procedure.
  5. In this procedure, air must go through the tanker’s boost valve directly and freely into the silo. Remember that the pressure relief valve must not get blown off.
  6. Open up the emergency dump valve on the blower/compressor outlet and after that shut down the compressor.

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4. Unloading Pneumatic Powder Trailer

 

Once you have transported your cargo to the desired destination, it’s time to unload the trailer. Here is what to do:

  1. Make sure that the truck and the trailer are packed on firm ground and then after that, put on the parking breaks.
  2. Remove the cap installed on the discharge line. After doing so. Conduct checks for the flowing:
  • Loose hose that is under pressure. It could cause serious injuries or death as it whips uncontrollably when it is not seated properly at both sides.
  • Make sure that the hose quick couplings are seated carefully and locked securely at both ends just before the pressurizing unit.
  • Beware of injury risks associated with product dust and fumes. Exposure to the dust and fumes can lead to moderate injuries. Therefore, operators should put on suitable personal protective equipment when loading and offloading cargo.
  • Prior to offloading the product, it is important to check the contents surrounding the offload site. Any offload without the necessary checks puts your product at the risk of contamination. Verification of the offloading site of its capacity and integrity structurally needed prior to product discharging is very vital.
  1. Take off the discharge hose from the tanker’s storage tube and connect it to the discharge line and the offloading site as well.
  2. Check the storage facility for sufficient capacity for the loaded cargo
  3. If your tanker is equipped with a filter actuator, make sure it is closed.
  4. Connect the air supply securely to the air inlet coupler
  5. Next, open up the proportioning valve and then engage the compressor.
  6. Open up the central aeration valve and then close down the compressor valve
  7. If there is a air valve at the top of the tanker, open it
  8. Pressurize the tank based on the pressure specification for the material onboard. Don’t go past the pressure limits provided.
Pressure gauge

Pressure gauge

  1. Once the tanker has reached the provided pressure of operation, half-open the proportioning valve
  2. At this state, carefully and gradually half-open up the discharge valve to the front hopper. When material starts to flow, open the discharge valve fully.
  3. Once the tanker pressure starts to drop, make sure you close the front discharge valve.
  4. Gradually open up the discharge valve adjacent to the hopper to offload it.
  5. Every time the pressure starts to fall quickly, close down the discharge valve.
  6. The same procedure should be repeated for all hoppers in the pneumatic powder trailer.
  7. Each hopper can be purged by slowly opening up and closing down each of the discharge valves, working it out from the front to the rear section of the trailer.
  1. Once this is done, disengage the compressor and open up the compressor down valve to relieve off the tank pressure. Disconnect the discharge hose and stow it. Watch out for the trailer damage because: The changes in the ambient temperature can lead to pressure alterations insider the tanker’s hopper. Should the compressor valve be in a closed position, damage could possibly occur to the hopper. In that case, the blow down valve of the tanker should always be kept open every time except when you are pressurizing the hopper for offloading.
  1. Make sure that all valves except for the blow down one are closed. The blow down valve should always be kept open.
  2. Once you have successfully offloaded your content, you can now install the cap back along the discharge line.

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5. Uncouple Truck from Trailer

 

In between your operations, you will be required to uncouple your truck from the trailer. When that time comes, here are important steps to follow do perform this procedure successfully.

  • Park your trailer on a firm level ground and set the trailer’s parking brakes.
  • If you are performing this procedure when the trailer is loaded, it is important that you put pads or blocks under the landing gear legs to hamper settling.
  • Consider the type of landing gear installed on your cement trailer. Some models have high speed landing gears while others may not have them. High speed is useful when the landing gear is not touching the ground. Here, you will be required to engage crank handle and again lower the landing gear and ensure that it makes a form grip with the surface, pads or blocks.
  • Switch your truck to a low gear and after that, crank and extra 4-8 turns.
  • Detach the supply hose, the service hose and the electrical connector
  • Pull off the 5th wheel release mechanism
  • Release air back in the truck suspension if your truck has it and pull the truck forward to a point where the 5th wheel comes off from under the trailer.
  • Stop using the truck frame located beneath the trailer. This helps in preventing the trailer from toppling to the surface should the landing gear sink or collapse.
  • Apply the truck’s parking brake and put the transmission to the neutral position.
  • You need to ensure that the surface is supporting the trailer and that the landing gear is in good condition.
  • Inspect the area and drive off the truck forward to a point where it clears off the trailer.

 pneumatic dry bulk trailer

 

The Bottom Line

 

When operating the pneumatic powder trailer, it is important for you to carefully read he manual in order to safe guard yourself from liability claims.

It is important to understand all the loading and offloading settings and requirements before taking any action.

There are different pressure requirements for different types of cargo and in that case, it is important that you don’t exceed the standard set limits.

All recommended checks should be carried out to ensure safe operations. Loose hoses may become uncontrollable with the flow of the pressurized gas through them. This is a hazard that may cause injuries or even death.

It takes the effort of a well-trained and competent operator to guarantee smooth operations. Conditions necessary for loading and offloading operations are usually different and must not be overlooked at any one given moment.

Each of the valves have a designated function that must be carefully studied before operating the pneumatic cement trailer.

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