Pneumatic Bulk Training.

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by Cyclesdalecummins07, Apr 4, 2012.

  1. andre

    andre Medium Load Member

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    Feb 10, 2008
    Jacksonville, FL
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    Basically these guys covered it.

    Pneumatic tanks operate through air pressure, and by pushing stuff from high air pressure to lower pressure. So, basically what you are doing is sucking stuff from the silo or product piping back into one of your hoppers.

    What you want to do for this to happen is create high pressure in the product pipe and low pressure (or no pressure) in the hopper. When you open the hopper valve, you can feel the stuff actually going back up into the tank, and what that other salty dog is right - the tank starts bouncing up and down and everything.

    It always helps to think in terms of high pressure to low pressure, and picture which valves create what pressures where in your trailer.
     
    pathfinder1361 and leadfoot80 Thank this.
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  3. imasaluki

    imasaluki Bobtail Member

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    Nov 27, 2008
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    I've found the best way to unplug a line is to not plug it in the first place! :biggrin_25523: Serious note... watch the gauges until you get good stable flow (you have to be fairly patient with this)... if your pressures start to spike (the line pressure will go up followed closely by tank pressure), I'll close the hopper valve, open the bottom air all the way... wait just a second to see if that unplugs it, if not, I'll slowly close off my top tank air to force the product through the line. If that doesn't work then you can try the blowdown valve and try to suck it back into the tank. If none of this works, you're breaking apart a line and hopefully not cleaning up any messes!

    It's best to catch a plug when it first starts to plug. For example, if you don't take a crap for two weeks... I can almost guarantee a "manual evacuation" of your bowel... google that. The same goes for plugging lines on pneumatic bulk tanks. Catch it soon and you'll have the best chance of unplugging without having to break down a line.
     
  4. Green Machine

    Green Machine Medium Load Member

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    Jul 23, 2009
    Ohio
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    Yeah, its best not to plug in the first place but if someone isn't paying attention and they have an old parts Butler style trailer you can plug easy (for a new person). Its also easy to plug if your blower breaks down or your hot hose breaks :p.

    Also, some of us (me) do not have the ability to put air to the top of the tank. I have one valve for air and that is for the bottom air (product line pressure).

    Im still not sure how these people plug up so much... I hear stories all the time about so and so plugging up so many times while trying to unload.... In most silos I can open two pockets at a time without plugging, I usually only do about 1.5 though. I finally timed myself today with 1.5 pockets at a time and it was 35 minutes for 25.5 ton. The product didn't want to start flowing like usual today ir else it would probably have been 30 minutes :).

    Sent from my DROIDX
     
  5. leadfoot80

    leadfoot80 Light Load Member

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    Feb 17, 2012
    S.E. WY
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    Dude.. seriously? You had to go there?
    I snorted Dr. Pepper up my nose because of you. Thanks.
     
  6. Green Machine

    Green Machine Medium Load Member

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    Jul 23, 2009
    Ohio
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    That burns lol

    Sent from my DROIDX
     
  7. leadfoot80

    leadfoot80 Light Load Member

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    Feb 17, 2012
    S.E. WY
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    No kidding! :D Should have at least had a warning before that little tidbit: "DO NOT TAKE A DRINK -- Humorous statement to follow!"
     
  8. imasaluki

    imasaluki Bobtail Member

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    Nov 27, 2008
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    It's a good analogy. :biggrin_25523:
     
  9. leadfoot80

    leadfoot80 Light Load Member

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    Feb 17, 2012
    S.E. WY
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    I never said it wasn't! Just said it shoulda had a warning! :biggrin_255: LOL
     
  10. Hubcap

    Hubcap Medium Load Member

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    Dec 29, 2009
    Rhome Texas
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    I used to train people for dry bulk, and most of the time once they learned enough to get themselves in trouble, the company wanted to use them right away. They would plug it up, work for an hour trying to get it unplugged and turn it off and go home. I would come to work, and have to get it unplugged.

    After struggling with with it for an hour, they wanted nothing to do with a Pneumatic tanker. One face full of fly ash and they were done! They weren't ready, I told the company they weren't ready and yet they wanted to blame me when they didn't know what they were doing.

    Funny, they all thought the tanker driver was rich! Ha ha ha ha!
     
  11. Blind Driver

    Blind Driver Road Train Member

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    Aug 7, 2006
    New Albany, IN
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    Good! More loads for me to haul :biggrin_2559:
     
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