Chain conveyor for transport and cooling of ashes from biomass boilers
Implementation of a submerged drag conveyor (redler) for effective cooling and transport.
At Sinfimasa, we specialize in providing complete and customized solutions for bulk material handling, as evidenced by our latest project: a submerged chain conveyor specifically designed for a leading biomass boiler manufacturer, for turnkey plant construction in Chile. This system efficiently evacuates the ashes generated during combustion and cools them, ensuring optimal and safe handling of the by-product.
High-temperature ash extraction
The main challenge in this project was to develop a system that could handle ashes directly from the furnace exit to their evacuation point. Part of the conveyor was designed to be submerged in water, which helped control the temperature of the ashes. Given the high temperature and humidity environment, building a robust conveyor with special attention to chain tensioning was crucial to ensure precise guidance and extended durability. Moreover, a high-quality, corrosion-resistant chain was used due to its continuous contact with water, and a special coating suitable for submerged environments was applied.
Sizing of the conveyor
The design of the ash conveyor needed to be precisely sized to avoid technical stops and breakages during the process. The ashes, with temperatures ranging from 350 to 450°C and a density of 0.85 kg/m³, presented a high level of abrasion and had to be transported underwater without resorting to modular or standardized solutions for perfect integration into the process and avoiding the aforementioned issues.
Implementation of drag conveyor
An inclined conveyor was implemented, designed with submerged sections to perfectly integrate into the biomass treatment plant. The total length of the conveyor exceeds 11 meters, with a drive system based on chains and sprockets. The body of the conveyor was made of carbon steel, ideal for withstanding the high temperatures of the ashes. Equipped with a 1.1 kW gear motor and a transport speed of 0.03 m/s, the system uses a link chain with a spring system for tensioning and reinforced links, ensuring all components a high level of wear resistance
Results and customer satisfaction
This submerged drag chain conveyor designed by Sinfimasa has proven to be a robust and reliable solution for handling high-temperature ashes in wet conditions. All tests performed have confirmed its high performance and total satisfaction in plant operations.
The success of this ash chain conveyor demonstrates Sinfimasa’s ability to design customized solutions that not only meet but exceed our client’s expectations in terms of efficiency, durability, and reliability.
