TownsvilleBoilerDesulfurizingPowder:PneumaticConveying

This article presents the Townsville Boiler Desulfurizing Powder: Pneumatic Conveying case, which is a typical pneumatic conveying project in Oceania. The system was installed in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, to convey desulfurizing powder from a storage silo to a boiler flue gas treatment point. Shandong Headpowder Engineering Co., Ltd. (headpowder) designed and supplied the entire positive pressure pneumatic conveying system.

The customer needed a reliable and dust-free solution to transport a fine, abrasive powder over a pipeline distance of more than eighty meters. The powder is used to remove sulfur dioxide from boiler flue gas, helping the plant meet strict emissions regulations. The conveying system had to run continuously with minimal downtime and low energy consumption. After evaluating several suppliers, the customer selected headpowder for its proven experience and technical support capability.

The desulfurizing powder has a fine particle size and a tendency to absorb moisture, which can lead to bridging or blockages in conventional equipment. To prevent these issues, headpowder engineered a system with fluidizing pads on the silo discharge, a rotary airlock valve, and a twin-chamber pressure vessel. The pipeline uses carbon steel with ceramic-lined bends to resist wear. These design choices ensure smooth and reliable material flow.

The positive pressure conveying system works in batch cycles. A pressure vessel is filled with powder from the silo, sealed, and then pressurized with compressed air. When the pressure reaches the set value, a discharge valve opens and the powder is pushed through the pipeline to the receiving hopper near the boiler. The PLC controller automatically manages the filling, pressurizing, and discharging steps, maintaining a stable conveying rate.

At the receiving hopper, a vent filter separates the conveying air from the powder, and a level sensor controls the batch cycle. The powder is then metered into the flue gas duct by a screw feeder based on the boiler load and the measured sulfur dioxide concentration. This allows precise desulfurization while preventing overdosing and waste. The entire process is enclosed, so no dust escapes into the atmosphere.

The project has several notable advantages. Because the pipeline has no moving parts in contact with the powder, maintenance is reduced to routine inspections and valve servicing. The enclosed system eliminates fugitive dust and creates a safer working environment. The system's energy consumption is lower than that of mechanical conveyors. In addition, the PLC monitoring allows remote troubleshooting via the internet, minimizing plant downtime.

The system has been operating successfully for over a year. It achieved an availability rate of over 98 percent and met all environmental requirements. The customer reported stable performance even during peak boiler loads. This case shows that positive pressure conveying is a cost-effective and reliable solution for boiler desulfurizing powder in the Oceania region.

Shandong Headpowder Engineering Co., Ltd., abbreviated as headpowder, is headquartered in Shandong, China. The company specializes in pneumatic conveying systems, including positive pressure, dilute phase, and dense phase technologies. With decades of experience and numerous global projects, headpowder provides system design, equipment manufacturing, installation supervision, and after-sales support. The company is committed to high-quality engineering and customer satisfaction.

For more information about this project or any other pneumatic conveying requirements, please contact Sales Manager Mr. Zhang via WeChat: 15662777102. Headpowder's office is located in Shandong, China. The company welcomes clients from Australia and all other countries to discuss their powder handling challenges. This successful Townsville project demonstrates headpowder's ability to deliver efficient, durable, and environmentally friendly conveying systems.