TRANSPORTING POWDER USING AIR PRESSURE

PROCESSING PLANTS: Tekfa specialises in dosage, weighing and transport of powders in processing plants. Now the company has invented a technique for transporting pre-mixed ingredients where the ratio of the mixture is accurately preserved, by using air pressure to blow small portions through pipes.

It’s well known in the food industry that when powders such as flour, milk powder or sugar are transported in a processing plant, their flow characteristics differ considerably. Some powders have to be moved mechanically, while others have to be blown or vibrated. And all of them have to be accurately adjusted and weighed to achieve the right result.

     The engineers at TEKFA A/S in Galten, Denmark, are among the most knowledgeable concerning powders. They know about the conditions under which flour can form lumps and create problems for flour producers or bakeries, about the precautions that need to be taken so that sugar in silos does not explode, and about how to keep powder mixtures in the same ratio during processing.

     “We have conducted a lot of research into the latter area, and have developed a special technique where the pre-mixed ingredients are transported through the processing plant in portions using air pressure,” says Erik Karlsen, technical information executive at TEKFA. “It avoids the precisely dosed pre-mixtures coming out unevenly because the various ingredients are transported differently. We have also fine-tuned the technique so that the flow can follow the other processes.” TEKFA Powder Technology has provided processing, handling and storage system solutions for dry bulk for 30 years. The company’s know-how includes size reduction, sifting, mixing, storage, flow control and transport of powdered, granulated, flaked and pellet materials. Manufacturing comprises design and production of hardware where weighing techniques and electronic control systems are among the most sophisticated in the world.

     TEKFA A/S is a typical sub-supplier for large turnkey suppliers in the food industry. The company also delivers its products directly to some of the world’s largest dairy groups and manufacturers of food ingredients. In addition to design and production of customised processing systems, TEKFA undertakes refurbishment and remodelling of existing production lines. 80% of the company’s production is exported.