CHAPTER

Bulk Handling Equipment

9.0 and Systems
of very large quantities of material.
he term "bulk handling" means handling and storage
quantities involves careful study ofthe
amounting to lakhs of tonnes. Handling and storage of such large
choice of materials handling equipment as well as storage method.
Bulk handling is generally involved in certain areas of operation like (7) open cast mining. (i) ports and
dockyards, (ii) stockpiling (storage) area of large process plants (e.g. steel plants. power plants etc),. (i)
railroad terminals and others.
In this chapter, the different storage systems and some of the specialised equipment used for bulk han-

dling have been discussed briefly. The discussion has been limited to bulk solids, though bulk storage
and handling of liquid is also quite common in different chemical and petro-chemical industries. Stor.
age and handling of unit load, involved in railroad and marine terminals, have also been excluded from
limited space of present discussion.

9.1 STORAGE OF BULK SOLIDS

Different methods are employed for storing different bulk materials. The factors which deter
mine the selection of storage are nature of material. quantity of materials to be stored, charging and
discharging rate and frequency etc. Depending on storage methods and above factors, suitable charging
and discharging equipment have to be selected. Some of the common storage means and methods are
briefed under.

9.1.1 Bins
A bin is a large container of cylindrical or rectangular shape made from sheet metal supported on
legs. Filling of bins is from the open or covered top and discharge is from the bottom opening. Inside
agitators outside vibrators are used for facilitating flow of
or
materials from the
Generally conveyors, bucket elevators, pneumatic conveyors are used for delivery ofdischarge
materialsopening
into tne
bin. Discharge of materials at desired rate into suitable materials
using different types of feeders. handling equipment is ensureu

9.1.2 Bunkers
A bunker is essentially a large
bin, used for storage of
These may be a few hundred meters in length. Belt materials like coal in a power stau are
used for filling of the bunkers. conveyors, with automatic trippers, dumpers e
9.1.3 Stockhouse Bins
These are actually a number of conventional
bins, grouped in an batch
delivery of materials to the process. A blast elevated structure for
be filled by railroad cars or transfer cars or furnace
belt
generally has such stockhouse bins. The bin
gates to equipment like skip hoist. conveyors. The discharge is through mechani
ugh mechanical
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