Calculating horsepower for solids lumpbreaker 2

[alan54]

I've got a cone bottom silo with powdwer that bridges; the plant has tried vibrators with limited success and would like to install "lumpbreaker", i.e. rotating shaft with rod shaped side bars to keep solids broken up in lower part of cone. Shaft would be in horizontal postion coming thru a nozzle.

Anyone know of correlation to calculate horsepower required for motor to turn this shaft? Thanks!

 

[MiketheEngineer]

What is the material??

 

[alan54]

PTZ prills - phenothiazine

 

[PeterCharles]

Perhaps you need one of these ..............

http://www.redler.com/products/standard/bindischarger.htm

 

[alan54]

interesting; definitely will consider ...

 

[gerhardl]

...another option in bulk-type silo-storage is to have a look at what is contributing to the bridge-building and minimize other factors in addition to mechanically 'stir' to hinder and break lumps.

If humidity is a factor you could minimize condensation inside tank (isolation of tank, even temperature, protected atmosphere) or put in dry air through one or a multiple of overpressure connections from outside, permanent input ('fluidized-bed like') or sporadical with dry air.

Be sure not to overpressurize the tank or spread the contents all over!

There is a number of standard mechanical solutions for stirring though.

http://www.powderandbulk.com/materials/bins1.htm