Removing solid drum contents 2

[Carom]

I am looking for a safe and convenient method of removing solid products, mainly petroleum jelly and lanolins from metal drums and transferring to mixing vessels.
We currently melt the contents using gas burners. This method has several safety issues, such as naked flame, limited temp. control, transporting the open top drum of melted product.... However we have been unable to find another method which is as quick at melting the product. Cost is also an issue as this is not a regular process for a low margin product. Some pump type systems seem to be available but I'm unsure if they would work on a product as solid as lanolin.
The other problem is that the metal drums are not all the same size, most come in 200L open top metals, however some are in smaller 50Kg size drums.
Any suggestions for suitable equipment would be much appreciated.

 

[orenda1168]

Carom:

If you haven't already done so, consider using electric band heaters that clamp around the drum and have (usually) a variable heating capability.

These are generally available through equipment wholesalers such as Granger.

Orenda


R. J. Kersey

http://www.orenda-tech.com

 

[chicopee]

If you can lift the drum upside down w/ a set of slings and an overhead lift, cut the bottom off as you would w/ a can of coffee and push the content out w/ the cutout bottom after either making a big hole in the top or also by cutting it off when the drum is tilted toward another container.

 

[unclesyd]

We have several drum warmer ovens with swinging doors that we can put several pallets of waxes and mixtures of different oils using a pallet jack or extended reach fork truck. The ovens are set at different temperature depending on the drum contents to be heated. All ovens are explosion proof, forced circulation and electrically heated.
Outside the ovens we have several tilting drum warmers were we can take the temperature of a drum a little higher. We have different pumping arrangements to handle any of the materials. We mostly use air operated drum pumps for the higher viscosity materials. We also have air operated mixers that fit in the drum bung or some that clamp on the rim.
Some of the ovens have been in service for over 50 years.

 

[Carom]

Thanks for your replies, they have given me some ideas to think about.
Orenda1168, we have thought about electric band heaters but would require several (high cost/maintenance)and the time taken to melt the contents is also too long.
Chicopee, hadn't really considered cutting the drum off, will give this some thought...
Unclesyd, an oven is a possible option as this is suitable for all sizes of drums and we could melt several at one time.
Anymore suggestions welcome.
Thanks again.

 

[orenda1168]

Carom:

Though we may be talking about two different animals, my experience with electric band heaters has been:

1) Reasonably inexpensive, with little or no routine maintenance.

2) Granted the melt time with band heaters can drag out, but isn't this just a matter of scheduling the melt process appropriately in advance of its need.

3) I don't understand how an oven melting system can economically compete with band heaters!

Orenda

R. J. Kersey

http://www.orenda-tech.com

 

[Carom]

Orenda,
It may be that electric band heaters could do the job, I am still investigating all options.
We need to melt the contents of 2 200L (55gal) drums at the same time, which I reckon would require 6 Electric band heaters (3 per drum). The product we are manufacturing is an all-day process so we need the drums melted early in the day. I don't think the band heaters would be quick enough and we would have issues with leaving them on unattended overnight. However it may be that they could be on all day the day before and only a short 'reheat' would be required on the morning of use.
Further investigation (or possibly a trial) required.....

 

[unclesyd]

I hate to tell you that band heaters can be dangerous especially if the lower one overheats the bottom of the drum. You want have to cut the lid off.
Been there and done that.

I'll try to find you a 2/4 or pallet type drum heater oven.

 

[unclesyd]

To get you started here is a oven type heater for any amount of drums and the second site is the only type heater to use individually.

http://www.benkoproducts.com/

http://ohmtemp.com/