Focus on Pneumatic Conveying

Our April meeting will feature a seminar on pneumatic conveying presented by three experts from 2 to 5 pm followed by an evening presentation on fans.  This seminar covers theory of operations and the fundamentals of both dilute and dense phase conveying, advantages and features of the various types of equipment and selection of the best equipment for an application.  Dilute conveying systems include dust handling operations, which can create a hazardous environment and major operating problems.  Some applications can be handled by either dilute of dense phase equipment, but some require one or the other.  Collectors, feeders and diverters need to be designed to fit your plants unique layout.  The program will start with an overview of this technology and follow with two talks on the principles of dense and dilute conveying.  It will be followed by a panel discussion of the various technologies.  After dinner, we will have a presentation on the fundamentals of fan operations and selection of the correct fan.  This seminar is sponsored by The T.L. Maddox Company.

During this meeting we will recognize our members with over 25 years in AIChE with a memento.  We do this for every fifth anniversary after 25 years.  As a recipient you will receive a personal invitation. Also, MYNAH is presenting their sponsored student awards. 

Attendees will receive 3 PDHs and attendance chances for the seminar and 1 PDH and attendace chance for the dinner talk.

The Speakers

Tom Blackwood was Monsanto’s internal expert on solids processing and has over 45 years experience.  He was a Senior Fellow at Monsanto/Solutia and is an AIChE and AWMA fellow as well as past chair of several local sections.  He has written design programs for pneumatic conveyors and installed and/or repaired many of these systems.  He has a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and is currently the webmaster for our section and a consultant with Healthsite Associates.

Ted Remmers has worked in the pneumatic conveying industry since 1976 and has served in both design and sales roles.  Although retired from CAMCORP he continues to support special projects for them.  He specializes in all areas of pneumatic conveying system design including lean, dilute, batch and continuous dense phase systems and turnkey system integration.  Ted currently provides consulting services to several companies and designs dry dust collection systems.

Greg Brakebill  started with Macawber in 1983 as a designer and project manager for dense phase conveying systems.  He is currently a sales and applications engineer.  Current duties include pre-contract system design, equipment and component recommendations, proposal writing and management of the company’s full-size testing and research facility.

John Kapuska  is the regional sales manager for Chicago Blower.  John has been involved in the industrial equipment sector for over 37 years, making fluid handling pumps, flexible products used for seals and gaskets, and now industrial fans. He works closely with manufacturing facilities and distribution organizations throughout the world. Seeing that diversity drives his interest in understanding how his products benefit the end customer.

Schedule:
1:30-2:00 Registration for the seminar
2:00-2:30 “Fundamentals of Pneumatic Conveying” by Tom Blackwood
2:30-3:30 “Dilute Pneumatic Conveying Systems” by Keith Horton
3:30-4:30 “Advanced Dense Phase Conveying” by Greg Brakebill
4:30-5:00 Panel discussion on applications
5:00-6:00 Happy hour (local section awardees get a free drink) and registration for dinner
6:00-6:45 Dinner
6:45-7:15 Awards
7:15-8:30 Presentation on “Fan Design and Selection” by John Kapuska

Cost: (credit cards accepted through PayPal - add $1 for each dinner or seminar)

Menu: Caesar Salad, Orzo Pasta, House Made Baked Cannelloni, Chicken Piccata, Assorted Rolls, Coffee/Tea

RSVP: Tom Blackwood at 314-367-1260 or trblac@att.net no later than April 9.  Please indicate if you are with ASME, ACS, AIChE or other organization in your RSVP.

Reservations made and not cancelled by noon, April 10, will be billed to you.