August 2024

Volumetric and Gravimetric Feeders for Milling and Micronization of Pharmaceutical Powders

Application Notes & Case Studies /

The types of feed devices used in the industry vary from rotary valves to vibratory tray devices and screw feeders (single and twin screw types). However, as with any process, the product flow characteristics will often determine the best feed method. Since most pharmaceutical powders and formulations can have difficult flow characteristics, the twin screw feeder is often the method of choice. The “self-wiping” action of the intermeshed screw flights lends itself perfectly for the feeding of difficult and cohesive powders.

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In-Line Dilute Phase Vacuum Conveying for Conical Screen Mills

Application Notes & Case Studies /

Conical Screen Mills (also referred to as Cone Mills) are gentle size reduction mills which are often used to precondition the material prior to its entry into a process, either by delumping or coarse size reduction. These mills utilize a rotating propeller/stationary screen combination to gently compress material against the screen wall and size the material accordingly. Vacuum conveying is often used to move material through the conical screen mill, help improve overall throughput of the process, contain dust or exposure, and also to assist in improvement of end product quality.

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Automated Batch Dispensing of Reactive Powders into Reactors and Tanks via LIW Feeders

Application Notes & Case Studies /

Metered dispensing of reactive powders into reactors and large tanks has been a challenge faced by many chemical and pharmaceutical process engineers. The requirement to dispense difficult to handle ingredients in a contained and accurate method is an application which can be fulfilled and completely automated using specifically designed loss-in-weight (LIW) feeders. The combination of highly advanced weighing technology, and a contained and sanitary feeder design provides for an ideal automated method of powder delivery, without the danger and inefficiencies of traditional manual loading techniques.

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High Shear Mixing Technology for the Pharmaceutical Industry

Application Notes & Case Studies /

High shear rotor-stator mixer Quadro HV are used extensively in the Pharmaceutical industry for high shear processing. Quadro HV significantly improves the milling efficiency of downstream milling equipment which is why rotor/stator HV mills are also employed as “wet mills” for particle size reduction of API slurries.

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Conical Milling in Tablet Manufacturing Processes

Application Notes & Case Studies /

Tablets are the most popular dosage form of medication. It is estimated that 80% of all pharmaceutical preparations are in the form of tablets. Pharmaceutical companies worldwide have been successfully using the Quadro® Comil® for wet sizing after the mixer/granulator, dry sizing after the dryer, homogenous mixing, conditioning, and dispersion of pigments in the manufacture of tablets.

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NBE Bag Dump Station and Crumbler for Binded Crumb Rubber

Application Notes & Case Studies /

Operators stage bags on mezzanine. Each 50lb. crumb rubber bag was extremely compacted and essentially one large “brick” which would not simply fall through the grates of a traditional bag dump station. Operators would place brick on the grate and push towards the back until the entire brick fell off the back ledge and downwards. Empty bags were placed in the bag compactor on the operators’ righthand side.

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Heavy-Duty Mass-Flow Twin Screw Feeders and Bucket Elevators for Ground Rubber

Application Notes & Case Studies /

KWS designed and manufactured twin mass-flow screw feeders to match hoppers supplied by Hoover Conveyor. The screw feeders were 23-feet in length. The mass-flow screws were mounted on oversized heavy-duty pipe to reduce deflection under load. KWS understands difficult applications and designs heavy-duty systems to meet demanding operating conditions. Each screw feeder was equipped with two low-rpm, high torque gear reducers to feed the material under packed, upset conditions.

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Loading Shredded Rubber into Super Sacks

Application Notes & Case Studies /

Genan, the largest scrap tire recycler in the world, needed a solution for feeding and elevating shredded rubber into super sacks. Shredded rubber is loaded in bulk into a hopper with an inclined screw feeder and discharged into a bucket elevator where it lifts the rubber and discharges into new super sacks. The shredded rubber is used in the manufacture of new tires, additives in asphalt and to cushion artificial turf in sports fields or playgrounds.

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Twin Screw Conveyor for EPDM Rubber

Application Notes & Case Studies /

Customer needed a solution for conveying EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer) rubber particles. KWS worked closely with Lion Copolymer to design a unique conveyor for the application. EPDM rubber is fed into the conveyor by a perforated dryer belt that travels across the top of the twin screw conveyor. Excess EPDM falls through the perforations where they get picked up by the twin screw conveyor and discharged into a collection bin. EPDM rubber is used in a wide variety of outdoor and automotive applications due to the resistance to oxygen, ozone, heat and weathering.

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Hollow Flight Thermal Processor for Heating Rubber Powder

Application Notes & Case Studies /

Engineers at KWS designed a thermal processor based on the customer’s required volumetric capacity and necessary heating requirements. The KWS hollow flight design provides a path for heating media to flow through the full length of the screw flights delivering maximum surface area for heat transfer. Additionally, the center pipe and jacket around the trough also provide additional surface area for heat transfer. The combined surface area heats MRP from minus 90 to greater than 80-degrees F.

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