The ARVEDI Group is a leader in steel production in Italy and exports worldwide. The company is subject to numerous controls on emissions into the atmosphere, forcing it to implement extensive filtering systems to prevent any form of pollution. Large filters are positioned in an external area of the plant, and during declogging, ashes are collected vertically by falling into hoppers. These hoppers are often blocked by the build-ups or by bridging phenomenons, which require operators to hammer/poke the side walls to lower the material, or sometimes to stop the suction fans to clean the hoppers. This operation has costing implications in terms of production downtime and maintenance personnel (4 people in rotating shifts).
Based on the dimensions of the hoppers, STANDARD INDUSTRIE recommended the installation of two 50-liter Airchocs AC61010 cannons on each hopper, placed on the side walls, one opposite to the other, to clean the entire interior of the hopper and prevent the formation of concretions or bridging (see opposite picture).
After implementing the solution on three hoppers, the customer found that it was no longer needed to use hammers, and that automatic cleaning made manual cleaning unnecessary. Production stoppages are considerably reduced, freeing up workers to carry out other maintenance operations on the site.
To date, 6 hoppers have already been equipped (12 Airchocs), and the plan is to invest at a rate of 3 new hoppers every 3 or 4 months, so as to equip all 32 hoppers on site.