1. Short-term impact on equipment performance
Frequent material changes will have many short-term impacts on the performance of the vacuum conveyor. First, the differences in physical properties of different materials, such as particle size, density and fluidity, will affect the speed and stability of material delivery in the pipeline. When switching from conveying fine powder materials to conveying granular materials, the material flow pattern in the pipeline will change. Fine powders may be well conveyed at a lower airflow velocity, while granular materials may require higher vacuum and airflow velocities to ensure stable delivery, which may cause fluctuations in conveying efficiency in the early stage of material change. Secondly, the adsorption of materials will also affect equipment performance. For example, sticky materials are easy to adhere to the inner wall of the pipeline and the surface of the filter. When replaced with non-sticky materials, the residual sticky materials may interfere with the normal delivery of the new materials, resulting in uneven distribution of materials in the pipeline, which in turn affects the delivery accuracy.
2. Long-term impact on equipment performance
In the long run, frequent material changes will gradually reduce the performance of the vacuum conveyor. Since different materials have different degrees of wear on equipment components, frequent material changes will accelerate the wear process of the equipment. For example, conveying materials with higher hardness will wear out the inner wall of the pipeline and conveying parts. When replaced with softer materials, metal chips or other impurities generated by wear may be mixed into the new materials, affecting the quality of the materials and further exacerbating the wear of the equipment. In addition, frequent material changes may increase the burden on the vacuum system of the equipment. In order to adapt to the conveying needs of different materials, the vacuum system needs to constantly adjust the vacuum degree and air flow speed, which may reduce the working efficiency of the vacuum pump and affect the conveying capacity of the entire equipment.
3. Impact on equipment life
In terms of equipment life, the impact of frequent material changes is more significant. Key components of equipment, such as vacuum pumps, pipelines, valves, and filters, have their specific design life and applicable material range. Frequent material changes may cause these components to be subjected to unexpected pressure and wear. Taking the vacuum pump as an example, frequent switching under the working conditions of conveying materials of different properties may cause premature wear of the internal structure of the pump, such as blades and seals. For pipelines, the corrosive and frictional properties of different materials may cause the pipeline wall to become thinner, dents or cracks to appear, increasing the risk of pipeline leakage and rupture, thereby shortening the overall service life of the equipment.
4. Countermeasures and optimization direction
In order to reduce the impact of frequent material changes on the performance and life of the Vacuum Conveyor, some measures can be taken. During the equipment design phase, modular piping systems and easily replaceable filters, valves and other components can be used so that targeted adjustments and maintenance can be made quickly when materials are replaced.
At the same time, strengthen daily monitoring and maintenance of equipment, clean pipes and filters regularly, and replace worn parts in a timely manner. In terms of operation, a reasonable material replacement process and equipment adjustment plan should be formulated based on the physical and chemical properties of the materials, such as thoroughly cleaning the pipes before changing materials, and adjusting parameters such as vacuum and airflow speed to minimize the negative impact of frequent material changes.
