Making the Most of Driving in Your Car

3 Facts That Beginners Should Know About Pneumatic Dry Bulk Tankers

9 February 2018

Greg Sutton

A pneumatic dry bulk tanker is an enclosed and vacuum-sealed vessel that is used to transport dry products such as cement, maize, rice, and solid chemicals among others. A pneumatic tanker unloads its dry cargo through a pump. The tank gets the name 'pneumatic' because of the compressed air needed to discharge cargo. This type of tanker is common in the dry bulk transportation industry because of the ease of hauling and un-hauling materials. Here are some facts that beginners should know about pneumatic dry bulk tankers. 

AS/NZ1210 -- As a pressure vessel, a pneumatic dry bulk tanker must meet the Australian AS/NZ1210 Standard. The material that makes up the truck should be suitable for use with a range of dry bulk products. The most common materials are aluminium and steel. Remember that this is a general standard, and thus, other specific requirements such as welding and brazing and piping within this standard might be applicable.

Structures -- There are several structures of a pneumatic dry bulk tanker. A funnel tanker can transport granule or powder cargo in massive quantities compared to other tanker designs. The type of tank has a pneumatic discharge that works with fine granules and powder. Dense materials are discharged by tipping gravity. A funnel tanker has a steep slope that enables almost all the cargo to be removed. The type of vehicle is ideal for transporting powder chemicals and flour. The lifting tanker is advantageous because it can be operated in tighter spaces. With a large tilt angle, unloading cargo is simplified because of enhanced speed. Furthermore, you can use this type of pneumatic tanker to transport a wide range of products, both block, granule, and powder.  The horizontal tanker-type, which is the most common has low centre of gravity, and thus, its stability makes it suitable for all types of terrain. However, this kind of configuration has limitations when it comes to discharging cargo.

Safety Precautions -- Training and experience are critical in operating pneumatic dry bulk tankers. The operator should be trained on the operational procedures for unloading products using the pneumatic mechanism. Furthermore, the operator should be able to troubleshoot problems with breakages and blockages, which might cause the system to malfunction. Also, when the compressed air starts to leak suddenly through the valves as a result of over-pressurisation, there is a risk of injuries. In this sense, the driver or tanker operator must understand all the nuances of the vehicle operation.

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