Titanium Dioxide

Titanium Dioxide

Titanium Dioxide

IN BRIEF

The customer for this project is a paint manufacturer as well as a supplier of hardware items. In the early 1980’s, the customer wanted to improve the handling requirements for one of the paint ingredients, Titanium Dioxide (TiO2). TiO2 appears to be a simple dry powder and therefore easy to convey pneumatically. However, from analysis, the opposite is true. The material particle shape as seen in the microscope shows an extremely cohesive material and it is therefore a steady challenge for pneumatic conveying. Subsequently conveying tests performed in our full-scale conveying circuits confirmed our observations which caused us to design a special arrangement for the Denseveyors®. A complete handling system was designed for the Illinois plant with two Denseveyors® serving the needs of six weigh bin reception hoppers. The systems continue to function well providing energy efficient and clean handling of this very special and demanding powder.

Download Case Study: Titanium Dioxide (pdf)

MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS

  • Material: Titanium Dioxide
  • Bulk Density: Aerated 800 kg/m3 (50 lb/ft3)
  • Size: 100% < below 250 microns
  • Temperature: Ambient
  • Moisture Content: 1.0%
  • Condition: Highly cohesive and adhesive powder containing agglomerated lumps, tends to coat steel surfaces. Moderately abrasive.
  • Special Note: Systems also handle calcined clay, calcium carbonate, mica, amortized silica and feldspar.

SYSTEM OBJECTIVES

  1. Capable of handling Titanium Dioxide and five other materials.
  2. Reliable, low maintenance operation & low pipe wear.
  3. Ability to prevent material build-up in vessels and pipelines.
Titanium Dioxide Schema

SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

  • Transfer Capacity: 36 Mt/h (40 t/h)
  • Conveying Distance: 122 m (400ft)
  • Reception Points: Six

IMPROVEMENTS ACHIEVED

  1. Dense phase mode of conveying resulted in low pipe wear – Macawber provides no-wear guarantees for pipe and bends.
  2. Unique Denseveyor design provided for smooth, efficient vessel filling and discharge.
  3. Vessel filled using the unique Macawber Dome Valve – maintenance free (no lubrication required).
  4. Pipeline boosters not required.
  5. Denseveyor is completely factory assembled, functionally tested before shipping, ready for start-up.