Equipment and design considerations for environmentally safe cement distribution terminals

The factors which have created a need for small, flexible cement distribution terminals are reviewed, and the environmental concerns affecting the design and construction of modern cement distribution facilities are discussed. Pneumatic conveying systems remain the only type of equipment which is environmentally acceptable for loading, unloading and distribution of cement everywhere. With pneumatic unloading, it is fully acceptable to operate with open hatches. To help eliminate dust during the unloading process, the third boom section of the vacuum unloading arm has been redesigned by some companies within the industry to allow 360 degrees C operation. With this feature, the vacuum arm can reach all corners of the ship's hold and even vacuum cement from behind web frames and structural supports. This gives the pneumatic unloader the ability to unload a hold evenly, layer by layer without the creation of dust.<>