A POWERFUL BUT SAFE DEBONDING FORCE!

I was reading in the USA Today news web site that six airline flights landing at airports in the San Francisco Bay Area were struck by lightning within an hour's time on Monday afternoon, March 31. It reported that Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor had stated that five flights reported being struck by lightning near San Francisco International Airport between noon and 1 p.m. local time on Monday afternoon.

In addition, a flight operated by Alaska Airlines affiliate Horizon Air was also struck by lightning as it approached Oakland International around 1 p.m. local time. No one was hurt in any of the incidents and none of the planes' pilots reported damage. A United and Emirates plane also reported being struck by lightning. 

Gregor tells the Los Angeles Times that FAA certification regulations require planes to be able to withstand "any likely lightning strike" and continue to fly safely and land.

Lighting is indeed a very powerful and dangerous force, did you know for example that an average bolt of negative lightning carries an electric current of 30,000 amperes (30 kA), and transfers 15 coulombs of electric charge and 500 megajoules of energy. Large bolts of lightning can carry up to 120 kA and 350 coulombs.

Another very powerful force which thankfully is totally safe is used to de-bond particulate in the Primasonics range of Acoustic Cleaners (Sonic Horns). These sonic sound waves travel at an amazing 344 m/1130 feet per second through air and in a radius of 360 degrees. The Primasonics Range of Acoustic Cleaners have operating frequencies from 420 Hz down to 60 Hz and they prevent particulate and dry material build up in a very wide range of plant applications, ranging from silos to baghouse filters and boilers to SCRs. The sonic sound waves make the dry material oscillate and de-bond both from other particles and the vessel walls without causing and damage to the vessel whether constructed from metal or concrete.
Below is a typical acoustic cleaner installation showing a Model PAS-60 on top of a 30,000 tonne cement silo which prevented side wall build up and ratholing.

From the Beauty of Ice Sculpture to the Curse of Ask Sculpture!

If you trek to the Lake Michigan in the next couple weeks or so and hike along the frozen shore, you might find yourself standing on top of miles of spectacular ice caves.

Tom Auch, a photography teacher at Northern Michigan College in Traverse City, Mich., did just that this week and he brought back some amazing photographs.

This year the Great Lakes have more ice cover than any time in the last 20 years and are quickly approaching the 1979 record of 95 percent cover. The deep freeze has given visitors an opportunity to see some remarkable sights, for example Lake Superior's frozen surface has meant visitors can reach the Apostle Island ice caves for the first time in several years. Around 4,000 people have been trekking to this remote Wisconsin area to see those fantastic sights each weekend.

 Ice Cave   

These huge frozen peaks remind me of the equally huge ash mountains which can build up in certain boiler sections, especially within the economizer section. However whereas the Lake Michigan ice caves produce an inspiring if temporary sight, severe ash build up within power generation plant can provide a permanent and costly problem resulting in a continued reduction in the boiler’s thermal efficiency.

However Primasonics Sonic Horns powerful but totally safe ‘sonic sound waves’, travelling at 344 m/1130 feet per second and in a 360° radius can actually prevent the ash from settling on the boiler tubes and other surfaces and therefore thermal efficiency is enhanced. The sonic cleaners are also widely used to prevent particulate build up in baghouse filters, ESPs, air heaters and SCRs. They provide 24/7 fully automatic ash debonding thus providing a cost effective and efficient boiler de-slagging regime whilst the boiler remains on-line. For further information take a look at www.primasonics.com & www.quattrosonics.com

                                                                                                        

Sonic Horn in Boiler Plant

No More 'Impossible Situations'

I was reading an article on Charles Rozell ‘Chuck’ Swindoll who is currently senior pastor at Stonbriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Not only is he a pastor, he also is an author, educator and radio presenter. One of his most famous quotations is:-

‘We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations’ 

That certainly rings true concerning some of the particulate build up and material flow problems we have solved over the years in a wide range of industries with our Sonic Horns. A large proportion of our customers had never heard either of Primasonics International (although we have installations in over 55 countries worldwide) or indeed sonic horns/acoustic cleaners. All they knew was that they had either a serious particulate build up problem in their plant or material storage and flow problem in their silos and bins.

So by working closely together, evaluating the technical and dimensional information, we were able to recommend the correct acoustic cleaning solution and thus eliminate their ‘impossible situation’. Whether it is material build up and blockage problems in bins, silos, rail cars etc., or particulate build up problems in boiler plants, fans, ESPs and SCRs – Primasonics have a ‘sonic solution’ which will work for you! 

Find out how to seize this ‘great opportunity’ by clicking on this link – www.sonic-horns.com

Healing With Sonic Power

Today we are going to talk in medical terms - unusual perhaps for a blog about sonic horns but that's we'd like to think sets our articles apart from the rest .... occasional 'off the wall' interest alongside a  good dose of enthusiasm!

OK so we know that the generation of sound waves from a sonic horn can heal previously sick silos and prevent particulate problems in precipitators (forgive the acoustic alliteration but it's too tempting to resist!). However, this is just the tip of the iceberg for what the true of power of sound can achieve.

The world of medicine started embracing the science of sound some years ago, primarily with ultrasound treatment which is now well established and recognised for its health-enhancing benefits. This has been followed by new and increasingly exciting medical applications such as the sonic beam scalpel which we covered in August this year. Developed by engineering researchers at the University of Michigan, it offers the potential of less painful, possibly even painless operations one day. An amazing thought.

University research, it seems, is now a leader provider of innovative ideas when it comes to sonics and medicine.  Researchers from the Drexel School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems and College of Medicine have devoted resources to developing a new way of using ultrasound to heal chronic wounds including bed sores. By means of what looks akin to a battery-powered sticking plaster, the researchers believe they may have found a way to help boost the body's natural healing process and thus save on the time it takes for these sores to heal as well as reducing the pain and discomfort endured by the patient.

The 'sticking plaster' ultrasound device in testing

In hopes of helping patients suffering from extremely slow-healing injuries, called chronic wounds, researchers from Drexel’s School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems and College of Medicine are taking a new approach to using ultrasound as a healing tool. By dialing down the energy level on therapeutic ultrasound, similar to that used to treat athletes’ muscle and ligament injuries, the team is finding a solution that could give the body’s natural healing process a boost and could save patients a great deal of time, money and suffering. - See more at: http://www.drexel.edu/now/news-media/releases/archive/2013/August/Ultrasound-Wound-Healing/#sthash.MmcIemqQ.dpuf

In hopes of helping patients suffering from extremely slow-healing injuries, called chronic wounds, researchers from Drexel’s School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems and College of Medicine are taking a new approach to using ultrasound as a healing tool. By dialing down the energy level on therapeutic ultrasound, similar to that used to treat athletes’ muscle and ligament injuries, the team is finding a solution that could give the body’s natural healing process a boost and could save patients a great deal of time, money and suffering. - See more at: http://www.drexel.edu/now/news-media/releases/archive/2013/August/Ultrasound-Wound-Healing/#sthash.MmcIemqQ.dpuf

In hopes of helping patients suffering from extremely slow-healing injuries, called chronic wounds, researchers from Drexel’s School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems and College of Medicine are taking a new approach to using ultrasound as a healing tool. By dialing down the energy level on therapeutic ultrasound, similar to that used to treat athletes’ muscle and ligament injuries, the team is finding a solution that could give the body’s natural healing process a boost and could save patients a great deal of time, money and suffering. - See more at: http://www.drexel.edu/now/news-media/releases/archive/2013/August/Ultrasound-Wound-Healing/#sthash.MmcIemqQ.dpuf

Initial tests conducted by the research term have apparently shown that a low-frequency, therapeutic ultrasound operating at a level of energy much lower than traditional ultrasound units can increase the healing rate of chronic wounds, some of which would be very slow to heal or possibly not heal at all. For more on this exciting new development in medicine visit the Drexel page on ultrasound wound healing.

Hats off to these pioneering researchers. We share their passion for the potential of sound waves; whilst they seek to heal people, we will continue to seek to heal the 'wounds' of the many industries that suffer from material build-up problems.

Footnote: If you want to know more about how sounds waves can debond material here is an explanation I wrote which cuts through the technical jargon. Enjoy :) 

The Try Before You Buy Sonic Solution

In  our last post The ABC Of Sonic Horn Cleaning we quoted A = Alternative. What we wrote was based upon detailed dialogue with customers who, when they first contacted us, had no prior experience of sonic horn technology. They had previously, often for many years, employed a different and less efficient type of cleaning system such as soot blowers or mechanical rappers. They were completely unaware of a better option.

This is the kind of enquiry we love to receive because we know that our sonic horns are a better alternative - we can present testimonials and case studies that prove it. The quality of performance and reliability from a sonic horn is hard to beat. Even so, we occasionally find that a customer can be nervous when it comes to capital investment in what, to them, is new technology. Their hesitancy, however, is not an obstacle as we can offer a rental option and today we'd like to share some of that detail.

Rental periods for our sonic horns start from as little as 1 month (from date of despatch until date of return to our premises or purchase order date). Some ancillary equipment needs to be on site prior to installation such as mounting fittings, solenoid and timer, pressure gauge and flexible connection hose. These the customer can source separately or purchase them from ourselves.

Other requirements on site include a compressed air supply (we will quote the correct pressure and volume) and an electrical control input to operate the solenoid.

Our sonic horn rental customers can have confidence, not just because we have many years of experience working within many industries and applications around the world but because:

a) we operate strict ISO practices;
b) our sonic horns are all tested prior to despatch;
c) should a customer report a sonic horn not working, we take them through a fault-finding procedure to help identify the problem accurately. It could be a lack of air pressure or air volume for example
d) if, after going through the checking procedure, a horn is still not working, we will either despatch a replacement or send our local engineer to investigate/fix.

We actually have a rental FAQ on our website with more information. Things covered include delivery times, ease of installation and how to follow-through with a purchase order. So any plant operatives struggling with soot blowers, bin activators or mechanical rapping equipment should think again .... not only are sonic horns a better alternative but you can even 'try before you buy'.

The ABC Of Sonic Horn Cleaning

At school we all learn the alphabet. It's something that we use all the time and so stays with us all our lives. In the English language we call it our ABC of course and these three letters have become widely used to explain more complex subjects in detail. Here is an example ... Nuclear Science.

Nuclear science is not exactly an everyday subject but if someone is interested in understanding the basics, where do they start? Well, the Berkeley Lab has taken the idea on board using the ABC idea. Founded in 1931 Berkeley Lab is a member of the national laboratory system supported by the US Dept Of Energy. Over the years it has developed associations with no less than 13 Nobel Prize winners and 57 of its lab scientists are currently members of the US National Academy Of Sciences.  So we can safely say that they are in prime position to offer good information on nuclear science.

The Lab offers free, detailed information for teachers and students on the subject of Nuclear Science but they recognise the need to simplify the introduction by talking first about the ABC ... for them it's Antimatter, Beta rays and Cosmic connection.

On our side of science - the science of acoustics - we recognise the need to introduce the often complex detail behind our technology and its benefits in a way that people unfamiliar with the subject can understand. That is why I wrote a special section on our website called The Irishman's Guide To Sonic Horns where I explain many aspects of sonic horn technology and the science behind it. Using analogies of marching bands and the acoustic properties of drums and flutes I explain about the importance of sound frequencies and how it's applied in sonic horn cleaning. When it comes to the shape of a sonic horn, entirely different analogies are drawn - eg. the Liberty Bell and Big Ben in Westminster, London. Hopefully, by relating to tangible, real-life things people will find the subject easier to understand and, subsequently, and all the more interesting.

Here are some good starting points when it comes to the ABC of sonic horn cleaning.

A = Alternative - Our sonic horns are the proven, preferred alternative to other industrial cleaning methods such as soot blowers, mechanical rappers and aeration. Why? Because they are non-intrusive and do not cause corrosion and damage as can occur with the other methods.

B = Boilers - Boiler efficiency is one of the most crucial concerns for operators of power plants, etc. Material build up in boiler tube bundles can cause slagging which in turn reduces boiler efficiency. With sonic horns installed the material is not allowed to build up. Again, they are preferred to soot blowers for this application as the latter can cause erosion and corrosion inside the boiler.

C = Cement - The cement industry is one of the biggest sources of business for us. Our Prima Whip solves the problems of silos that have already suffered sidewall build-up or blockage and the installation of our horns can prevent silo bridging and ratholing from occurring in the first place. Click here to read about how our technology is helping to prevent pre-heater fan build-up for a cement plant in Malaysia. When it comes to sonic horn science, we know our ABC :)

Sanitary Sonic Horns

From engineering to landfill and science, the word sanitary is an important word in today’s world.  Health and hygiene are not just concerns for the individual, their family and home but for industry as a whole and on a global scale.

The industry that this is perhaps most relevant to is the food industry where everything from breakfast cereals to ice cream and chocolate is produced - and that’s just food for humans! There is also of course the production of agricultural livestock feed and pet food.

If we look at some of the statistics for the global food products industry we get an idea of its scale and importance. Five years ago, food products, including agricultural ones, generated revenues of over USD 3 trillion and in 2013 it is anticipated to be in the region of USD 4 trillion. Huge quantities of basic raw food materials such as rice, maize and sugar have to be stored, processed and transported every day and it’s in the handling of these dry products where the problem of material build-up and blockages can occur and reduce plant efficiency.

With countries such as China, India and Russia having significantly increased their production of raw materials in recent years the demand for effective machinery cleaning systems has also increased. Wheat production in Russia went up by a staggering 45% between 2003-2007.

Q: Why are sonic horns important to the food processing industry?
A: They prevent side wall build up thus avoiding cross contamination and preventing older food material from remaining in the silos, filters etc. Plus they facilitate maximum flow rates so that the raw material (maize, rice etc) is evacuated efficiently from whatever process or storage vessel it is in at the time.

Prima sonic horn model PAS-75 Installed to improve the flow efficiency of a milled maize silo

Q: What does the word sanitary mean when it comes to sonic horns and the food industry?
A: Essentially, the horns must have a smooth finish and be easily dismantled for cleaning if required.  That may sound simple  but there’s a lot of work goes into the process of making a sanitary grade sonic horn. Our Prima range offers the ideal type of acoustic cleaning horn for food industry applications. Manufactured from 316-grade spun stainless steel we can also supply our Prima range with an even greater sanitary finish should a customer require it. For example, we have had customers specify the need for a particular grit finish – ie. the finer the grit used in grit blasting the outside finish of the horn, the greater the polish and the smoother the surface.

Looking at our Quattro horns which have welded sections, you might not imagine they would be as suitable. However, as part of our on-going commitment to the improvement of our audiosonic technology, we can now supply Quattro models with a polished exterior and, if required, can grind the welds smooth for an additional cost should a customer so require and again facilitate any required grit finish.

Here are summaries of 2 case studies that demonstrate the success of our sanitary sonic horns:

Application: Rice Husk Storage Silos  (Food Processing Company, Italy)
Problem:  The husk was not flowing correctly in 2 storage silos. It was building up against the sides of the silo walls, causing a ratholing problem.
Solution: Installation of one of our PAS-75 sonic horns on top of 1 of the silos. This caused the husk to de-bond from the silo walls and returned it to normal efficiency.
Extra Bonus: Within a few days, silo number 2 (which had not had a horn installed) was also showing silos of improved material flow. Such was the power of our PAS-75 on the first silo!

Application: Sugar Storage Silos (Food Processing Company, USA)
Problem:  The nature of the specialist sugar being stored was very fine and sensitive to bacterial contamination, particularly from moisture. As a result it was adhering  to the silo walls and causing serious flow problems.
Solution: Installation of one of our sanitary grade PAS-75 horns on top of the silo. Normal material flow was regained within a very short time and the silo has not experienced sugar build up since.
Unequivocal proof of the power sonic horns for sugar silo cleaning.

Our sonic horns can be used in a variety of process plant for food materials. These include:
Silos & Hoppers
Baghouse Filters
Cyclones
ID Fans
Ducting (gravity & pneumatic type)
Batch Mixers & Blenders
Spray Dryers
 
Read more about our sanitary sonic horn applications here