Electrostatics in Powder Handling and Evaluation

Short course: 26 April 2012 (half-day)
Fee: £260

(Book this course and the Dust Explosions – How to Demonstrate DSEAR/ATEX Compliance short course and save £100.

Book this course and both the Dust Explosions – How to Demonstrate DSEAR/ATEX Compliance, and Storage and Discharge of Powders and Bulk Solids short courses and save £145)

Course overview

Electrostatic charges generated during industrial powder handling processes may give rise to unwanted particle cohesion or adhesion, which in turn results in difficulties such as particle agglomeration, segregation, material build-up on equipment and ignition of explosion, etc. Its impact is felt in terms of lower production yields and increased process downtime, or high risks to safety in manufacture.

The charges are most likely generated by tribo-charging, which arises from particle-particle and particle-wall contacts. Its behaviour is erratic and not easy to predict, nevertheless it is always desirable to characterize the charging tendency of raw materials so that corrective action can be taken prior to full scale manufacture.

Course content

This course firstly discusses the causes and effect of electrostatic charge in bulk solids handling, and then the hazards caused to product quality control and risk assessment. Here principal charge measurement techniques are reviewed. By the measurements, prediction models and possible solutions are generally discussed.

Format

This half day course can be attended on its own as a stand-alone informative session, or can be added to the other courses running within the week to make a one or three day course.

Is this for me?

Plant operators and designers, plant managers and maintenance personnel will all benefit enormously from attending this course, through improving their understanding of the behaviour of powders to learning techniques to overcome the problems encountered.

The course will be of great interest to personnel that are new to materials handling, or require an update on the subject.

Venue

The course will be held at the University of Greenwich, Medway Campus, Short Course Centre, Chatham Maritime, Kent.

Course team

The course leader is Mike Bradley, Professor of Bulk and Particulate Technologies and Director of The Wolfson Centre. He has worked internationally on design and troubleshooting of bulk solids handling as a commercial consultant and research expert for over twenty years.

Note: the Wolfson Centre reserves the right to substitute leaders of equal quality should this be dictated by circumstances beyond their control.

Registration and fees

Intending participants should complete the online booking form. The fee will be payable upon your return of the registration form and covers lectures, course notes, lunch and refreshments. All applicants will be acknowledged and confirmed. Cheques should be made payable to: 'University of Greenwich'. A discount of 5% is available for 3 or more delegates from one company attending the same course at the same time.

Note: in order to enable sufficient time to be devoted to discussing delegates’ problems, the numbers for this course will be limited. Early registration is therefore recommended.