Grain and dust extraction in port terminal tunnels
Handling large quantities of grain and other bulk materials can cause product spills and dust accumulation along silos, tunnels, and conveyor belts.
In large-scale facilities, cleaning operations must be quick and effective, especially when working in underground tunnels and environments where combustible dust may be present.
Port of Constanța in Romania
Piping and suction inlets along the conveyor
DV-AIR + CVS ROOTS between the silos
The benefits of a centralized vacuum system for silos
A centralized system allows operators to easily reach different areas of the plant through a network of piping and suction inlets.
The main benefits include:
- reduced cleaning times;
- recovery of spilled material;
- less manual handling of grain and residues;
- vacuum access directly in operational areas;
- ability to cover long distances and multiple work zones with custom-designed systems.
Our installation: grain and dust vacuum extraction in a port terminal
For a grain storage and handling terminal in the Port of Constanța, Romania, Depureco designed a system to quickly remove large spills of material and dust accumulations within the terminal’s conveyor networks.
The solution includes 5 centralized high-vacuum systems, distributed across the warehouse tunnel, silo banks, and conveyor galleries.
Overall system layout
Suction inlet with microswitch for remote start and stop
Conveyor belt tunnel detail
Centralized system features
The project overall includes:
- 5 centralized systems;
- 124 suction points;
- approx. 1,460 meters of piping;
- suction inlets distributed along the network, approximately every 12 meters;
- possibility of using up to 2 suction points simultaneously per system;
- automatic discharge of recovered material into Big Bags.
Operators connect the flexible hose to the inlet closest to the spill and directly vacuum up grain and dust. The material is then conveyed through the network to the separation and collection unit.
The various configurations cover very extensive networks: the main system dedicated to the silos, for example, reaches 560 meters of piping and 48 suction points, distributed over two levels.
The 5 centralized vacuum systems
System 1 – Warehouse tunnel
The first system serves the underground warehouse tunnel with 120 meters of piping and 10 suction points. Grain and dust are vacuumed in the tunnel, conveyed to the surface, and automatically discharged into Big Bags.
System 2 – 7-silo battery
The second system covers a battery of 7 silos with 200 meters of piping and 16 suction points. Two separate branches allow suction capacity to be concentrated in the area affected by the spill.
System 3 – 10-silo bank on two levels
This is the project’s largest system: it serves 10 silos on two levels with 560 meters of piping and 48 suction points, reaching both the upper gallery and the underground tunnel.
System 4 – Conveyor, first section
The fourth system covers the first section of the conveyor belt with 257 meters of piping and 22 suction points, allowing grain and dust to be removed along the elevated gallery.
System 5 – Conveyor belt, second section
The fifth system completes the conveyor coverage with 327 meters of piping and 28 suction points. Together, Systems 4 and 5 cover 584 meters of network and 50 suction points.
DV AIR 800 + CVS ROOTS system
The installed configuration includes:
- high-vacuum unit with a rotary lobe pump;
- 37 kW of power;
- vacuum level up to 5,000 mmH2O;
- airflow up to 1,700 m³/h;
- 4 filter cartridges in Class M;
- SP automatic filter cleaning system;
- HEPA H14 secondary filtration;
- tangential inlet;
- automatic and continuous material discharge.
Each system utilizes a DV AIR 800 + CVS ROOTS combination, engineered to ensure material extraction even across extensive piping networks.
For use in areas where potentially explosive atmospheres may occur, the installation also includes flameless venting systems and ATEX-certified slide gate valves to isolate sections of the network.
The results
The system allows for rapid response to spillages by utilizing the nearest suction point, reducing the need for manual handling of large quantities of material inside the tunnels.
The reported results for the installation are:
- 90% reduction in cleaning times;
- 35% savings on maintenance;
- 90% of material recovered.
Discover Depureco solutions for centralized vacuum systems
Depureco designs tailor-made centralized vacuum systems based on the material to be vacuumed, distances, facility layout, and the number of operators working simultaneously.
