GOK transshipment units: why bunker lining affects the cost of a ton
At a mining and processing plant, attention is usually focused on large equipment: crushers, mills, conveyors, excavators, dump trucks. This is logical, they form the main flow of raw materials. But the stability of the entire chain often depends on simpler elements: bunkers, leaks, chutes, and transshipment hubs. If the material in them is uneven, the performance of expensive equipment begins to decrease.
The bunker is rarely perceived as a source of losses. It doesn't look like a complex unit, it doesn't have an engine and transmission. Namely, in it, the material can hang, stick to the walls, form arches or come down in jerks. This is a typical problem for ore, concentrate, coal, limestone, and other bulk materials, especially when there is high humidity, fine fraction, or subzero temperature.
When the material is trapped in the hopper, the line loses its uniformity. The crusher does not receive the raw materials as required by the regime. The conveyor works with failures or overloads. Operators are forced to step in, and maintenance personnel waste time cleaning up. In severe cases, the site is stopped because further work becomes impossible or dangerous.
These stops have a direct price. The company loses production, pays for idle shifts, and increases the burden on the repair service. In addition, there are less noticeable expenses. The adhering material reduces the useful volume of the hopper. Uneven convergence impairs the controllability of the flow. Abrasive metal wear leads to wall repairs, sheet replacements, and welding operations in areas where access is often inconvenient.
Another factor is security. Cleaning of suspended raw materials refers to high-risk work. The more often the staff is forced to approach the bunker with crowbars, vibrators or hydraulic monitors, the higher the likelihood of injury and emergency situations. Therefore, reducing sticking is important not only for the economy, but also for labor protection.
The Russian manufacturer of Polyceramoplast solves this problem. Now, instead of dealing with the consequences of freezing, the company can change the conditions of material contact with the hopper wall. If the surface has low friction, does not retain moisture and is resistant to abrasion, the raw material comes down easier, and the metal receives protection from abrasives. This is especially important for transshipment hubs, because the flow there is constant and heavy in terms of loads.
In such conditions, the lining of bunkers made of anti-adhesive and wear-resistant materials is used. The selection is made taking into account the geometry of the container, the temperature of operation, the humidity of the raw material and the nature of wear.
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