When material is allowed to free fall uncontrolled, it accelerates, and as the velocity increases dust particles within the material separate and are ejected by the fast moving air-stream created.
Ship loading represents a major challenge since the material must be delivered to the vessel’s hold from a boom conveyor, often at heights of 20 metres or more above the hold floor, generating high material velocity and extreme dust hazard.
The Cascade solution overcomes this problem by directing the material flow down a series of inclined cones, which limits the flow velocity to a controlled speed. The shape of the cone holds the dry bulk in such a way that prevents particulate separation and minimises material degradation. The significantly reduced product velocity creates a “mass flow”. A stream of material moving as a single mass through the chute and onto a stockpile with minimised segregation.
By using this technology, dust generation is practically eliminated at source, without the need for expensive, energy-intensive and high maintenance, dust extraction and filtration systems. The Cascade system can reduce dust emission levels to as low as 5mg/m3.
