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STOCKPILE SEGREGATION
An informative review of a Technical Paper
that can help you dramatically reduce
segregation problems with your end-product aggregates
The following is an objective review of Technical Paper T-551: Stockpile Segregation. The
paper was written by Jerry Nohl, P.E., and
Bob Domnick, P.E., both of whom are engineers with Superior Industries of Morris,
Minnesota. Because of space constraints, this
review only summarizes key portions of the
paper. If you would like to have a free copy
of the entire 24-page paper, just make the
contact that is shown in the box located at
the bottom of the facing page.
OR AN AGGREGATE PRODUCER,
there are two important goals that
are key ingredients for running a
successful operation: (1) increasing quality and (2) reducing expenses. In order
to meet these two goals, the producer
must take into consideration every single step in the production processand
this includes the stockpiling of the endproduct aggregates.
Stockpiling is, of course, absolutely
necessary for large aggregate productions, but it can also create some significant problems, such as particle segregation and the subsequent degradation of
the end-product. In a time when producers are often held monetarily responsible for the quality of their aggregates
by state DOTs, they literally cannot
afford the risk of creating segregation
when stockpiling the materials.
In Stockpile Segregation, a technical
paper written by Jerry Nohl, P.E., and
Bob Domnick, P.E., the authors address
Figure 1: The very first occurrence of segregation can be caused by the bouncing of
the conveyor belt as it passes over
the idlers.The finer particles tend to settle to
the bottom of the conveyor belt.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
for the full version of the
Stockpile Segregation
technical paper
Abstract
Stockpiling
Stockpiling Problems
Problems Caused by Segregation
Causes of Stockpile Segregation
When Is Stockpile Segregation a Problem?
Dealing with Segregation
Preventing Segregation
The Windrow Concept
Telescoping Conveyors
Partially Desegregated Pile
Fully Desegregated Pile
Stockpile Volume
Success with Automation
Conclusion
A radial-stacking conveyor minimizes
segregation by creating a wider base for
the stockpile and by spreading the
product over a longer distance. As the
conveyor moves from side to side, some
overrun still occurs, allowing the larger,
coarser material to gather at the sides
and base of the pile. The overall result,
however, is a stockpile with decreased
segregation at the middle of the pile.
Another conveyor design is the variable-height conveyor. According to the
paper,there is a direct relationship
between the height of free-fall of material
and the degree of resulting segregation.
In short, the farther the product falls
from the conveyor to the ground, the
more segregation will occur. Variableheight conveyors prevent this by beginning in the lowest setting, closer to the
ground, and raising proportionately as
the stockpile increases in height.