FWS was engaged to improve material handling efficiency at a wood pellet export facility in North Vancouver. The Wood Pellet Conveyor Transfer Upgrade project addressed challenges such as material degradation, flow inefficiencies, and dust emissions at a critical conveyor transfer point. Implemented within a tight one-month schedule, the upgrade optimized system performance while minimizing environmental impact.

The project was designed to:

• Enhance material flow and reduce wood pellet degradation.
• Mitigate dust emissions to improve environmental and workplace conditions.
• Optimize transfer efficiency through innovative engineering solutions.

Key components of the upgrade integrated advanced engineering and precise installation methods:

• Engineered Chute System: Designed, supplied, and installed to improve material flow, minimize impact degradation, and reduce dust emissions during pellet transfer.
• Detailed Discrete Element Modeling (DEM): Utilized material flow simulations to analyze existing conditions and validate the performance of the new system, ensuring an optimized solution.
• Curved Hood and Spoon Design: The transfer chute’s curved design efficiently guided wood pellets, reducing impact and minimizing dust generation during transfer.
• Extended Enclosed Skirting System: An extended skirting system around the transfer point isolated material flow, further reducing dust emissions and enhancing operational cleanliness.
• Planned Shutdown Coordination: The installation was precisely scheduled during planned shutdown windows to ensure minimal disruption to ongoing operations.

The conveyor transfer upgrade significantly improved material handling by increasing flow efficiency, reducing pellet degradation, and lowering dust emissions. The enhanced chute and skirting systems created a cleaner, more reliable transfer process that benefits both operational performance and environmental outcomes.