Trailer-mounted vacuum-pressure pneumatic railcar unloading system built by Semco Systems, with its own onboard 180 kW, 600 V diesel generator set. The package includes filter receivers, a rotary airlock, rotary-lobe blowers, an air compressor, starter and control panels, and a fold-up railcar access gangway on a gooseneck trailer with a converter dolly. Not used by the current owner; inspection welcome.

Overview

Trailer-mounted vacuum-pressure pneumatic railcar unloading system, built by Semco Systems Ltd. It is a complete, self-powered package for emptying dry-bulk covered hopper railcars, with its own onboard 180 kW diesel generator set, so it can work a rail spur with no utility hookup. It has not been used by its current owner.

How It Works

A dual-blower vacuum-pressure system. A vacuum blower draws product from the bottom outlet of a hopper car through flexible hose into a filter receiver. A rotary airlock under the receiver meters the product into a pressure line, and a second blower conveys it on to a silo, bin or truck.

Key Features

• Fully mobile: mounted on a tandem-axle gooseneck drop-deck trailer with a converter dolly (fifth wheel, pintle-style tongue and safety chains)
• Self-powered: enclosed 180 kW, 600 V diesel generator set on a ULC-listed contained base tank, with a fused disconnect
• Receivers: two cone-bottom cylindrical receiver/filter vessels on a structural steel frame, connected by large-diameter flexible hose
• Rotary airlock: flanged rotary airlock valve with its own gear-motor drive
• Blowers: rotary-lobe (positive displacement) blower packages with inlet filter/silencers and guarded belt drives, including a WEG electric motor drive
• Auxiliary fan: small direct-drive centrifugal fan
• Compressed air: air compressor on a vertical receiver tank with filter/dryer, regulators and gauges
• Controls: full-height starter cabinet and separate main control panel with Control Power, System Status, Convey Control, Pressure Blower and Alarms functions
• Railcar access: fold-up gangway with handrails, ladder and upper work platform for access at railcar height
• Aluminum hose couplings and fittings included

Typical Applications

• Transloading dry bulk from covered hopper cars into silos, pneumatic trailers or day bins at sidings with no fixed unloading pit
• Materials commonly handled by this type of system include plastic pellets and resins, cement, fly ash, lime, soda ash, sand, salt, grain products and granular chemicals or catalysts. Suitability depends on the material's abrasiveness and bulk density.
• Temporary or backup unloading while fixed plant equipment is down
• A mobile unloader shared between several spur locations

Specifications

Onboard Generator

Generator Base Fuel Tank

Buyer Information

• Inspection: Inspection is welcome; contact IronHub for additional details. Blower models, motor horsepower, line size and conveying rate can be confirmed on site from the component nameplates.
• Commissioning: The unit has been stored outdoors and shows surface rust and weathered hoses. Plan to replace filters, belts, hoses, airlock seals and batteries, and to service the generator and compressor, before start-up. Clean the receivers, airlock and hoses before conveying sensitive products such as food-grade material or resin.
• Electrical: The onboard generator is 600 V. If running from site power, confirm motor and control voltages match.
• Transport: This is a tall load with vessels, gangway and handrails. Measure overall height and check the trailer's registration, VIN, tires, brakes, dolly and CVIP status before moving. It may travel as an over-height load or with the gangway and railings removed.
• Site access: The unit sits inside an operating rail terminal. Viewing and load-out are scheduled through IronHub and are subject to site safety orientation and PPE requirements.
• Sold as is, where is.