Woodyards

Mid-South Engineering specializes in providing comprehensive engineering and consulting services for woodyards serving building products, biomass, and pulp/paper facilities. Woodyards are crucial in the processing of roundwood into chips or flakes for further downstream use and choosing the right equipment and conveyor systems is essential for efficient and cost-effective operations. Here are some key considerations in proper woodyard design:

Equipment Selection: Choosing the right major equipment for a woodyard is critical. This includes log handling cranes, debarking drums, chippers, and chip storage/reclaim systems. The selection should be based on factors such as production rate, wood species, and anticipated equipment longevity.

Material Handling Conveyor System: The design of the material handling conveyor system is custom for each site due to layout constraints and other site-specific factors. Key considerations include:

• Belts vs. Chains: Selecting the appropriate conveyor type (belts or chains) based on the material and operational requirements.
• Operating Speeds: Determining the conveyor operating speeds to match the production rate and equipment downstream.
• Transitions and Arrangements: Ensuring smooth transitions between conveyors and process equipment. The arrangement of conveyors should optimize material flow.
• Chutework and Transition Plates: Designing chutes and transition plates to facilitate smooth material transfer and minimize spillage.
• Conveyor Cleanup: Implementing effective cleanup methods to maintain a clean and safe working environment.
• Capacity: Determining the maximum design capacities (flow rates) versus average flow rates to handle peak loads efficiently.
• Control Devices: Using control devices like plug chute switches and “zero” speed switches for safety and process control.
• Variable Speed Drives: Considering the use of variable speed drives to adapt to varying material flows and operational requirements.
• Pneumatic Aspiration Systems: Evaluating the economic feasibility of using pneumatic aspiration systems for specific applications.

Site-Specific Design: It’s important to recognize that each woodyard has unique layout constraints, mill configurations, and secondary processing equipment. The conveyor system design must be tailored to fit these specific conditions.

Comprehensive Engineering Services: Mid-South not only assists in selecting major woodyard equipment but also provides well-designed and engineered material handling systems. This holistic approach ensures the overall success of a woodyard operation.

Efficient woodyard operations are vital for the wood processing industry, and Mid-South Engineering plays a crucial role in ensuring that the right equipment and conveyor systems are in place to optimize productivity and reduce operating costs.