Stock Hopper

IFAMAC storage hoppers receive, contain and temporarily store bulk solids within industrial installations. Each unit is designed to maintain a supply adapted to the requirements of the conveyors, feeders and machines located downstream.

IFAMAC manufactures hoppers in different capacities, geometries and materials according to the product being stored, required volume, loading method, discharge system and operating conditions of the plant.

The design must take into account the behaviour of the material to facilitate its discharge and reduce the risk of build-up, compaction or interruptions in the feed.

Temporary Storage of Bulk Materials

The hopper acts as a receiving and intermediate storage point between different stages of the process.

Material can arrive from loading equipment, conveyors, elevators or upstream installations and remain stored until the system beneath the hopper authorises its extraction.

This intermediate capacity helps coordinate equipment operating at different flow rates and provides a reserve of material for feeding subsequent operations.

The usable volume is determined according to process consumption, loading frequency, bulk density of the material and available space.

Design Adapted to Material Behaviour

Bulk solids can behave very differently during storage and discharge.

Particle size, moisture, density, abrasiveness, cohesiveness and particle shape influence how the product moves inside the hopper.

These factors must be considered when defining the geometry, wall inclination, outlet dimensions and extraction components.

When the material presents flow difficulties, the design may require auxiliary devices to facilitate discharge. The most suitable solution is determined through a technical assessment of each product.

Customised Geometry and Capacity

IFAMAC adapts the shape and dimensions of each hopper to the quantity of material to be stored and the layout of the installation.

The design can incorporate rectangular, pyramidal-frustum, cylindrical or combined sections, depending on the available space and expected product behaviour.

The nominal capacity must be distinguished from the usable working volume, which may be limited by the maximum filling level, hopper geometry and material characteristics.

The structure and supports are sized according to the weight of the equipment, the stored load and the forces generated during filling and discharge.

Product Loading and Reception

The upper section is configured according to the system used to introduce the material.

The hopper can receive products from belt conveyors, bucket elevators, screw conveyors, mobile equipment or other feeding systems.

The dimensions and position of the inlet should promote suitable distribution and reduce impacts, dust emissions and spillage during loading.

When required by the process, enclosures, covers, grids, ducting or connections to dust extraction systems can be assessed.

Discharge and Process Feeding

The hopper outlet is adapted to the equipment responsible for extracting and dosing the material.

Depending on the application, it can be integrated with belt feeders, rubber belt feeders, reciprocating feeders, screw conveyors, moving-floor systems or other extraction mechanisms.

The geometry of the discharge opening and the capacity of the feeder must be coordinated to prevent restrictions, overloading or an irregular supply of product to the next machine.

The hopper stores the material, while the feeder installed beneath it normally regulates the flow supplied to the process.

Prevention of Build-Up and Blockages

Some materials can form bridges, adhere to the walls or generate flow channels that prevent the hopper from emptying correctly.

The risk depends on the product’s properties, storage time, pressure generated by the load and vessel geometry.

The design aims to reduce these phenomena through wall inclinations, outlet sections and internal surfaces adapted to the material.

When necessary, the solution can be studied together with auxiliary discharge or extraction systems. Their selection must be based on the actual behaviour of the product and the plant’s operating conditions.

Materials and Wear Resistance

The structure and internal surfaces are manufactured from materials selected according to the characteristics of the product and the industrial environment.

For applications involving abrasive materials, the areas exposed to greater wear and the possible incorporation of increased thicknesses, linings or replaceable components must be assessed.

Moisture, temperature, corrosion and outdoor exposure also influence the selection of materials, finishes and protective measures.

Impact and discharge points receive particular attention because they are usually subjected to greater stresses during operation.

Level Monitoring and Automation

The hopper can incorporate sensors designed to detect different product levels and supply information to the control system.

Level signals make it possible to coordinate material intake and extraction, stop feeding equipment when the defined capacity is reached or request a new load when the stored quantity falls.

The automation system can communicate with conveyors, feeders and process equipment to maintain a continuous sequence and prevent overfilling or a lack of material.

The final instrumentation is selected according to the material’s properties and the control requirements of each installation.

Industrial Applications

The hoppers can be used to store clay, aggregates, minerals, biomass and other bulk solids compatible with the system.

In the structural ceramics industry, they can be integrated into installations designed to receive and prepare clay and other raw materials used to manufacture bricks, blocks, hollow clay floor blocks and roof tiles.

They can also form part of conveying, screening, crushing, mixing, dosing or feeding processes used in other industrial sectors.

Each application must be assessed individually to verify compatibility between the material, hopper geometry and extraction system.

Access, Safety and Maintenance

The equipment can incorporate inspection openings, guards, platforms, ladders and other elements required to facilitate inspection and maintenance operations.

Access points must be configured according to the hopper dimensions, its position within the installation and the risks associated with the stored material.

Work inside or close to the hopper must be carried out with the feeding and discharge systems stopped, isolated and secured in accordance with the applicable procedures.

The configuration of guards and safety devices is determined according to the characteristics of each project.

Custom Design and Integration

IFAMAC adapts the hopper’s capacity, geometry, structure, inlets, outlets and auxiliary components to the requirements of each installation.

The equipment can be incorporated into both new plants and existing lines, provided that the available space, supporting structures and associated systems allow its integration.

Each project is developed according to the stored material, required usable volume, loading and extraction systems, process flow rate and environmental conditions of the plant.