Wednesday, August 22, 2018

What One Should Know About Screw Conveyors

By Kenneth Hamilton


The history of conveying systems is not a short one. One of the best inventions of the ancient time are the auger conveyors, also known as screw conveyors. History places the evolution of this machine in the ancient Greece. As it happens, the design of auger conveyor was adapted from a prototype built by Archimedes back in the days. This inventor is responsible for the invention of a unique design which was used in transferring liquids from the bottom to the top.

Initially, the main liquid that was lifted by this device was water. Rotation of the helical screw blade is the mechanism used to operate it. The blade was placed inside a tube. Auger conveyors are currently being used to move granular materials and liquids. This is why they are commonly used by industries and companies that deal with bulk material handling.

Bone meal, boiler ash, municipal solid waste, wood chips, cereal grains, aggregates, food waste, and many others are among items moved using conveyors. Usually, the spiral blade applied is twisted around a shaft. The shaft is driven at one end while the second end stays fixed. Some systems are designed in such a way that one end is driven, while the second end is free to move.

To ensure efficiency, these systems are designed to operate such that the rate of volume transferred is equally proportional to the rate of rotation of the shaft. In controlled industrial applications, conveyors are used as variable rate feeders. As such, their rate of rotation is varied to ensure only a certain quantity or measured rate of material is delivered in the process.

Horizontal screw conveyor is the most common type of screw conveyor being used currently. They are made in different sizes, configuration, and lengths. The materials used to make them vary from one machine to another. During trough loading most conveyors operate at 15, 30, and 45 percent. The nature of the material that is being moved normally determines the percentage of trough loading.

For materials that are light, non-abrasive, and free-flowing, a 45 percent trough loading is the right choice. Based on the sluggishness, the material density, and level of abrasion, the percentage is reduced to 30 or 15. Conveyors have drawbacks besides being very beneficial. Blockage resulting from materials being moved bonding on the spiral blade is among the major drawbacks.

Blockages can result into a lot of inconveniences including delays and damage of the shaft. The damages suffered can cost a lot in terms of repairs. Also, there are some parts that are irreparable, meaning that if they get damaged the only remedy is replacement with a new one. It is for this reason that repairs are recommended after a certain period.

In conclusion, better conveyors have been invented as technology improved. The better conveyors have new and better designs because they are well adapted, well sealed, need low maintenance, easy to operate, and produce less noise. They are also energy saving and are good at dust prevention. In addition, they are well arranged in terms of the position of inlets and outlets. They are also of different shapes and sizes, giving people a a wide choice to pick from.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment