Thursday, August 23, 2018

What One Should Know About Screw Conveyors

By Kenneth Hamilton


Conveying system have come a long way today. Screw conveyors are also referred to as auger conveyors. It is among the best inventions done in the ancient time. The ancient Greece is the source of historical evolution of the auger conveyor. As it occurs, a prototype built by Archimedes in ancient days created the basis for future modifications of the device. Archimedes is the one who created a unique design of the device, which was applied in lifting liquids to a height.

As first, water was the main liquid that was lifted using this machine. It operates on a mechanism of a helical screw blade that rotates. Normally, the blade is confined within a tube. Today, auger conveyors are used in moving granular materials and liquids. As such, they are a common feature in several modern bulk handling companies and industries.

There are several materials that are moved using this system. They include aggregates, food waste, wood chips, cereal grains, municipal solid waste, bone meal and boiler ash among many others. The spiral blade is usually coiled around a shaft which is then driven at one edge while the other end stays permanent. There are others that are designed differently whereby one edge of the shaft is free and the other one is driven.

The volume transferred is directly proportional to the rate at which the shaft rotates. The design of the Auger conveyor is made this way to ensure effectiveness. Conveyors are used as variable rate feeders for various applications in industries. The rate of rotation is therefore modified to make sure that only materials or products are fed into the process at a given rate.

So far, the commonest type of screw conveyor used is the horizontal screw conveyor. These type of conveyors are built in different lengths, sizes, and configurations. Also, the materials used in their construction vary a lot. Usually most conveyors operate at 15, 30 and 45 percent trough loading. The percentage of trough loading depends on certain characteristics of the material being moved.

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.

If this happens, a lot of difficulties arise such as damage of the shaft and delays. High costs are incurred in repairing damages. It is therefore advisable to regularly maintain them since some damages cannot be repaired once they occur. That means that irreparable parts must be replaced when they become defective.

Better conveyors have been invented due to improvements in technology. Indeed modern models are better in that they produce low noise, save energy, prevent dust, easy to operate, good sealing, little maintenance, and well adapted. Besides, their arrangements in terms of the positions of inlets and outlets are flexible. Moreover, they are available in different shapes and sizes. This permits individuals to select the model that suits them best.




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