Screw Conveyor
A screw conveyor is a bulk material handling system that can be applied in vertical, horizontal, or inclined positions. It is one of the most reliable methods for conveying bulk materials. It consists of a tube and blades that form a continuous spiral.
This equipment is widely used across many industries, including cement, steel, minerals, mining, and food processing. It is particularly convenient for conveying bulk materials over short distances due to its capability to have multiple inlets and outlets. However, it is not compatible for long-distance transportation.
Advantages of Screw Conveyors
Capable of handling a variety of materials.
Operates at both high and low speeds, with material flow regulated by a slide gate or valve.
The device is equipped with a multi-inlet, multi-outlet configuration, enabling selective material discharge.
Useful in some industries for mixing materials and breaking up clods.
A tubeless design is used for industrial transportation of wet, loose, and sticky materials.
Can be used to heat, cool, or dry materials.
They can hold internal pressure and steam. This is very important when working with toxic or hazardous materials
Easy to install, which enhances safety during use.
It features advanced technology and requires minimal maintenance.
Applications of Screw Conveyors
In industrial settings, manual material handling is insufficient. Most factories require specialized conveyor systems to organize and streamline product flow. These devices enable the easy, rapid, and controlled transfer of materials, using a variety of methods. One popular type is known as a screw conveyor system, which is still widely used today.
Screw conveyors are commonly used in agriculture for grain handling, in food processing plants for dry materials, and in wastewater treatment plants for handling sand and dewatered sludge.
Screw conveyors have potential applications in composting facilities, from moving raw materials to elevating and loading finished products. Screw conveyors are suitable for handling dry and semi-dry materials such as sawdust and wood chips, as well as wet materials and food waste. Screw conveyors can transport materials horizontally, vertically, or at an incline, although it’s important to note that screw conveyors are less efficient when used for vertical material transfer. For conveyors with a 15-degree incline, capacity decreases by about 30%, and at a 25-degree incline, capacity decreases by more than 55%. Conveying material with a screw conveyor at angles greater than 45 degrees is generally considered impractical due to decreased efficiency.”
Types of Screw Conveyors
Screw conveyors can be designed in various ways based on customer needs but are generally classified into two main categories: horizontal and inclined.
Horizontal Screw Conveyors
Horizontal screw conveyors are the best-selling version of this type of equipment due to their simple and easy design. Horizontal conveyors are excellent for homogenizing mixtures.
Inclined Screw Conveyors
Inclined conveyors are functionally similar to most spirals but are used at an angle between 0 and 45 degrees relative to the horizon. However, their performance is quite different, as each degree of incline reduces the efficiency of the device and the amount of material flowing through it. Since more torque is required to pull material through the conveyor, more care must be taken in the design of the device. Therefore, the angle of inclination should be as low as possible to maximize efficiency and reduce the need for additional force.
The most common application of this device is in cement mixers and the transfer of animal feed.
