subject: Kinds And Benefits Of Screw Conveyors [print this page] Screw Conveyors, also called Auger Conveyors, are commonly used in processing industries for the transportation of bulk materials over short distances. Screw Conveyors are believed to have been in use since 257 BC when Archimedes suggested the use of a spiral incline plane for pumping water for irrigational purposes. Since then Screw Conveyors have been used extensively. Though, there have been many improvements in the Screw Conveyor, its basic concept has not changed. Screw Conveyors are basically used in metallurgy, agriculture industry, chemical industry, etc. A Screw Conveyor consists of a drive-equipment, body and spiral blades.
Benefits of Screw Conveyors:
A Screw Conveyor can transport material in a fully enclosed way thereby protecting it from dirt.
A Screw Conveyor has multiple conveying outlets which makes discharge to multiple outlets quite cheap.
A Screw Conveyor is used in process plants because it is capable of conditioning powders and bulk materials.
A Screw Conveyor is also used for broad type mixing of products through the use of different kinds of paddles.
Products can also be cooled or heated by jacketing the casing in the Screw Conveyor.
Multiple inlets facilitate mixing of additives.
Screw Conveyors are also used as product leveling devices in bunker storage and truck loading.
Screw Conveyor Machine:
A Screw Conveyor has casings which can be tubular, square or U trough.
Tubular casings are mostly preferred because these are quite economical.
The Tubular Casings are used where protecting the material from dust is important.
U trough casings are mostly used for process plant installations.
U trough casings allow access for spiral inspections.
Square Screw Conveyors are used for conveying abrasive products.
The Shaft Seal of the Screw Conveyor depends up on the size of the particles of the product and the abrasiveness of the product.
The Spiral Assembly of the Screw Conveyor is manufactured from a center pipe.
To be effective in handling abrasive materials, the Spiral Assembly is manufactured from wear resistant materials.
Kinds Of Screw Conveyors:
Screw Conveyors can broadly be classified into following categories:
Long Screw Conveyors- Long Screw Conveyors are up to 50 to 75 meters long. They require a center shaft support.
Shaft less Screw Conveyors- Shaft less Screw Conveyors are 20 to 25 meters long. They have spiral, supported on a sacrificial wear liner.
Screw Conveyors are simple devices that are very effective in transporting bulk material, especially dry particulate solids. This is the reason why they have gained immense popularity in various processing industries.
