Types of Screw Conveyors and Their Benefits
Screw conveyors are among the most cost-effective ways of transporting bulk materials. In modern industries, screw conveyors are heavily relied upon to run high skill industrial operations. A big advantage to its users is that they are very cost-effective while being low maintenance. Screw conveyors are available in various sizes and shapes, depending on the specific needs of a particular industry. While the basic function of a screw conveyor is transporting bulky material, it also aids in the conversion of dry unrefined material into the fluid. Screw conveyors comprise of tubes in which loose, unrefined materials get transported and converted into semiliquid states. The tubes are made from very durable stainless steel, which used well could serve the industry for a very long time. Screw conveyors are fed with the unrefined material on one end, which then gets released to the device’s other end through a process called positive displacement. Inside the screw conveyor is a helical screw blade, which moves coarse materials in the tube. Around the rod is a coiled spiral blade, which gets directed from one end, and held on the other end.
There are various kinds of screw conveyors, such as horizontal, vertical, inclined and shaftless screw conveyors. Horizontal screw conveyors have a broad range of applications and are available in different sizes, construction materials, and forms. Due to the broad range of applications, they can be used for virtually all kinds of material, whether light, free-flowing, heavy or lumpy. Inclined screw conveyors are used to providing horizontal functioning. The efficiency of the conveyors largely depends on a certain degree of incline. As a general of thumb, the greater the degree of incline, the less the conveying efficiency. Shaftless screw conveyors on the other hand aid in the easy transfer of material, particularly due to the non-clogging surface of the conveyor. Users can expect smooth flexibility due to the structure of a shaftless screw conveyor. Lastly, vertical screw conveyors are arguably the most cost-effective, not to mention how the aid of the design in fitting them into nearly any plant layout. They are very popular in wastewater treatment facilities, as well as industries that exclusively deal with chemicals, minerals, food and wood products.
Industries have plenty of advantages to reap from screw conveyors. First of all, they are very much capable of handling a wide array of bulk materials, from free-flowing materials to sluggish materials. Depending on an industry’s needs, a screw conveyor can be fitted with multiple discharges and inlet points. This implies that bulk materials can be conveyed to different locations as needed. Valves or slide gates can be installed to achieve extra control of the flow of materials into and out of the device.
When screw conveyors are used as metering devices, they are deemed as screw feeders. The sole purpose of a screw feeder is to initiate material processes by metering products from hoppers or bins. With regard to positioning, screw conveyors can be used in various positions depending on the needs at hand i.e. inclined, vertical or horizontal planes. This coupled with their total enclosure means that products can be well contained and spillage can be avoided.