Screw conveyor
Screw conveyor
A screw conveyor or auger conveyor is a mechanism that uses a rotating helical screw blade, called a "flighting", usually within a tube, to move liquid or granular materials. They are used in many bulk handling industries. Screw conveyors in modern industry are often used horizontally or at a slight incline as an efficient way to move semi-solid materials, including food waste, wood chips, aggregates, cereal grains, animal feed, boiler ash, meat and bone meal, municipal solid waste, and many others.
History[edit | edit source]
The first type of screw conveyor was the Archimedes' screw, used since ancient times to pump irrigation water. Archimedes' screw consists of a screw (a helical surface surrounding a central cylindrical shaft) inside a hollow pipe. The screw is turned usually by a windmill or by manual labor. As the shaft turns, the bottom end scoops up a volume of water. This water is then pushed up the tube by the rotating helicoid until it pours out from the top of the tube.
Design and Function[edit | edit source]
Screw conveyors can be operated with the flow of material inclined upward. When space allows, this is a very economical method of elevating and conveying. As the angle of inclination increases, the capacity of a given unit rapidly decreases. The rotating part of the conveyor is sometimes called simply an auger.
Components[edit | edit source]
The main components of a screw conveyor include:
- Screw (Flighting): The helical blade that rotates to move the material.
- Trough: The housing that contains the screw.
- Drive Mechanism: The motor and gear system that powers the screw.
- End Bearings: Support the ends of the screw and allow it to rotate.
Applications[edit | edit source]
Screw conveyors are used in many industries, including:
- Agriculture: For handling grains, feed, and fertilizers.
- Food processing: For moving food products and waste.
- Mining: For transporting bulk materials like coal and ore.
- Wastewater treatment: For conveying sludge and other waste materials.
Advantages[edit | edit source]
- Simple and robust design.
- Can handle a wide variety of materials.
- Can be used to mix and blend materials.
- Can be used to control the flow of material.
Disadvantages[edit | edit source]
- Limited to relatively short distances.
- Can be prone to wear and tear.
- Not suitable for handling abrasive materials.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
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Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD