Choosing the Right Conveyor System

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Installation of a conveyor system is an effective way of handling waste materials in an industrial facility. Conveyor systems can be employed in recycling facilities for efficient sorting of waste. They also eliminate the need for manual handling of materials.

The most common types of conveyor systems include pneumatic and mechanical variants. It’s important to take a few considerations into account before choosing a conveyor system for your industrial requirements.  

Mechanical Conveyors

A mechanical conveyor comprises of a drive motor, which is connected to the driving device by means of a gear. A sprocket or roller is typically used to connect the driving device with the motor. Once activated, the motor utilizes mechanical energy to get the conveyor in motion.

Pneumatic Conveyors

Pneumatic conveyors transfer materials by creating a vacuum or applying pressure. The conveyor is composed of a feed device, a source for supplying air pressure, air-material separator, and a conveyor line.

Pneumatic systems transfer materials in an enclosed line, eliminating the risks of material damage.

Factors to Consider while choosing a conveyor System

Type of Material

Pneumatic systems are used for to move around dry and fine materials like wheat, cement, plastic pellets, resins, sugar, metal powders, and starch. Granular, heavy, and moist materials are commonly transferred by means of mechanical conveyors. These materials include gravel, crushed rock, whole grains, and wet sand.

Transfer Rate

Both of these systems are well suited to convey heavy materials weighing up to a few hundred tons. The conditions and type of material decide the type of system used for a particular process.

Distance:

Equipment requirement in a pneumatic conveyor is independent of the distance. Whether the load is required to travel a distance of 10 ft or 600 ft, the amount of equipment required would remain the same. This makes mechanical conveyors ideal for industrial processes that require the transmission of loads at small distances.

Both of these systems can transfer loads up to 1000 ft. However, the cost of installing a mechanical conveyor on a path with various turns and elevations is much higher which is why pneumatic conveyors are the preferred choice in such cases.

Installation Environment

Environmental factors play an important role in determining the type of conveyor to be installed. Pneumatic conveyors operate more efficiently in outdoor conditions, as mechanical conveyors are prone to dust. The debris accumulates on the equipment; malfunctioning it.

At higher altitudes, the density of air decreases and can have a negative impact on the performance of a pneumatic systems.

If you’re an industrial facility owner planning to install a conveyor system in your industrial facility, get in touch with Crigler Enterprises Inc.  We provide reconditioned rubber belts and steel belt conveyor. We also specialize in providing custom waste handling and recycling equipment.

Contact us today and explore your waste management options!