How to keep your large-diameter screw conveyor running
Screw conveyors have several advantages, especially in conveying difficult materials. However, bulk materials processors often avoid using large-diameter screw conveyors because the high torque load they must withstand can make them unreliable. This article describes several ways to increase your large-diameter screw conveyor's torque capacity by strengthening the conveyor's weak points.
Most of us think of a screw conveyor as appropriate for short-distance conveying of light loads of difficult-to-convey materials. In fact, many materials, such as very fine, fluidizable powders like toner or wheat flour, can't be conveyed readily by any other method. In addition to conveying difficult materials, a screw conveyor offers other advantages: its small footprint and compact frame and its dust-tight operation.