Volumetric and gravimetric feeders: Ways to optimize performance
This article explains how to improve the performance of common volumetric and gravimetric feeders. After describing how each feeder works, information covers how to diagnose and solve feeder problems to optimize feeding performance.
In today's tough economy, focusing on the bottom line in dry bulk materials plants means finding ways to operate and maintain process equipment for optimal performance and longer service life. In most bulk materials processes, optimizing feeder performance is key to improving the entire process: A feeder that's not feeding accurately will produce off-spec final product and require extensive downtime for adjustments or repairs, cutting production rates and profits. In the typical bulk solids process, improving a feeder's accuracy by as little as 0.25 percent can sharply increase production and cut downtime, significantly improving the bottom line.