In the fertilizer production process, disc granulators and drum granulators are commonly used equipment, but they have significant differences in multiple aspects.
From a structural principle perspective, the disc granulator consists of a tilted and rotating disc as its core component. Under the action of centrifugal force and friction, powdered fertilizer raw materials form a circular motion on the disc, and by spraying a binder, the particles gradually grow and shape while rolling. And the rotary drum granulator relies on a rotating drum with a copying plate inside. After the raw materials enter the drum, they circulate under the combined action of centrifugal force, friction force, and gravity. The material is lifted by the plate, and the binder is sprayed to promote particle formation.
In terms of particle forming effect, the particles produced by the disc granulator have relatively regular shapes and high roundness. This is because the motion trajectory of the material on the disc is relatively stable, and the particles are subjected to more uniform forces during the rolling process. The particle shape produced by the drum granulator is also relatively regular, but due to the more complex movement of materials inside the drum, the uniformity of particle size may be slightly inferior. However, the particle strength produced by drum granulators is usually better, thanks to the more thorough rolling and collision of materials inside the drum.
There are also differences in production efficiency between the two. The structure of the disc granulator is relatively simple, but its production capacity is limited and suitable for small and medium-sized production. The size and speed of the disc limit the processing capacity of the material. The rotary drum granulator has high production efficiency, and the large capacity and continuous rotational motion of the rotary drum enable it to process large amounts of materials, making it more suitable for large-scale fertilizer production enterprises.
In terms of raw material adaptability, disc granulators have relatively high requirements for the viscosity of raw materials, as they rely on binders to better aggregate and shape the particles. For raw materials with poor viscosity, it may be necessary to add more binders or perform pre-treatment. The rotary drum granulator has a wider adaptability to raw materials, and can achieve better granulation effects by adjusting process parameters for both high and low viscosity raw materials.
The maintenance and upkeep of equipment also vary. The disc granulator has a simple structure and is relatively easy to maintain. The main maintenance parts are concentrated on the rotating components of the disc and the spraying system. Due to its complex structure and internal components such as cutting plates, the drum granulator is difficult to maintain. Regular inspections of the wear of the drum and cutting plates are required to ensure the normal operation of the equipment.
Disc granulators and drum granulators each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Fertilizer production enterprises need to choose suitable granulation equipment based on their own production scale, raw material characteristics, and product requirements.