Drum granulation is a process that uses mechanical rotation to form
particles of materials inside a drum, and is widely used in industries such as
fertilizers, chemicals, and metallurgy. The core principle is:
Material mixing: Mix powdered raw materials (such as organic fertilizer raw
materials, compound fertilizer raw materials) with water or binders to form
materials with certain humidity and viscosity.
Drum rotation granulation: The material enters the inclined drum and is
carried to a high place by the drum rotation before rolling down. Under the
action of friction, centrifugal force, and gravity, it aggregates into
particles.
Particle forming and screening: After screening, the formed particles are
returned to the drum for re granulation of unqualified fine powder, while the
qualified particles enter subsequent processes such as drying and cooling.
Types and characteristics of drum granulation equipment
| Device Type | Working principle | Applicable materials | advantage | disadvantage |
|---|
| Ordinary drum granulator | The inner wall of the drum is smooth, and the material aggregates into particles by its own viscosity, requiring control of humidity and adhesive ratio. | Organic fertilizers (straw, manure, etc.), compound fertilizers | Simple structure, low cost, and easy maintenance | Low granulation rate (about 60% -70%), average particle strength |
| Crushing drum granulator | Install crushing devices (such as cutting plates and crushing teeth) inside the drum to crush large pieces of material while granulation, improving particle uniformity. | Materials with high viscosity or impurities (such as chicken manure) | High particle uniformity and increased particle yield to 70% -80% | High energy consumption and rapid equipment wear and tear |
| Steam drum granulator | Introducing steam to heat materials, reducing viscosity and promoting chemical reactions (such as granulation of phosphate fertilizers), and enhancing particle strength. | High phosphorus, high potassium compound fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer | High particle strength, smooth surface, and a particle formation rate of over 80% | Requires supporting steam equipment, high investment cost |
