When it comes to purchasing a bucket elevator, it’s essential to consider various factors and collaborate with the manufacturer to make informed decisions. One of the crucial aspects is selecting the appropriate elevator style: centrifugal or continuous. This choice depends on the material’s specific requirements.
CENTRIFUGAL OR CONTINUOUS BUCKET ELEVATOR?
Continuous bucket elevators are designed for gentle handling of fragile or aeratable materials. They operate at slower speeds and lower capacities, making them ideal for applications like fertilizers, where degradation and attrition must be minimized.
These elevators feature buckets arranged to allow material transfer from one bucket to the next via gravity, ultimately reaching the discharge chute.
On the other hand, centrifugal bucket elevators are better suited for faster, smoother handling of free-flowing or powdered materials. They are commonly used in industries dealing with materials such as sand and ore, where degradation or aeration is not a concern.
Centrifugal elevators offer efficient vertical conveying through scooping and throwing actions.
To find the best bucket elevator manufacturer in Australia, it’s crucial to evaluate their expertise, experience, and reputation in the industry. Collaborating with a reputable manufacturer will ensure that you receive a high-quality, customized bucket elevator tailored to your specific requirements.
Differences between continuous and centrifugal bucket elevators:
| Continuous | Centrifugal | |
| Operating Speed | Slow | Fast |
| Capacity | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | -Inconsistently sized or lumpy materials -Light and fluffy or aeratable material -Material sensitive to degradation -Highly abrasive material | -Free-flowing materials -Material resistant to scooping and throwing action |
| Loading Mechanism | Fed through a chute | Scoops material from hopper (direct loading possible) |
2. BELT OR CHAIN?
When choosing a bucket elevator, the manufacturer will inquire about the preference for a belt or chain type. Both options offer reliable handling, with the decision based on practicality and cost. Belt bucket elevators are cost-effective and quieter, making them suitable for applications like sand handling.
However, they are less durable than chains and not recommended for demanding or high-temperature situations. Belt elevators are best suited for smaller particle sizes. Chain bucket elevators, although more expensive, are durable and ideal for heavy-duty operations, mine sites, and handling larger or high-temperature materials.
They prevent particle lodging and can utilize a dual-chain design for larger buckets.
3. WHAT’S THE BEST BUCKET STYLE FOR MY APPLICATION?
In terms of bucket style, the choice depends on the elevator’s design (continuous or centrifugal). Continuous elevators commonly use Medium Front (MF) buckets for gentle handling and Super Capacity (SC) buckets for tough jobs.
Centrifugal elevators employ reinforced lip buckets like AA buckets for durability, AC buckets for heavy-duty or hot/abrasive materials, and CC buckets for higher capacity. Additionally, bucket customization options include vent/drain holes, material composition (carbon steel, stainless steel, etc.), punching patterns, abrasion-resistant lips, and custom shapes/sizes for metal buckets.
4. WHAT SORT OF ACCESS TO THE ELEVATOR DO I NEED?
Consideration of bucket elevator accessibility is essential for buyers. Inspection doors play a vital role in troubleshooting, routine examinations of elevator performance, and assessing equipment condition. Some operations may necessitate access doors for easy maintenance tasks such as changing or cleaning buckets, cleaning the boot section, or conducting other maintenance procedures.
While bucket elevators typically have access doors at the boot and inspection doors at the head section, additional access or inspection doors may be beneficial at intermediate sections, depending on the specific applications.
Depending on the elevator’s location and surrounding infrastructure within the plant, the need for ladders, safety cages, and platforms may arise to ensure safe and convenient access.
