Introduction of rotary drum granulator for fertilizer
The rotary drum granulator is a widely used granulation equipment
in the fertilizer, feed, mining, and other industries. It primarily
forms powdered materials into granules through rotational motion.
Its core components include an inclined rotating cylinder, a
feeding device, a transmission system, and a discharge port.
During operation, powdered material enters the cylinder via the
feeding device. As the cylinder rotates, the material gradually
forms granules through rolling, friction, and the action of an
external binder. Driven by gravity and centrifugal force, the
formed granules move along the cylinder wall toward the discharge
port and are discharged.
The rotary drum granulator offers several advantages, such as high
granulation efficiency, a high granulation rate, low energy
consumption, simple operation, and convenient maintenance, making
it suitable for the granulation needs of various materials. To
achieve optimal granulation results, parameters including the
drum’s rotational speed, inclination angle, and cylinder lining can
be adjusted according to different process requirements.
Parameter
Model | Inner diameter (m) | Inclination (° ) | Rotation speed ( r/min ) | Power ( kw) | Capacity ( t/h ) |
ZG1240 | 1.2 | 2-5 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 1-3 |
ZG1450 | 1.4 | 2-5 | 5 | 7.5 | 3-4 |
ZG1560 | 1.5 | 2-5 | 5 | 11 | 5-8 |
ZG1870 | 1.8 | 2-5 | 3.9 | 15 | 8-10 |
ZG2080 | 2 | 2-5 | 3.9 | 18.5 | 10-15 |
ZG2290 | 2.2 | 2-5 | 3.2 | 22 | 15-20 |
ZG24100 | 2.4 | 2-5 | 3 | 30 | 20-25 |
The key structural components of the rotary drum granulator
include:
An inclined rotating cylinder: The core working part, whose
inclination angle and rotational speed directly affect granulation
efficiency and product quality.
A feeding device: Ensures uniform and stable delivery of powdered
materials into the cylinder, preventing material accumulation or
uneven distribution.Powers the rotation of the cylinder, typically consisting of a
motor, reducer, and driving pulley, which enables adjustable
rotational speed.
A discharge port: Located at the lower end of the inclined
cylinder, it facilitates the smooth collection of finished
granules.
Granulation Requirements for Drum Granulator
During the drum granulation process, in addition to the main raw
materials such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic
fertilizers, various trace elements and auxiliary materials can
also be added.
① To ensure the strength of the granulated particles, binders such
as humic acid, lignin, or bentonite can be added during the
granulation process, depending on the raw materials. It is
essential to ensure thorough mixing of the binders with the raw
materials. Additionally, when granulating organic fertilizer raw
materials, an appropriate amount of urea or straw powder can be
added to adjust the material's viscosity—whether it is insufficient
or excessive—thereby enhancing the pelletizing effect.
② Ensure that the granulator is set at an appropriate installation
angle (generally a 2-5° inclination) based on the characteristics
of the material to achieve the best granulation results.
Applications:
1.Flexible Fertilizer Production – Efficiently manufactures NPK, NP, NK, and other multi-nutrient
fertilizers.
2.Dry Granulation – Converts fine chemical powders into dense, long-lasting granules
without water.
3.Optimized for Agriculture – Delivers uniform granules and consistent nutrient content for
large-scale farming.
4.Custom Formulations – Allows tailored fertilizer blends to suit specific soil
conditions and crop requirements.
ADVANCES IN GRANULATION DRUM DESIGN
Nearly all industries have seen tremendous advancements due to
modern technology. Some of the key advancements in granulation drum
design include: Flexible and Corrosion-Resistant Drum Liners:
Liners can be used to reduce or eliminate material build-up on the
drum walls, as well as decrease the potential for damage caused by
corrosive materials. Tumbler flights: Tumbling flights can be used
to increase the material agitation in order to perfect the
cascading effect and create the desired granule properties.
CONCLUSION
The granulation drum has long served as the basis of modern
fertilizer production. This versatile piece of equipment has helped
bring numerous fertilizer products to the consumer market by
creating a durable granule that is easy to handle, package, ship,
and apply. TIANCI has been the preferred supplier of granulation
drums to the fertilizer industry for over 10 years. Our granulation
drums are rugged, reliable, and manufactured to the highest quality
standards. We also offer unparalleled feasibility testing and
granulation process development services in our testing facilities,
as well as comprehensive parts and service support. To learn more
about our granulation drums or services, contact us today!
Rotary Drum Granulator Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Could you please specify the hourly output range of your drum
granulator?
A: The standard hourly output of our drum granulator ranges from 1 to
300 tons. If you have higher output demands (e.g., over 25 tons per
hour), we can tailor a customized solution based on your specific
production needs.
Q: HOW DOES A ROTARY DRUM GRANULATOR WORK?
A: A drum granulator works by tumbling material in the presence of a
liquid binder to encourage granule formation and growth. Feed
material and binder are constantly fed through the rotating drum.
The rolling action, combined with the stickiness from the binder,
causes fines to collect together into particles. These particles
continue to pick up additional fines and binder as they tumble in
the bed, causing them to densify and pick up additional layers in a
phenomenon known as coalescence. Tumbling flights can be
incorporated into the unit to increase agitation of the material
bed.
This way of forming agglomerates is a type of agitation
agglomeration also known as wet granulation, balling, or
pelletizing.
Q: WHAT TYPES OF MATERIALS CAN A ROTARY DRUM GRANULATOR PROCESS?
A: Generally speaking, drum granulators can process any bulk solid in
the form of a dry, fine powder. This flexibility lends well to a
host of industries, processing materials ranging from specialty
chemicals and fertilizers, to minerals and ores, and everything in
between.
In some cases, the feedstock may require pretreatment in the form
of crushing, grinding, or drying to be a suitable feed for the
granulator and produce the characteristics desired in the end
product.
Q: WHAT’S THE ADVANTAGE OF A ROTARY DRUM GRANULATOR OVER A DISC
PELLETIZER?
A: In choosing between a drum granulator and a disc pelletizer, the
drum is often chosen because it offers a higher throughput than the
disc pelletizer. The rotary drum also has the advantage of being a
“closed” system, meaning that granulation occurs inside a contained
environment, so fugitive material is limited.
WHAT CAPACITIES CAN A GRANULATION DRUM ACCOMMODATE?
A: Granulation drums can be customized to nearly any size,
accommodating capacities ranging from 500 lb/hr – 3500 TPH+.
ARE DRUM GRANULATORS BATCH OR CONTINUOUS?
A: Rotary drum granulators are typically employed in a continuous
setting, though they may function as a batch device in some R&D
environments, such as the TIANCI Innovation Center.
Q: WHAT IS THE RETENTION TIME OF A ROTARY DRUM GRANULATOR?
A: Retention time is one process parameter used to control the
characteristics and quality of the material exiting the drum, so it
can vary significantly depending on the process and product goals.
In general, retention time in a granulator may fall anywhere
between 30 seconds and 60 minutes.
Q: WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL WEAR ITEMS?
A: Rotary drum granulators are generally low maintenance, but some
items can become worn, depending on the operating conditions, and
particularly if the drum falls out of alignment. The most common
wear items for a drum granulator typically include the liner (where
applicable), tumbling flights (where applicable), and potentially
trunnion wheels, tires, and thrust rollers.
Rotary drum alignment is an important aspect of drum maintenance to
prevent wear of the tires and trunnion wheels. When a drum falls
out of alignment, it puts added stress on all components,
encouraging undue wear.
Q: DOES THE PRODUCT EXITING THE GRANULATOR REQUIRE DRYING?
A: Since the granulation process relies on a liquid binder to form
and layer granules, the product exiting the granulator is wet and
must be dried unless it is moving immediately to a downstream
process that does not require drying (such as in the case of iron
ore balling, where pellets go to a grate kiln).
Drying is typically carried out in a rotary dryer, which further
rounds and “polishes” the granules as a result of the tumbling
action that occurs as the drum rotates.
Q: HOW DO I KNOW IF A ROTARY DRUM GRANULATOR IS RIGHT FOR MY
APPLICATION?
A: Whether or not a rotary drum granulator is the right fit for a
given project depends on specific process and product goals, such
as capacity, level of control over particle characteristics,
product parameters, and more.
When it is not clear if a drum granulator will be able to meet the
project objectives, testing can be carried out in the TIANCI
Innovation Center to evaluate the process and identify the most
suitable equipment configuration.
Q: IS ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO SUPPORT A ROTARY DRUM
GRANULATOR?
A: Drum granulators require a feeding and offtake system to convey
material into and away from the drum. They also typically require
screens and a recycle circuit to recover overs and unders and
recycle them back into the process
Drum granulators are also typically followed by a rotary dryer and
in some cases, may be preceded by a mixer for providing a
homogeneous feedstock to the unit.
Q: WHAT DOES THE DESIGN PROCESS LOOK LIKE?
A: Rotary drum granulator design typically begins with testing to
assess the feasibility of granulating the intended material and to
gather key process data such as percent fill, retention time, drum
speed and slope, spray system design, and more.
Once the data has been gathered, engineers work off of this to size
the drum and incorporate any necessary features or modifications
needed to produce the desired product at the intended capacity.
Q: WHAT DATA IS NEEDED TO DESIGN A ROTARY DRUM GRANULATOR?
A: A variety of data points are necessary to design the granulator.
Along with a process description, the follow data is typically
required:
Why Choose Us?
Support and Services:
We are committed to providing our customers with comprehensive
support and reliable services. Our company offers free process
design drawings tailored to your needs, as well as free trial
testing services to ensure optimal machine performance. Every
machine comes with a one-year warranty for worry-free operation. In
addition, we provide free installation and professional training
services, helping your team quickly master the equipment and
achieve efficient production.
