Advantages of Rotary Drum Granulators over Disc Granulators

When selecting organic fertilizer granulation equipment, both rotary drum and disc granulators are commonly used. However, rotary drum granulators, with their multi-dimensional performance advantages, better meet the efficiency and scale requirements of modern organic fertilizer production lines. The differences between the two are primarily reflected in the following four aspects.

More flexible capacity adaptability meets the needs of large-scale production. Disc granulators are limited by the diameter of their discs, typically with an hourly output of 0.5-5 tons per unit, making them suitable only for small production lines. By adjusting the drum length and diameter, rotary drum granulators can achieve hourly outputs of 1-20 tons per unit. They meet the basic production needs of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as the large-scale production of large factories. They eliminate the need for multiple units in parallel, reducing production line floor space and equipment investment costs.

They offer greater raw material compatibility and reduce pretreatment complexity. Organic fertilizer raw materials have large fluctuations in moisture and composition. Disc granulators must maintain a moisture content of 20%-30%. They also struggle with crude fiber materials, which tend to stick to the disc and produce uneven granules. Rotary drum granulators can process materials with moisture levels of 25%-40%. Leveraging the multi-directional force of the rotating drum, they can smoothly granulate composted straw, livestock manure, and other materials without the need for additional crushing or conditioning, streamlining the process.

The resulting product is more stable and meets standardized requirements. Due to the single direction of centrifugal force, disc granulators produce pellets with a roundness of 70%-80% and large particle size variations. Rotary drum granulators, on the other hand, utilize internal rollers to guide and rotate the pellets, resulting in a fully rolling and shaping process with a roundness exceeding 90% and a precisely controlled particle size of 2-5mm. Furthermore, the granulation process is gentle, does not damage organic matter, and the pellets are of moderate strength. Transportation losses are 15%-20% lower than those from disc granulators.

Operation and maintenance are also simplified, resulting in lower long-term costs. Disc granulators require frequent manual adjustments of inclination and speed, resulting in wear and tear on the disc edges and requiring frequent replacement. Rotary drum granulators, on the other hand, utilize automated control to precisely adjust speed and feed rate, eliminating the need for manual oversight. The drum is constructed of wear-resistant stainless steel, resulting in a 40% lower failure rate and over 30% lower maintenance costs, resulting in superior long-term economics.

In summary, the advantages of the rotary drum granulator in terms of production capacity, raw material compatibility, finished product quality, and cost control make it ideally suited to the diverse needs of organic fertilizer production lines, making it an ideal choice for improving efficiency and competitiveness.

The Core Reasons to Choose a Rotary Drum Granulator for Organic Fertilizer Production Lines

In the granulation stage of organic fertilizer production lines, rotary drum granulators are the preferred equipment for most companies due to their high adaptability to the characteristics of organic fertilizers. Their unique operating principle and performance advantages effectively address key challenges in the granulation process, ensuring product quality and production efficiency.

In terms of granulation adaptability, rotary drum granulators perfectly match the characteristics of organic fertilizer raw materials. Organic fertilizer raw materials, mostly livestock and poultry manure and composted straw, have complex compositions and contain a large amount of fiber. The rotary drum granulator uses the centrifugal force, extrusion force, and friction generated by the rotating drum to granulate loose raw materials without excessive compression, thus preventing the destruction of organic matter and functional microbial activity in the raw materials due to strong compression. The rotary drum granulator also adapts to fluctuations in raw material moisture content (it can handle raw materials with a moisture content of 25%-40%), reducing the tedious pre-treatment process.

The advantages in granulation efficiency and finished product quality are significant. The drum length and diameter of the rotary drum granulator can be flexibly designed to meet production capacity requirements. A single unit can achieve an output of 1-20 tons/hour, meeting the needs of production lines of varying sizes. Its granulation process is gentle and uniform, resulting in highly rounded granules (over 90% roundness). The particle size can be controlled between 2-5mm by adjusting the drum speed and the baffle, meeting standard requirements for organic fertilizer granules. The granules also possess moderate strength, preventing breakage during transportation while slowly disintegrating in the soil, enhancing nutrient release efficiency.

From a cost and environmental perspective, the rotary drum granulator is also competitive. Its simple structure, minimal transmission components, and low failure rate mean ongoing maintenance costs are approximately 30% lower than those of other granulation equipment (such as disc granulators and extrusion granulators). Furthermore, the granulation process does not require the addition of large amounts of binders; granulation is achieved solely through the raw material’s inherent viscosity. This reduces raw material costs while preventing the impact of foreign matter on the purity of the organic fertilizer, aligning with green production principles.

The comprehensive advantages of the rotary drum granulator in adaptability, efficiency, cost and environmental protection make it an ideal choice for the granulation link of the organic fertilizer production line, providing strong support for enterprises to achieve high-quality and high-efficiency production.

Applicable to multiple industries, disc granulators offer a wide range of applications

Disc granulators are not limited to fertilizer production. Their outstanding granulation capabilities make them a valuable tool for a variety of industries, including metallurgy, building materials, and chemicals.

In the metallurgical industry, metal ore powders such as iron ore and manganese ore are processed into granules by disc granulators, facilitating subsequent sintering and smelting processes. This not only improves resource utilization, but also reduces production waste and lowers production costs.

In the building materials industry, disc granulators are used to produce cement raw material granules, ceramsite sand, and other building material granules. The granulation of cement raw materials improves their combustion properties, thereby enhancing cement quality.

In the chemical industry, disc granulators can granulate a variety of chemical raw materials, including catalysts, pigments, and detergents. The resulting chemical products exhibit improved flowability and stability, significantly enhancing product performance and meeting the high standards of chemical production.

Tracked design and efficient turning! Technical advantages of the windrow compost turner

The windrow compost turner’s widespread use in organic fertilizer production stems from the significant advantages offered by its unique technical design. The tracked design is a key advantage. Compared to traditional wheeled equipment, it effectively reduces ground pressure, typically to just 0.05-0.1 MPa. This allows for flexible maneuverability even on muddy, soft surfaces, or complex terrain with slopes up to 15°, eliminating the need for dedicated tracks. This significantly improves site utilization, exceeding that of trough-type compost turning machines by over 30%.

The machine also excels in turning performance. Its hydraulic arm allows for flexible adjustment of turning height and width, accommodating windrows ranging from 0.5-2.5 meters in height and 2-6 meters in width. A single unit can process 50-150 tons of material per hour, achieving an efficiency 1.5-2 times that of a single-screw compost turning machine. The turning teeth and spiral blades are forged from alloy steel. Combined with a bottom-up turning mechanism, this achieves a material turning rate of over 95%, preventing localized compaction and uneven fermentation. Material temperature deviation is kept within 3°C, ensuring stable fermentation quality.

Furthermore, the equipment’s electronic control system monitors operating parameters in real time. In the event of abnormal conditions such as overload or excessive hydraulic oil temperature, it automatically issues an alarm and shuts down the machine for protection, ensuring safe and efficient operation.

Synergistic application of NPK fertilizer production lines and BB fertilizer mixers

NPK fertilizer production lines are crucial for compound fertilizer production. As a key piece of equipment, BB fertilizer mixers, when integrated with the production line, significantly improve overall production efficiency and product quality. NPK fertilizer production involves processes such as raw material crushing, mixing, granulation, and drying. The mixing stage directly impacts the nutrient balance of the final product, and BB fertilizer mixers are a perfect fit for this requirement.

In the production line, raw materials processed by the fertilizer crusher are delivered to the BB fertilizer mixer via a fertilizer conveyor. Upon startup, the drive system drives the mixing shaft and blades, evenly mixing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent granulation process. Inhomogeneous mixing can result in significantly different nutrient distributions in the granulated fertilizer, impacting product quality.

The BB fertilizer mixer’s control system can be linked with the overall production line control system to synchronize parameters such as mixing speed and time, ensuring a smooth production process. After mixing, the uniform raw materials are discharged through the discharge port and sent to the granulator by conveyor. It works efficiently with subsequent equipment such as dryers and coolers to form a complete NPK fertilizer production chain, helping companies achieve large-scale, high-quality production.

Why is the large wheel compost turner considered an “accelerator” for efficient organic fertilizer production?

In today’s pursuit of efficient production, the large wheel compost turner, with its superior performance, has become an “accelerator” for organic fertilizer manufacturers. Its efficiency advantages are reflected in multiple aspects.

In terms of processing capacity, the equipment utilizes a large wheel structure with a main wheel diameter of 5-10 meters, providing a wide turning coverage area in a single turn. It can process 100-200 tons of material per hour, 3-5 times the capacity of traditional windrow compost turners. For example, a base with an annual production capacity of 10,000 tons of organic fertilizer, which previously required multiple units, can now be met by a single large-wheel compost turner, significantly improving production efficiency.

In terms of fermentation efficiency, it uses centrifugal force to thoroughly turn the material to a depth of 1.5-2 meters, evenly mixing the upper and lower layers of the material, and maintaining a temperature distribution difference of ≤2°C, thus avoiding uneven fermentation. The equipment also accelerates the contact between materials and air, regulates temperature and humidity, and shortens the fermentation cycle to 20-30 days, nearly half the time of traditional equipment.

Furthermore, the equipment boasts a high degree of automation, with an electronic control system and touchscreen operation, allowing one or two people to operate it, reducing labor input. For organic fertilizer companies seeking efficient production, the large wheel compost turner is undoubtedly an ideal choice for enhancing competitiveness.