A pan granulator is a type of fertilizer granulation equipment used to create spherical granules from powdered raw materials. It operates on a unique principle that involves a rotating disc or pan, which agitates and shapes the material into compact granules. Here’s how a pan granulator works to make fertilizer pellets:
Working Principle:
- Raw Material Feeding: Powdered or finely crushed raw materials are fed onto the rotating pan through a feed inlet at the center of the disc. These materials can include various components of fertilizer formulations, such as nitrogen sources, phosphorus sources, and potassium sources, along with other additives.
- Spraying of Liquid Binder (Optional): In some cases, a liquid binder or adhesive solution may be sprayed onto the material as it is agitated on the pan. This binder helps to create cohesive granules by binding the particles together during the granulation process. SX pan granulator can be equipped with spraying device.
- Agitation and Granulation: As the pan rotates, the material is subjected to the combined forces of centrifugal force and gravity. The rotating motion causes the material to move toward the pan’s edge while simultaneously rolling and tumbling. This action causes the material particles to adhere to one another, forming the nucleus of the granule.
- Nucleation and Growth: The tumbling motion continues to agitate the material, allowing additional particles to adhere to the forming nucleus. As more material accumulates and binds together, the granule grows in size.
- Sizing and Smoothing: The rotating pan also has a curved or inclined side wall that guides the forming granules as they move toward the edge. This helps to shape the granules into spherical or rounded forms. Click here to learn more.
- Discharge: Once the desired size is reached, the formed granules are discharged from the edge of the pan and onto a discharge chute or conveyor.
- Drying and Cooling (Optional): Depending on the formulation and desired final characteristics, the newly formed granules may undergo additional drying or cooling processes to achieve the desired moisture content and temperature.
Advantages of Pan Granulator:
- Simple Design: Disc granulators have a straightforward design, making them easy to operate and maintain.
- Cost-Effective: They are relatively cost-effective compared to some other granulation macines.
- High Sphericity: Pan granulators are capable of producing highly spherical granules.
- Wide Range of Materials: They can process a variety of materials, including fertilizers, feed additives, and more.
- Binder Compatibility: Pan granulators can effectively incorporate liquid binders for better cohesion of granules
Considerations:
- Material Properties: Powdered materials with good flowability and appropriate binding properties work best in a pan granulator.
- Binder Selection: The choice of binder and its application rate can impact granule quality and strength.
- Disc Angle and Speed: Adjusting the disc angle and rotation speed can influence granule size and shape.
Pan granulators are suitable for both small and large-scale fertilizer production, offering a reliable method for creating high-quality fertilizer pellets with consistent size and shape. If you are interested in it, you can visit https://organicfertilizerproductionline.com/pan-granulator/ to learn more.