MISTAKES WHEN WORKING WITH PELLET MILL / GRANULATOR
We decided to answer the most frequently asked questions of users that arise when working with a pellet mill.
So what mistakes can be made:
1. Inadequate humidity of the raw material (too high or low humidity);
2. Incorrectly selected matrix for a specific type of raw material;
3. Incorrect adjustment of the spacing between the die and the rollers;
4. Incorrectly selected feed pellet capacity;
5. Selection of raw material fractions;
6. Non-compliance with maintenance (items not lubricated in time);
7. Voltage surges;
8. Penetration of solid particles into the working part;
Inadequate moisture content of the raw material
During the production of pellet, attention should be paid to the humidity of the raw material, because a frequent question of users is: "why do pellets crumble in their hands?”. We answer: for the production of pellet , the moisture level of the raw material should be 12-14%, and for feed – 17-18%.
In order to determine the humidity of the raw material, special devices are used – moisture meters. You can rely on the honesty of the supplier, if we buy raw materials, and check this information with him. If necessary, a dryer or humidifier can be used to obtain optimal humidity.
Incorrectly selected matrix for a specific type of raw material
For each type of raw material, the appropriate pressure should be set. In order for the granules to be dense, high-quality and not crumble in the hands, you need to choose the right matrix.
Basic parameters when choosing a matrix:
* Diameter of die hole;
* Die hole angle;
* Thickness of the Matrix.
Buying a pellet mill, you can always get information from the manufacturer, which matrix should be selected for your type of raw material.
Incorrect adjustment of the spacing between the die and the rollers
From how the spacing between the Matrix and the rollers is set, it depends:
* granulator performance;
• energy consumption;
* service life of die and rollers.
The average gap is from 0.05 to 0.3 mm.
Incorrectly selected feed pellet capacity
When buying a granulator, you should pay attention to the engine power, which directly affects its performance. For granulating feed, a low-power model may also be suitable, but for pelletizing sawdust, especially with a low lignin content, it is necessary to choose stronger models.
If you choose a low-power pellet mill and want to make pellets from oak, linden, birch, alder, this will cause an excessive load on the working nodes, and as a result – faster wear or damage to the pellet mill. Also, do not try to granulate raw material that is not intended for this equipment.
Different fractions of raw materials
In order for the pelletizing or granulating process to proceed smoothly, it is necessary to pre-prepare the raw material for the fraction. In the available and compact models of granulators there are no shredders (therefore, in fact, they are inexpensive and compact), and if you load raw materials of different fractions, this can cause a breakdown. There are two ways out: either grinding raw materials on separate equipment, or taking care of a constant supply of raw materials with the desired fraction.
As for the optimal fraction size, the particle size should be 1-2 mm smaller than the die hole.
Non-compliance with maintenance
Another common mistake when using a pellet gun is the untimely maintenance of the nodes. Rollers and bearings are constantly exposed to factors such as:
• High temperatures;
• High loads;
• Humidity;
* Course.
Therefore, it is necessary to lubricate the rolls of equipment every 2-3 hours.
Voltage surges
Normal voltage surges can cause equipment failure. Provide stable voltage and protection against jumps with special equipment.
Penetration of solid particles into the working part
Another mistake when working with the equipment is the lack of control of raw materials by the operator before loading them into the pellet mill. The raw materials can get solid particles, hard pieces of wood and any other unwanted objects that are stored in the warehouse. To avoid this, check the raw materials each time before loading them. Observing simple rules, you can significantly extend the life of equipment and get ready-made products of high quality.
We hope that our information was useful and will help to avoid errors when starting, operating and terminating the granulator. If you have any questions regarding the replacement of consumables or the order of grease, you can contact our specialists.
