Design Considerations for an Auger Conveyor

Purchasing an auger conveyor can be a tedious and overwhelming experience.

The nature of how product moves in an auger conveyor (sliding through a tube with a screw or auger as opposed to just sitting on a belt) requires the manufacturer to know a lot of detailed information about the product being conveyed and where it’s being conveyed — information that most customers aren’t aware of or don’t have prepared up front.

While most manufacturers try to make this process as painless as possible, there is no getting around the need for some information in order to design an auger conveyor that will efficiently move your product.

Auger Conveyor Design Factors

Before talking with a manufacturer to design and provide an auger conveyor to move your product, take time to determine the following design factors. Doing so will make the process of purchasing an auger conveyor easier and faster.

Abrasiveness, Corrosiveness, and Flowability of Product

Each of these characteristics affect how well your product will react to and move through an auger conveyor — and help determine the design and finish style of the auger conveyor’s interior.

Ask yourself these questions:

Is your product abrasive (rough) or sticky?
Does your product react to any materials?
How well does your product flow or move?
Does your product build up and harden when moved?
Does your product generate static electricity?
Is it flammable or explosive?

You can easily test the flowability of your product by placing it on a stainless steel table and trying to push it around. Did it move easily? Did it stick to the surface?

These are all things the manufacturer will need to know in order to ensure their auger conveyor can move your product.

Maximum Particle Size of Product

The size of the product being conveyed determines the auger conveyor diameter — as the product must be able to fit in the clearance between the center shaft and the inside of the trough. Larger products require a larger auger diameter and smaller products require a smaller auger diameter.

Particle size is determined by the maximum dimension of the largest pieces or lumps in the material being conveyed. When measuring particle size, find the largest pieces you can and go with the largest dimension. If the pieces are oddly shaped (i.e. one side is bigger than the other), always go with the larger of the two.

The character of the product pieces must also be considered. Some products have hard pieces that won’t break up when conveyed. Other products have pieces that are fairly hard, but break down when being moved. Knowing this will help the manufacturer determine auger size.

Density of Product

The density of the product being conveyed is needed to determine the appropriate capacity of the auger conveyor.

An auger conveyor capacity is calculated volumetrically in cubic feet per hour.

When you tell a manufacturer that you need a certain amount of product moved per hour, the product density that is used to convert the capacities given in tons or pounds per hour to cubic feet per hour — to determine the volume the auger conveyor needs to be able to move.

Length of Auger

The manufacturer will need to know the distance you want to move your product, which is used to determine the length and style of the auger.

We recommend taking this measurement in inches.

Infeed and Discharge Heights and Sizes

Knowing how you plan to feed and discharge the auger conveyor, and at what heights, is needed to determine the size and height of the infeed hopper and the size and style of the discharge chute.

Some questions to consider:

How will you feed the auger conveyor (dumper, conveyor, by hand, another way)?
What height does the hopper need to be in order to clear your method of feeding?
How much product will you dump into the auger conveyor at once?
Where will product exit the auger conveyor?
Do you need a chute or diverter at the outfeed?
How high does the outfeed need to be?

All of these questions need to be considered in order to design an auger conveyor that will fit your needs.

Other Features and Options

Many manufacturers offer a number of features and options that can be added onto their auger conveyors. Here are just a few to consider:

Choice of hopper sizes and styles
Contoured, solid, or domed grate covers
Dual screw elevators
Insulation and cladding
Load cells
Single or dual agitators
Bead blast or passivated surfaces
Heating or chilling jackets
Reversing horizontal screws
Mobile or stationary units
Adjustable discharge heights
High capacity loaders
Pivoting augers
Top or bottom mounted drive
Shaft or shaftless design
Flight material
CIP system
Hinged safety guards
Safety switches

Know Your Needs

Answering the questions above will help make the process of designing and purchasing the right auger conveyor for your product easy and painless. The manufacturer you choose should be able to help you decide the length, infeed and discharge heights, and options for your auger, but will need the information about your product to make sure the conveyor they build fits your needs.