What to do if your grinder screen is clogged? Quick cleaning and prevention solutions
Grinders are essential and critical equipment in many fields, including biomass fuel preparation, feed production, and organic fertilizer processing. However, screen clogs are a common and frustrating problem. They not only lead to a sharp drop in grinding efficiency and increased energy consumption, but also affect the particle size and quality of the finished product, and may even cause equipment failure. So, how can we quickly and effectively clean a clogged screen and prevent it from happening? This article will provide you with a set of practical solutions.
Why does the screen clog? Identifying the cause is key
Knowing yourself and your enemy is key to success. To resolve clogs, you must first understand the cause. Screen clogs can generally be attributed to the following:
Material properties:
1. Excessive moisture or mud: When the material contains too much moisture, it becomes sticky, easily adhering to the screen surface or causing fine particles to clump.
2. Excessive flaky particles: Flaky materials tend to intertwine and form a web, obstructing the passage of other materials.
3. “Critical particle” jamming: Particles of similar size to the screen mesh tend to get stuck in the mesh, causing mechanical blockage.
Problems with the screen:
1. The screen mesh is too coarse: For the same mesh size, excessively thick wire reduces the effective pass area and increases the probability of blockage.
2. Inappropriate screen type or material: Choosing an inappropriate screen type (e.g., square or round holes) or material may not be suitable for the material characteristics.
Equipment and operation issues:
1. Insufficient screen tension: The screen is loosely installed, failing to generate effective secondary vibration to dislodge blockages.
2. Uneven feeding or excessive drop: This can lead to uneven material distribution on the screen surface, excessive localized load, and exacerbated blockages and screen wear.
What to do if there’s a blockage? Quick tips for clearing it:
If you notice a decrease in crusher output, abnormal current flow, or poor discharge, a blockage is likely. Please follow the steps below:
Safety First, Shut Down Immediately: First, be sure to disconnect the power supply and ensure the equipment is completely shut down. Display a “Maintenance in Progress, Do Not Close” warning sign to prevent accidental operation.
Manual Cleaning: Use a brush, wire hook, or other tool to carefully scrape any blockages from the screen surface. Gently tap the screen frame to dislodge any particles stuck in the holes. Be patient and avoid excessive force that could damage the screen.
High-Pressure Flushing (for washable materials): For stubborn impurities, remove the screen and flush with a high-pressure water jet. Important: After flushing, ensure the screen is completely dry before restarting to prevent electrical shorts or material buildup.
Prevention is worse than Cure! Eliminate Blockages at the Source
Instead of laboriously cleaning each time, it’s better to prevent blockages from occurring.
Choose the Right Screen:
Matching Aperture and Wire Diameter: Choose the right screen diameter based on the target particle size. While ensuring strength, choose a screen with a finer wire diameter to maximize the effective screening area.
Optimize Material Pretreatment:
Control Moisture: For overly wet materials, dry or dehydrate them before entering the crushing process.
Adjust the Crushing Process: If there is excessive flaky material, check and optimize the upstream crushing process to reduce the generation of flaky particles.
Standardize Equipment Operation and Maintenance:
Maintain Uniform Feeding: Use a variable-speed feeder to avoid sudden overfeeding, which can overload the crushing chamber and screen.
Tensioning the Screen: When installing the screen, ensure it is properly tensioned. This not only reduces clogging, but also extends the screen’s lifespan and prevents vibration and tearing of the edges.
Establish a Regular Maintenance System:
Post-Shift Cleaning: After each downtime, promptly clean any remaining material from the crushing chamber to prevent material agglomeration and hardening. This is especially important for wet materials. Regular Inspections: Regularly and thoroughly inspect the condition of wearing parts, such as the screen, and promptly replace or repair any signs of wear or damage. Retighten the mounting bolts to prevent loosening due to prolonged vibration.