Rotary Drum or Disc Pelletizer?

This presentation looks at the choice between a rotary drum agglomerator and a disc pelletizer, when looking for an effective agglomeration solution. The advantages of each piece of equipment are discussed for a variety of considerations.

1. Rotary Drum or Disc Pelletizer? Experts in process design and material processing for over 60 years.

2. The choice between a rotary drum and pelletizing disc is one that often comes up in the search for an effective non-pressure agglomeration solution .  

3. The choice between the two can seem overwhelming at first, but there are a few considerations to keep in mind that will ultimately help in determining which piece of equipment will best suit the process and material.  

4. Process Considerations

5. Recycle Recycle is the amount of material a process produces that is not on-size and must be put back into the process.  

6. Recycle Recycle is the amount of material a process produces that is not on-size and must be put back into the process.   Overall, a pelletizer results in significantly less recycle than a drum does. This is ideal when the material must be dried, because less energy will be spent on drying recycle, ultimately yielding a more efficient process.

7. Recycle can also be a benefit to a process, which can make a rotary drum the more attractive choice in some settings.  

8. Recycle can also be a benefit to a process, which can make a rotary drum the more attractive choice in some settings.   Recycle can act as a process buffer , to “even out” process upsets. Often times with a pelletizer, there is such little recycle on hand, that a process upset can almost immediately affect the product outcome.

9. Some processes even require a certain amount of recycle to function properly. This is commonly seen when a pin mixer is added to the setup.

10. Customizations & System Considerations

11. Throughput Rotary drums are typically the equipment of choice when it comes to high capacity applications , as they can handle a much higher throughput than their disc counterparts. Often, what would take one drum to process, might take a few pelletizers.

12. Maintenance When it comes to maintenance, pelletizers typically require far less maintenance than a rotary drum, with fewer parts to be replaced.

13. Maintenance When it comes to maintenance, pelletizers typically require far less maintenance than a rotary drum, with fewer parts to be replaced. Rotary drums have more parts, and therefore require more maintenance and parts replacement. It is important to note, however, that both pieces of equipment are severely hindered if not properly maintained.

14. Conclusion Both rotary drums and disc pelletizers offer an effective agglomeration solution, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The choice between the two is a blend of processing requirements and system considerations.

15. has been a leader in the agglomeration industry since the 1950s, helping customers solve material problems through process & product development, feasibility testing, and high-quality, custom rotary drums and disc pelletizers. FEECO

16. Want to learn more? Download our Agglomeration Handbook Agglomeration Handbook Intro to Agglomeration Processing Techniques Considerations in Agglomeration And more… Download Now