Screw Conveyors Power and Throughput Analysis during Horizontal Handling of Paddy Grains

The tests reported in this research were conducted to determine the effects of those parameters believed to have thegreatest influence upon horizontal screw conveyors throughput capacity and power requirement when handlingpaddy grains. Two screw conveyors with diameters of 20 and 25 cm were evaluated at four screw clearances (6, 9, 12 and 15 mm) and five screw rotational speeds (200, 300, 400,500 and 600 rpm). The results revealed that forboth the conveyors tested, with increasing the screw rotational speed, the conveyor capacity increased andreached to a maximum point and after the point, the volumetric capacity decreased. Increasing the screw speedcaused the volumetric efficiency and power requirements of the conveyors to be decreased and increased, respectively. The throughput capacity and power requirement of the conveyors increased (P<0.01) with increasingthe auger dimensions. As the screw clearance increased, the throughput capacity and power requirement of theconveyors decreased (P<0.01).