Category: organic fertilizer equipment

Disc Granulator: The Magician of Particle Formation?

Integrated Technology: NPK Fertilizer Granulator • Disc Granulator • NPK Production Process • NPK Mixer • Twin-Roller Granulator • Granulation Technology

In the modern granule manufacturing arena, the disc granulator is a magician, transforming ordinary powdered materials into perfectly spherical granules. This specialized NPK fertilizer granulator achieves this magical effect by using precisely tilted rotating discs to create a tumbling motion. This natural process of capillary action and surface tension gradually aggregates fine powders into uniform spheres.

In the comprehensive NPK fertilizer production process, the disc granulator plays a vital role following the NPK mixer, ensuring a precise nutrient formulation. This powerful combination enables continuous operation, feeding the mixed material directly into the granulator, creating an efficient production line that maintains formula integrity while achieving optimal granule morphology, enhancing nutrient delivery and reducing dust pollution.

In terms of technology comparison, disc granulators and twin-roller granulators share the same goal: transforming powders into granules in the NPK fertilizer production process. However, they achieve this through different mechanisms—disc granulators use centrifugal force and tumbling action to form spherical granules, while twin-roll granulators utilize mechanical pressure between two counter-rotating rollers to form compacted, flake-like granules, which are then crushed and screened into uniform particles.

The true magic of the disc granulator lies in its ability to produce consistently round granules with structural integrity, making it particularly important for producing high-quality fertilizers with controlled-release properties and reduced caking tendency throughout the production and distribution process.

The Art of Granulation

At the heart of the disc granulator is a rotating disc with adjustable tilt angle. When materials enter this “magic stage”, a delicate dance begins:

· Centrifugal force throws materials toward the disc edge

· Gravity constantly pulls them back to the disc bottom

· Water spray system adds mist or binder like “adhesive” for the dance

“Just like rolling a snowball, small particles gradually grow during continuous rolling, eventually forming perfect spherical granules.”

This dynamic balancing act allows material particles to undergo a gorgeous transformation from powder to granules under the combined action of frictioncentrifugal force, and gravity.

Simple Yet Extraordinary Design

The disc granulator’s structure embodies “the beauty of simplicity”:

· Core Disc: Adjustable tilt angle (typically 35-55 degrees) and rotation speed (5-25rpm)

· Smart Spray System: Precisely controls moisture addition to ensure granule quality

· Sturdy Frame: Supports stable operation of the entire system

This seemingly simple design produces astonishing results: the granules not only have perfect sphericity but also excellent strength, fully meeting stringent industrial requirements.

Unparalleled Advantages

Compared with other granulation equipment, disc granulators show unique charm:

· Low Energy Consumption: Only 60-70% of similar equipment

· Strong Adaptability: Can process various materials from mineral powder to organic matter

· Easy Operation: One person can easily operate the entire system

· Low Maintenance: Simple structure with extremely low failure rate

These advantages make disc granulators the preferred choice in fertilizer, metallurgy, chemical and many other industries.

Roller Compaction Granulator: How Does It Create Perfect Pellets?

In modern granule manufacturing, the roller granulator represents the ultimate fusion of precision instrumentation and exquisite craftsmanship. This advanced fertilizer manufacturing equipment achieves unparalleled production efficiency thanks to its ingenious roller design and precise pressure control. As a specialized fertilizer compaction machine, it efficiently transforms powdered raw materials into uniform, high-density fertilizer granules through compaction and granulation, ensuring superior product quality and optimal nutrient release.

In an integrated NPK compound fertilizer production line, the roller granulator is the core component of dry granulation, working in conjunction with other equipment such as the rotary drum granulator, commonly used in wet granulation processes. While the rotary drum granulator utilizes the tumbling motion of a liquid binder to form granules, the roller granulator uses mechanical pressure to compact the fertilizer granules, making it particularly suitable for moisture-sensitive materials and producing harder, more durable granules. This complementary relationship between different granulation technologies enables manufacturers to optimize fertilizer production based on varying raw material characteristics and end-product requirements.

Key technologies: Fertilizer granulation • Roller granulator • NPK compound fertilizer production line • Fertilizer making machine • Rotary drum granulator • Fertilizer compactor

Precision Engineered Granulation System

The core of the roller compaction granulator lies in its modular intelligent design:

· Smart Feeding System: Equipped with 1-5m³ hoppers and variable-speed conveyors, with sensors for real-time material flow monitoring (accuracy ±0.5%)

· High-Strength Rollers: Made of chrome-molybdenum steel with surface hardness up to HRC50-60, featuring precision grooves (depth 2-10mm, spacing 5-20mm)

· Intelligent Control System: PLC cabinet with touchscreen for real-time adjustment of rotation speed (10-50rpm) and compaction force (5-30MPa)

This design enables automatic parameter adjustment based on material characteristics, ensuring consistently dense granules (density increased to 1.2-1.8g/cm³).

The Art of Fertilizer Production

From raw materials to finished fertilizer, a “precision transformation” occurs:

Material Preparation: Ingredients stored in moisture-proof silos are precisely weighed and mixed (5-15 minutes), with moisture strictly controlled at 5%-15%.

Intelligent Compaction: Mixed materials undergo a “magnificent transformation” under tremendous pressure, changing from loose powder to dense flakes with 2-3 times density increase.

Precision Post-Processing: Crusher (800-1500rpm) breaks flakes into uniform particles, while vibrating screen (8-40 mesh) selects perfect sizes, with fine powder automatically recycled (10-20% recovery).

The final polished pellets, born from advanced fertilizer granules compaction technology, boast not only a uniform and market-ready appearance but also superior physical properties. This fertilizer production machine ensures high hardness, low moisture, and excellent solubility. These premium qualities—consistent size, dust-free surfaces, and resistance to caking—provide a decisive competitive advantage, meeting the highest standards of modern agriculture.

When choosing an organic fertilizer production line, how to judge its quality and performance?

Organic fertilizer production line is an indispensable facility in modern agricultural production, which directly affects the yield and quality of organic fertilizer. Selecting the right organic fertilizer production line requires comprehensive evaluation from multiple perspectives.
 

  1. Raw material adaptability: We must first consider the adaptability of the production line to raw materials. High-quality Organic Fertilizer Production Linecan adapt to a variety of raw materials, including livestock manure, straw, food industry by-products, etc. The diversity of raw materials directly affects the nutritional value and production cost of organic fertilizers.
Organic-Fertilizer-Production-Line1
  1. Production capacity: The production capacity of the production line should match the scale and needs of the farm. For example, for large-scale farms, you may need to choose a production line that produces hundreds of tons per day, while for small-scale farms, you may need to choose a production line that produces tens of tons per day.
  1. Equipment composition: Organic fertilizer production line usually includes grinding, mixing, granulation, drying, screening and packaging and other links. The equipment performance of each link will affect the quality of the final product. For example, the Disc Granulator is able to produce uniform particles, which helps to improve fertilization efficiency.
18_1
  1. Environmental performance: In the production process, the production line should meet the environmental requirements and reduce the impact on the environment. This includes emission reduction, noise control, waste disposal and more.
  1. Degree of automation: modern organic fertilizer production lines are increasingly inclined to automation, which can reduce labor costs and improve production efficiency. Production lines with a high degree of automation can more accurately control various parameters in the production process.
  1. Energy consumption: The energy consumption of the production line is also an important indicator to measure its performance. Energy efficient production lines can reduce production costs while also meeting the requirements of sustainable development.
  1. After-sales service: It is important to choose a production line with good after-sales service. This includes services such as installation, commissioning, maintenance and upgrading of equipment.
  1. Return on investment: Finally, you need to consider the return on investment of the production line. This includes equipment acquisition costs, operating costs and maintenance costs. A high-quality production line should be able to recover the investment cost in a relatively short time.

 
Through the comprehensive evaluation of the above aspects, the quality and performance of the organic fertilizer production line can be judged, so as to make a reasonable choice.

Practical methods for reducing raw material waste in ring die granulators

In fertilizer production, raw material waste in ring die granulators primarily stems from substandard pellets and die blockage. Targeted measures can increase raw material utilization by 5%-8%.

First, substandard pellets are recycled. After screening in the pelletizer, broken and large particles are collected and crushed to the required particle size (consistent with new raw material) using a dedicated fertilizer crusher. These particles are then mixed with new raw material at a ratio of 1:5 for re-pelletization. Care should be taken to control the moisture content during mixing. If the moisture content of the recycled material exceeds 18%, it should be air-dried to 14%-16% before mixing to prevent moisture absorption and impact on the overall pelletizing effect. Furthermore, the recycled material mix ratio should not exceed 20% to prevent it from affecting the strength of the new pellets.

Secondly, reduce ring die blockage losses. Before each shutdown, empty the pelletizing chamber of any remaining raw material. Then, introduce a small amount of talcum powder (5-8 kg per ton of raw material). Run the ring die granulator at no load for 5 minutes to allow the talcum powder to adhere to the inner wall of the ring die, forming a protective film to prevent residual raw material from solidifying and clogging. During daily production, check the ring die holes for blockage every four hours. If a small blockage is detected, clear it with a special needle (0.5 mm smaller in diameter than the die hole) to prevent further blockage and material waste.

In addition, polish the edges of the ring die holes every 100 hours to remove burrs and minimize material loss caused by material being stuck in the holes. A magnetic separator should be installed at the pelletizer feed inlet to remove metallic impurities from the raw material, preventing them from damaging the ring die and causing pelletizing problems, further reducing material waste.

Optimizing the linkage between the ring die granulator and front-end raw material processing

The granulation performance of a ring die granulator isn’t solely determined by the equipment itself. Linkage optimization with the front-end crushing, mixing, and conditioning processes can significantly improve production efficiency and pellet quality.
During the crushing process, the raw material particle size must be matched to the ring die aperture. For an 8mm ring die aperture, the raw material particle size should be controlled below 2mm, with a particle size deviation of no more than 0.5mm, to prevent large particles from clogging the die aperture. A grading screen can be installed at the pulverizer outlet, with the screen aperture set to 1/4 the ring die aperture, to ensure uniform particle size and reduce the frequency of granulator downtime for cleaning. If the raw material contains a high amount of coarse fiber (such as straw powder), the pulverizer should use a hammer-type mechanism to enhance crushing efficiency.


The mixing process must ensure uniformity among the raw materials, binders, and nutrients. Uneven mixing can result in insufficient nutrients or insufficient strength in some pellets. A typical requirement for uniformity is a coefficient of variation of ≤7%. This can be achieved by adjusting the mixer speed (30-40 rpm) and mixing time (5-8 minutes). Sampling points should be set up at the fertilizer mixer outlet for hourly testing.
During the conditioning process, the steam supply should be adjusted according to the production speed of the ring die granulator. For example, if the pelletizer processes 5 tons of raw materials per hour, the steam supply should be maintained at a stable 0.3-0.4 tons/hour, monitored in real time by a flow meter. If the pelletizer speed is increased to 6 tons/hour, the steam supply should be increased to 0.45-0.5 tons/hour to prevent the raw materials from being too dry or too wet.
By coordinating the speed and flow of the front-end and pelletizer, production efficiency can be increased by 10%-15%, reducing downtime caused by process disconnects.

How to adapt a BB fertilizer blender to different raw material characteristics?

BB fertilizer raw materials come in a variety of forms (granular, powdered, and fiber-containing). BB fertilizer blenders require targeted adjustments to accommodate these different raw material characteristics and avoid mixing problems.

For pure granular raw materials (such as urea and diammonium phosphate granules), which have relatively small density differences but are prone to rolling and stratification, the BB fertilizer blender should be equipped with guide plates within the mixer drum to guide the raw materials into upward and downward circulation and control the feed order. Adding the denser diammonium phosphate first, followed by the lighter urea, can reduce initial stratification. The speed can be appropriately reduced in the later stages of mixing to prevent excessive collisions between particles that could lead to breakage.

If the raw materials contain powdered ingredients (such as potassium chloride powder or trace element powder), a dustproof seal should be installed at the BB fertilizer blender feed port to prevent dust from escaping. Additionally, an atomizing humidifier (control the humidity to ≤15%) should be installed within the mixer drum. A small amount of humidification can enhance adhesion between the powdered raw materials and the granules, preventing dust from becoming suspended.

When the raw materials contain fiber organic fertilizer (such as fermented straw powder), it is necessary to use a paddle with a shearing function to prevent the fibers from entangled and clumping. At the same time, the fiber raw materials should be crushed to less than 3mm in advance to reduce mixing resistance. During the mixing process, the machine can be stopped and observed every 3 minutes. If fiber clumps are found, the paddle angle needs to be adjusted to enhance the shearing and dispersion effect to ensure that the fibers and granular fertilizer are fully integrated.

Different fertilizer types require special adaptation requirements for ring die granulators

In fertilizer production, ring die granulators must adjust core parameters based on the characteristics of different raw materials, such as organic fertilizer, compound fertilizer, and slow-release fertilizer, to ensure optimal granulation.

For organic fertilizers, whose raw materials often contain fiber components such as straw and fermented manure, ring die granulators require large-aperture ring dies (typically 8-12mm) and anti-entanglement rollers to prevent fiber entanglement and pelletizing stalls. Furthermore, the steam injection time should be appropriately extended during the conditioning stage to enhance the viscosity of the fiber raw material.

If producing bio-organic fertilizers containing live bacteria, a rapid cooling device should be added after granulation to reduce the pellet temperature to below 35°C to prevent high temperatures from killing the live bacteria.

Compound fertilizer raw materials are primarily nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium powders, which are prone to moisture absorption and agglomeration. Therefore, granulators require ring dies made of wear-resistant materials (such as alloy steel) to minimize wear on the die holes, and the roller pressure must be precisely controlled. Excessive pressure can cause components like nitrate nitrogen in the raw materials to decompose and be lost due to the high extrusion temperature, while too little pressure can cause the granules to become loose.

Slow-release fertilizers, however, contain special ingredients like coating agents, so the ring die granulator requires a lower extrusion temperature (below 30°C). This is usually achieved by reducing the roller speed (from 30 rpm to 20 rpm) and adding a cooling device to prevent high temperatures from damaging the slow-release coating structure and ensure the fertilizer’s slow-release effect.

Rotary Drum Granulator: The Spinning Magic of Fertilizer Production

In fertilizer production, the rotary drum granulator acts as a dynamic stage where raw materials are transformed into uniform fertilizer pellets. While the drum granulator uses tumbling motion and liquid binders for agglomeration, the roller press granulator employs high-pressure compaction to densify powder into granules without moisture. Each fertilizer production machine serves a distinct purpose: drum granulators excel in creating spherical organic fertilizers, whereas roller press systems are ideal for mineral-based blends. This synergy of fertilizer making machines ensures efficient fertilizer granules formation, balancing plasticity and hardness for optimal nutrient delivery.

1. The Gorgeous Transformation of Raw Materials

Material Preparation: Various fertilizer materials are “sculpted” by the crusher into fine 0.1-1mm powder. Organic materials also need fermentation “aging”, just like fine wine requiring time to mature.

Precise Formulation: Like baking requiring exact measurements, various materials are strictly weighed according to the formula to ensure consistent quality in every batch.

Perfect Blending: In the mixer, materials dance a 5-15 minute “waltz” until every component is evenly distributed, laying a solid foundation for granulation.

Imagine making meatballs: first chop and mix ingredients, then roll into balls – the working principle of rotary drum granulator is surprisingly similar!

2. The Magical Moment in the Drum

The blended materials enter the “magic cauldron” of the rotating drum, constantly tumbling and colliding. The spraying device adds water or binder timely, like spring rain moistening the earth, helping loose materials gradually agglomerate into perfect 1-6mm pellets.

Operation Tip: Adjusting drum speed, tilt angle and water addition is as crucial as controlling heat, directly affecting pellet quality and yield.

3. Refinement Creates Excellence

Drying: Fresh pellets take a “sauna” at 80-150℃, reducing moisture content below 10% to ensure storage stability.

Cooling & Screening: After “cooling down”, pellets go through strict “interview” – only 1-6mm qualified products pass the screening, others “retrain”.

Perfect Packaging: Finally, these carefully cultivated pellets put on “clothes” of woven or plastic bags, ready to embark on the journey to nourish the earth.

With stable performance and high efficiency, the rotary drum granulator has become an indispensable “granulation master” in fertilizer production. Next time you see those round, uniform fertilizer pellets, think about the wonderful transformation they’ve undergone.

Practical optimization directions for energy saving and consumption reduction in fertilizer coating machines

Currently, fertilizer companies are focusing on controlling production costs. Through proper optimization, coating machines can achieve energy savings and consumption reduction, helping companies lower operating costs.

First, energy saving in the heating system. Some coating machines utilize a waste heat recovery design. A heat exchanger is installed at the heat sealing channel outlet to collect the exhaust hot air and preheat the incoming cold air, reducing heat consumption in the heating tubes. This design reduces heating energy consumption and is particularly suitable for companies with continuous production, with significant energy savings over the long term. Furthermore, variable frequency heating tubes are used, which automatically adjust power based on particle flow rate. For example, when production capacity drops to 50%, heating power is also reduced, avoiding high-temperature operation and wasting energy during idle periods.

Second, motor frequency conversion modification. The equipment’s conveyor belts, film reels, and other motors utilize variable frequency control. During production, the PLC system is linked to a particle flow sensor to automatically adjust motor speed based on particle flow rate. Compared to traditional fixed-speed motors, variable-frequency motors can save 10%-12% of electricity, operate more smoothly, and reduce noise by 5-10 decibels, improving the workshop working environment.

Third, film utilization is improved. Some coating machines support adaptive film width adjustment. When changing films of different widths, manual adjustment of the film guide mechanism is eliminated, and the optimal wrapping width is automatically matched. This reduces material loss during the commissioning process. Long-term use can significantly reduce raw material procurement costs, supporting enterprises in reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

How do fertilizer coating machines solve the problem of pellet clumping?

Fertilizer pellets are prone to clumping during storage and transportation. Through scientific design, coating machines address this issue at its root, focusing on the following key aspects.
First, uniform film coating and protection. The coating machine uses vibrating feeders, combined with guide plates, to evenly distribute pellets. Even pellets of varying sizes are diverted by the guide plates, ensuring that every pellet contacts the film. The symmetrical film guide mechanism wraps the pellets from all sides, creating a complete seal that blocks moisture from reaching the pellets and prevents moisture absorption and clumping. Furthermore, the film tension is precisely controlled, with an error within ±2N. This prevents over-tightening of the pellets, keeping them loose and facilitating even spreading during subsequent fertilization.

Second, precise temperature control is crucial. During the heat-sealing stage, the coating machine uses an intelligent thermostat to maintain a stable temperature of 100-150°C and monitors temperature fluctuations in real time, with fluctuations within ±5°C. This ensures that the film adheres tightly to the pellets, forming a strong protective layer. It also prevents high temperatures from damaging anti-caking components in the fertilizer (such as the coating agents in some slow-release fertilizers), preserving the pellets’ inherent anti-caking properties. The hot air circulation design also ensures a uniform temperature throughout the packaging, preventing uneven shrinkage of the film and damaging the protective layer. Even the slightest movement of the pellets within the package prevents the film from rupturing.

Back To Top