A comparative study on design standards of screw conveyors in China, Germany and the USA — Part I: Theoretical calculation and quantitative analysis

Abstract

Screw conveyors, widely used devices for transporting bulk materials, play an irreplaceable role in the modern industrial system. Despite of their traditional advantages, designers of screw conveyors still heavily rely on their own country’s experiments and standards, which are closely related to empirical data. Therefore, the same conveying task often results in different designs. This work aims to compare the design standards of screw conveyors in China, Germany and the USA. Based on related standards acquired from renowned associations in the three countries, the similarities and particularities of these design guidances are compared. With preforming the geometrical and operational designs for horizontal, slightly inclined and vertical conveyance of three representative bulk solids (barley, lignite, sand), the advantages and disadvantages of these semi-empirical designs are comprehensively presented. Furthermore, the potential influence of empirical coefficients, which are not explicitly documented, are extensively discussed. By analysing all outcomes, the compatibility and applicability of each standard are qualitatively assessed.