How to Solve the Problem of Handling Sticky Materials in Bucket Elevators?

"Just finished cleaning the hopper, and it clogged again in less than two hours…" — This is a daily struggle for many companies handling sticky materials. Whether it’s damp and adhesive mineral slag or easily caking chemical powders, traditional bucket elevators often suffer from material adhesion, leading to reduced efficiency and soaring maintenance costs. In fact, handling sticky materials is not an unsolvable problem. By choosing the right bucket design, anti-adhesion technology, and operating parameters, clogging frequency can be reduced by over 90%.

Suggestions:

1. Bucket Selection for Bucket Elevators: Prioritize "Shallow Opening, Large Capacity" Design
   Sticky materials require reduced contact area with the bucket. Deep buckets (e.g., deep-type or triangular buckets) are prone to material buildup. It is recommended to use shallow arc-shaped buckets or buckets with side holes (such as our patented anti-clogging buckets). These feature steep bucket wall angles and high-speed material throwing, increasing discharge efficiency by over 40%. Additionally, openings on the sides or back of the buckets allow airflow, reducing material adhesion to the bucket walls.

   
   

2. Material and Surface Treatment: The Key to Anti-Adhesion
   Stainless Steel + Mirror Polishing: Suitable for corrosive sticky materials in food and chemical industries. The smooth surface minimizes adhesion.

   
   

3. Operating Parameter Adjustments: Speed and Clearance Are Critical
   Linear Speed: Sticky materials require higher operating speeds (1.5–2 m/s) to utilize centrifugal force for forced discharge.
   Bucket Elevator Head Structure: Increase the clearance between the discharge zone and the buckets to prevent material "bridging."