CEMA Bucket Elevator Book

Chapter 4

Selection of Bucket Elevator Style and Design based on Conveyed Material

Chapter Lead: Jeff Gerhart

Contacts and References

Name Company E-Mail

Jeff Gerhart Martin Sprocket & Gear jgerhart@martinsprocket.com

DRAFT HISTORY

Draft Number Date

1 September 4, 2012
Draft Chapter 4 – Selection of Bucket Elevator Style and Design Based on Conveyor Material
First Draft September 4, 2012

Chapter 4 - Selection of Bucket Elevator Style and Design based on Conveyed Material

When determining the design criteria for a bucket elevator, it is very important to review the
characteristics of the material to be conveyed.

The characteristics of the material will have an impact on how the material will evacuate the bucket as it
comes over the head sprocket or pulley. This will dictate if the elevator should use a centrifugal style of
discharge or a continuous (gravity) style of discharge. Some determining factors in this choice include
density of material, propensity of material to aerate during discharge, and particle size of material.

Other characteristics that have impact on elevator design selection is abrasiveness of material,
temperature of material, moisture content of material, and degradability of material. These factors can
influence the style of discharge, the use of belt or chain as the carrier line, the style of bucket, take-up
style, seals, and other design considerations. See chapter 2 for some further details on selection criteria.

Figure 1 below is a sample material table for common materials conveyed in bucket elevators with a
recommended bucket elevator series. Consult your CEMA manufacturer for other design criteria
recommendations.

MATERIALS TABLE Figure 1

MATERIAL TO BE CONVEYED DENSITY MATERIAL RECOMMENDED BUCKET ELEVATOR

SERIES (STYLE; see notes below)
LBS/CU. Where noted as Belt, chain is not
CODE +
FT. recommended, all others chain or belt
is acceptable for use.
Alfalfa Meal 17 B-46Y 700, 800
Almonds, broken 28-30 C1/2-36Q 200, 700, 800
Almonds, whole 28-30 C1/2-36Q 700
Alum, fine 45-50 B-35 200, 700
Alum, lumpy 50-60 D-35 200, 700
Alumina 50-65 B-27M 700 Belt
Aluminum chips 7-15 E-46Y 700
Aluminum hydrate 18 C1/2-35 700
Aluminum ore, crushed (3" minus) 75-85 D-37 100, 200, 700
Aluminum oxide 70-120 A-17M 700
Aluminum silicate 49 B-35S 700
Aluminum sulphate 54 C1/2-25 700
Ammonium chloride, crystalline 45-52 B-25S 700, 800
C1/2-
Ammonium nitrate 45 700, 800
36WUS
Ammonium sulphate, granular 45-58 C1/2-26S 700, 800

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First Draft September 4, 2012

Ashes (dry coal 3" minus) 35-40 D-46T 200

Asphalt, crushed (1/2" minus) 45 C1/2-35 100, 200, 700, 800
Bakelite, powdered (similar products) 35-45 B2-5S 700, 800
Baking powder 40-55 A-25 700, 800
Barite 180 D-36 700, 800, 1000, 1100
Barley 38 B-15N 100, 200 Belt
Bauxite, crushed (3" minus) 75-85 D-37 100, 200, 700, 1000, 1100
Beans, whole castor 36 C1/2-15W 100, 200, 700, 800
Beans, dry navy 48 C1/2-15W 700, 800
Bentonite, crude 35-40 D-46X 100, 200
Bentonite (100 mesh minus) 50-60 A2-6XY 700, 800
Boneblack 20-25 A100-25Y 700
Bones, crushed (1/2" minus) 34-40 C1/2-26W 100, 200, 1400
Bones, granulated or ground (1/8" minus) 50 B-26W 100, 200, 1400
Bone meal 55-60 B-36 100, 200, 700, 800
Borax, fine 45-55 B-26T 100, 200, 700, 800
Borax, screenings (1/2" minus) 55-60 C1/2-36 100, 200
Bran 16-20 B-35NY 100, 200
Brewers grain, spent wet 55-60 C1/2-45T 100, 200
Brewers grain, spent dry 25-30 C1/2-45T 100, 200
Buckwheat 37-42 B6-25N 500 Belt
Calcium oxide 60-65 B-45X 100, 200, 700, 800,1000, 1100, 1400
Carbon black, pelletized 20-25 B-15Q 700, 800
Carbon black powder, channel 4-7 A-35Y CF*
Carbon black powder, furnace 4-7 A-35Y CF*
Carborundum (3" minus) 100 D-27 700
Cast iron borings 130-200 C-46 100, 200
Cement, portland 94 A-26M 100, 200, 700, 800
Cement, portland aerated 60-75 A-16M 100, 200, 700, 800, 1400
Cement clinker 75-95 D-37 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Chalk, lumpy 75-85 D-26 100, 200, 700, 800
Chalk, pulverized (100 mesh minus) 65-75 A-46MXY 700, 800
Charcoal 18-25 D-36Q 700
Cinders, coal 40 D-37T 200, 700
Cinders, blast furnace 57 D-37T 200, 700
Clay, Brick, Dy Fines 100-120 C1/2-36 100 Belt
Clover seed 48 B-25N 100, 200
Coal, anthracite sized 55-60 C1/2-26 100, 200, 700, 800, 1400
Coal, anthracite, river coal & culm 55-60 B-35TY 100, 200, 700, 800, 1400
Coal, bituminous, mined 50 mesh minus 50-54 B-45T 700, 800
Coal, bituminous, mined, slack, 1/2" minus 43-50 C1/2-45T 100, 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Coal, bituminous, mined, sized, over 1/2" 45-55 D-35T 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Coal, bituminous, mined, run of mine 45-55 D-35T 100, 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Coal, bituminous, mined, stripping,
50-60 D-36T 100, 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
uncleaned over 1/2"
Cocoa beans 30-40 C1/2-25Q 100, 200, 700

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Coffee, green bean 32 C1/2-25Q 100, 200, 700, 800

Coffee, roasted bean 22-26 C1/2-15W 100, 200, 700, 800
Coke, Breeze 25-35 C1/2-37 200 Belt, 200
Coke, loose 23-35 D-47QVT 200 Belt
Coke, petroleum, calcined 35-45 D-36Y 200 Belt
Coke breeze, !/4" minus 25-35 C1/2-37Y 100, 200 Belt
Copra 22 D-25 100, 200, 700
Copra Cake, lumpy 25-30 D-25W 100, 200, 700
Copra Cake, groud 40-45 B-35W 100, 200, 700, 800
Copra meal 40-45 B-35W 100, 200, 700, 800
Cork, fine ground 12-15 B-45MY 700, 800
Cork, granulated 12-15 C1/2-45T 700, 800
Corn, cracked 45-50 C1/2-25W 100, 200
Corn, seed 45 B-15N CF *
Corn, shelled 45 D-37 CF *
Corn germs 21 B-25W 100, 200
Corn grits 40-45 B-25W 100, 200
Corn sugar 31 B-35 100, 200
Cornmeal 38-40 B35W 100, 200
Cottonseed, dry delinted 35 C1/2-25W 100, 200, Belt
Cottonseed, dry with lint 18-25 C1/2-35W 100, 200, Belt
Cottonseed, cake, lumpy 40-45 D-25W 100, 200
Cottonseed hulls 12 B-45Y 700, 800
Cottonseed meal 35-40 B-35W 100, 200
Cottonseed meats 40 B-35W 100, 200
Cullet 80-120 D-37Z 200 Belt
Cracklings, crushed, 3" minus 40-50 D45 100, 200
Dolomite, lumpy 90-100 D26 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Ebonite, crushed 1/2" minus 65-70 C1/2-25 200, 700, 800
Feldspar, ground !/2" minus 70-85 B36 100, 200 ,700
Feldspar, powdered 200 mesh 100 A46 700, 800
Flaxseed 43-45 B6-35X 500 Belt
Flaxseed cake, expeller 48-50 D-35T 200
Flaxseed meal 25 B -25W 100, 200
Flour, wheat 35-40 A-45PN 100, 200, Belt
700, 800 (select elevator with double
Flue dust, boiler house, dry 35-40 A-17MTY
the required capacity)
Flourspar, 1/2" screenings 85-105 C1/2-46 100, 200, 700
Fuller's Earth, dry 30-35 B-26 100, 200 Belt
Fuller's Earth, oily 60-65 B-26 100, 200 Belt
Fuller's Earth, burnt, oil filter 40 B26 100, 200 Belt
Fuller's Earth, raw, oil filter 35-40 B-26CF 100, 200 Belt
Glass batch 80-100 D-27Z 200 Belt
Glue, ground, 1/8" minus 40 B-26 200
Glue, pearl 40 C1/2-25 200
Grains, distillery, spent dry 30 E-25WY 100, 200

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Granite, 1/2" screenings 80-90 C1/2-27 1000, 1100, 1400

Grass seed 10-12 B-25NY 700, 800
Gravel, screened 90-100 D-36 100, 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Gypsum, calcined 55-60 B6-35U 100, 200, 700, 800
Gypsum, dust, non-aerated 93 A-46 100, 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Gypsum, dust, aerated 60-70 A-36Y 100, 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Gypsum 1/2" screenings 70-80 C1/2-36 100, 200, 700, 800, 1400
Gypsum, 1 1/2" to 3" lumps 70-80 D-26 1000, 1100, 1400
Hops, spent, dry 35 E-35 100, 200
Hops, spent, wet 50-55 E-35T 100, 200
Ice, crushed 35-45 D16 200, 700
Ilmenite ore 140-160 B-27 100, 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Lignite, air dried 45-55 D25 CF* 100, 200, 700
Lime, ground, 1/8" minus 60-65 B45X 100, 200, 700, 800, 1000, 1100, 1400
Lime, hydrated, 1/8" minus 40 B35MX 700, 1000, 1100
Lime, pebble 53-56 D35 100, 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Lime, hydrated, pulverized 32-40 A35MXY 100, 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Limestone, agricultural, 1/8" minus 68 B26 100, 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Limestone, crushed 85-90 C1/2-26X 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Limestone, dust 80-85 A46MY 100, 200, 700, 800, 1000, 1100, 1400
Linseed meal 25 B25W 100, 200
Malt, dry ground, 1/8" minus 22 B25NR 100, 200
Malt, dry, whole 27-30 C1/2-25N 100, 200
Malt, wet or green 60-65 C1/2-45 100, 200
Malt meal 36-40 B25 100, 200
Marble, crushed, 1/2" minus 34-40 C1/2-26W 100, 200, 1400
Meat Scrap 50-55 E357W 100, 200
Milk, Malted 27-30 A40-45PX 100
Muriate of potash 77 B27 100, 200, 700
Mustard seed 45 B15N 100, 200
Oats, rolled 19 C1/2-25NY 100, 200
Oxalic acid crystals 60 B35SU 100, 200 Belt
Peas, dried 45-50 C1/2-15NG CF*
Peanuts, shelled 35-45 C1/2-25Q CF*
Phosphate rock, broken, dry 75-85 D-26 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Phosphate rock, pulverized 60 B-36 100, 700 Belt
Phosphate, triple super 50-55 B-45T 700, 800, 1000, 1100, 1400
Phosphate, acid fertilizef 60 B-25T 700, 800, 1000, 1100, 1400
Potash, (Muriate), dry 70 B6-37 100, 200, 700
Pumice, ground, 1/8" minus 40-45 B-47 700
Rice, hulled 45-49 B6-15N 500 Belt
Rice bran 16-20 B-35NY 100, 200
Rice grits 42-45 B-35 100, 200
Roofing granules 85-95 B-27 1400
Rubber, ground 65-70 C1/2-25 200, 700, 800
Salt, dry, fine 70-80 D26TUW 200, 700, 800, 1400

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Salt, dry, coarse 40-55 C1/2-26TU 200, 700, 800, 1400

Salt, cake, dry, coarse 85 B-36TW 200, 700, 800, 1400
Salt, cake, dry, pulverized 60-85 B-26NT 200, 700, 800, 1400
Sand, damp bank 110-130 B-47 100, 200 Belt
Sand, dry bank 90-110 B-37 100, 200 Belt
Sand, dry silica** 90-100 B-27 100, 200 Belt
Sand, foundry, prepared 70-90 B-47 100, 200 Belt
Sand, foundry, shakeout 90-100 D-37 100, 200 Belt
Sawdust 10-13 B-35 700 Belt
Shale, crushed 85-90 C1/2-36 100, 200 Belt
Slag, blast furnace, crushed 80-90 A27 700, 1000, 1100
Slag, blast furnace, granulated, dry 60-65 C1/2-27 700, 1000, 1100
Slag, blast furnace, granulated, wet 90-100 B-47 700, 1000, 1100
Slate, crushed, 1/2" minus 80-90 C1/2-26 200 Belt, 700, 1000, 1100
Slate, dust 70-80 A-36Y 100, 200 Belt
Soap beads or granules 15-25 B-25Q CF*
Soap flakes 5-15 B-35QXY CF*
Soda ash, light 20-35 A-36Y 700, 800
Soda ash, heavy 55-65 B-36 100, 200, 700, 800
Sodium Phosphate 50-60 A-35 100, 700
Soybeans, cracked 30-40 C-26NW 100, 200
Soybean cake, over 1/2" 40-43 D-35W 200
Soybean flakes, raw 20-26 C1/2-25Y 100, 200
Soybeans, flour 27-30 A40-35MN 100 Belt, 200 Belt
Soybean meal, cold 40 B-35 100, 200
Soybean meal, hot 40 B-35T 100, 200
C1/2-
Soybean, whole 45-50 500 Belt
26NW
Steel chips, crushed 100-150 D-27WZ 700
Stone, crushed 90-100 D-36Q 100, 200, 700, 1000, 1100, 1400
Sugar, powdered 50-60 B-25PTY 200, 800
Sugar, granulated 50-55 B-25PT 200, 800
Sugar beet, pulp, dry 12-15 CF* 700, 800
Sugar beet, pulp, wet 55-65 B-36TX 700, 800
Sugar, raw, cane 55-65 B-36TX 100, 200
Tanbark, ground 55 CF* 100, 200
Timothy seed 36 B-25NY 700, 800
Trisodium Phosphate, Granular 60 B6-36 100, 700
Wheat 45-48 C1/2-25N 500 Belt
Wheat, cracked 40-45 B-25N 100, 200
Wheat germ 28 B-25W 100, 200
Wood chips 10-30 E-45WY 700 Belt
Wood shavings 8-15 E-45V 700 Belt
Zinc dust 200 E-45V 700, 800, 1000, 1100, 1400
Zinc concentrate 75-80 B-26 700, 800, 1000, 1100, 1400
Zinc ore, crushed 160 CF* 700, 800, 1000, 1100, 1400

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Zinc ore, roasted 110 C1/2-36 700, 800, 1000, 1100, 1400
Zinc oxide, heavy 30-35 A-35X 700, 800, 1000, 1100
Zinc oxide, light 10-15 A-35XY 700, 800

* CF = Consult Factory
** If sand is hot, use of high temperature belt & insulating pads between buckets and belt is recommended.
+ Consult CEMA 350 for material (code) classification descriptions

Elevator types :
#100 & #200 are centrifugal discharge units, belt or chain types available, #200 has head take-up
#700 & #800 are continuous discharge units, belt or chain types available, #800 has head take-up
#1000 & #1100 are Super Capacity continuous discharge units, chain types only available
#1400 are Mill Duty centrifugal discharge units, belt or chain types available

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