Particle size reduction plays a very important role in transforming random-sized or bulky substances into uniform and small particles suitable for diverse applications. When done feasibly, the particle size reduction favourably alters the specific physicochemical properties of diverse raw materials.
It is quite important for you to implement a well-designed material handling system to enhance the customer service aspects, lower the costs and reduce the risk of damage or accidents. When you have the right material handling equipment in place, it will be easier for you to fulfil the orders with utmost accuracy.
Among the best pieces of equipment are hammer mills and lump breakers. This article will educate you on the differences between the two for assisting you with material processing.
Boost Your Process: Choose Wisely Between Lump Breaker and Hammer Mill
A] Why Hammer Mills And Lump Breakers Are Used in Industries?
Before learning about the differences between lump breaker vs hammer mills in detail, let’s understand the definitions of them both:
Lump Breakers
Lump breakers are meant for breaking apart the powders and granules that have formed lumps or are agglomerated. The lumps are formed mostly due to the cohesive forces between the various particles. With the lump breaker, it is easy for you to crush these lumps with the use of special blades installed within the housing.
Hammer Mills
Hammer mill is designed for crushing, pulverising and shattering the individual solid particles. This machine is used for uniformly reducing the particle size, which occurs due to repeated hammer blows attached to the rotating shaft, which is present within the mill’s chamber. Repeated hammer collisions and impacts will occur until the particles are broken down enough to be able to pass through the screen.
These equipment pieces are used for particle reduction in feed processing, agricultural industry, baking industry, grain processing, powder coating and other such industries.
B] What are Lump Breakers and How Do They Work?
To give you a better idea of what lump breakers are, you must know they are machines that focus on reducing the object size by crushing them with specific blades of various types. The rotating blades are made to efficiently crush the material, ensuring the emission of dust is controlled.
The lump crushers start to work when a specific material is fed into the machine and then pulverised using the sharp blades until the material breaks down. The blades rotate at a high speed towards the centre of the machine, which imposes a heavy force for breaking the object apart. This continues until the material breaks down to a size smaller enough for passing through.
The size of the particle that will be obtained upon being processed within the lump breaker is determined based on the speed and size of the blades being used in the machine. These lump breakers will work well with the bulk solids that most commonly absorb moisture, such as sugars, salts, cement, powders or large clumps.
C] What are Hammer Mills and How Do They Work?
Hammer mills are also referred to as lump labradors that work with brute force to crush or destroy the materials which go through them. The rotating shaft of the swinging hammers within the machine will slam the particles and bang against the wall casing. Repeated beatings will be given to the material for grinding the particles down to a small material.
In the end, the particles will be small enough such that they pass through the screen for disposal or processing. The effectiveness of the hammermill will be specified, depending on the overall size of the hammers, its tip speeds, thickness and amount of hammers present within the machine.
Hammer mills are meant for particle reduction of some brittle materials such as wood, granules, glass, paper, milling grain, pellets, yard waste or others. For instance, if you want to reduce a stone to some fine size, there will be a need for a high shaft speed with a smaller screen, a high count of hammers and a smaller screen.
Boost Your Process: Choose Wisely Between Lump Breaker and Hammer Mill
D] Benefits of Lump Breakers
Lump breakers drive a lot of benefits for industries or people who are investing in them. For instance, if you want to reduce the plant downtime or increase the processing speed in your factory, a lump breaker is what you will need. To help you better understand its efficacy, some of the major benefits include:
- Lump breakers support multi-functional use and provide you with outstanding processing capabilities. For instance, you can use a lump breaker for breaking down lumps, granulating the minerals, maintaining smoothened process lines and others.
- Lump breakers also support the deagglomeration of the materials after they are received from prolonged storage.
- Conveyance will be easier with the use of lump breakers, especially if you are pneumatically conveying the particles. Getting rid of the agglomerates will help handle the materials easily over the belt conveyor.
- Enhances the value of other associated equipment processes.
E] Benefits of Hammer Mill
Hammer mills are among the oldest particle reduction machines that consist of four or more hampers hinged within. They are encased securely within the rigid metal case and are accountable as heavy-duty machines used for breaking or crushing different feed materials. Some of the benefits associated with the use of hammer mills are:
- Cost-effective machine with low requirement of operational energy, leading you to save costs.
- Grind or crush different material types at a high angular velocity.
- The reduction ratio or the capacity will be high, irrespective of whether you use the hammer mill for primary, tertiary or secondary grinding.
- Dynamic size reduction of the material is embedded, especially for the brittle materials.
- It is easy to install the machine and offers you continuous operation feasibility.
- Placing it within the facility requires a small space, and the maintenance efforts are highly reduced.
F] Key Differences Between A Lump Breaker and A Hammer Mill
Both lump breakers, as well as hammer mills, have the capability to accomplish a similar goal, which is to pulverise the larger materials. Both of these machines are abrasive and large, for which every company, especially a pneumatic conveying system manufacturer, rely on them both to annihilate a diverse range of materials.
But, the major difference between the two machines, lump breaker and hammermill, is based on the industries they are used at and the materials they are meant to handle. Lump breakers mostly intend to help you with particle reduction of agglomerated materials and wound them tightly together with adequate pressure.
On the other hand, the hammer mills take immensely solid products and break them down into smaller and manageable pieces. So, whether the material requires a gentle blade impact or a forceful impact, go for a lump breaker or hammer mill, respectively, depending on what your industrial demands are.
Understanding the takeaways from the debate, lump breaker vs hammer mill will definitely help you be more sure of what’s ideal for your applications.
Boost Your Process: Choose Wisely Between Lump Breaker and Hammer Mill
Conclusion
This article gave you a clear insight into the differences between lump breakers and hammer mills. You definitely need the right equipment, considering the type of material and the required size after reduction. Both machines are quite similar in terms of end outcomes, but the industrial applications vary!
In case you are in need of a lump breaker or hammer mill, you can always get in touch with Macawber Engineering Systems India Pvt. Ltd. If you want to know more about our range of products, you can connect with us right away!
