How To Choose The Right Feeder For Your Process

By Sharon Nowak

Volumetric feeders control flow by discharging a consistent volume of material. They are best used when bulk density is consistent, long term feed accuracy is not critical, and feeder performance does not need to be documented. Two common types of screw feeders include the economical single screw volumetric feeder and the twin screw volumetric feeder for difficult materials. For free flowing materials, the award winning Bulk Solids Pump (BSP) offers perfectly linear, highly accurate volumetric feeding that surpasses all other feeders, yet is economical to buy and operate.

In gain-in-weight batching, volumetric feeders sequentially discharge into a weigh hopper, providing a weight-based formulation. For better accuracy and faster batch times, use loss-in-weight batch feeders

Gravimetric feeders control material flow by weight, for greater feed accuracy, and therefore require a scale. In addition to improving process quality, gravimetric feeders can document material content in the end product.

In gravimetric feeding you can choose between weigh belt feeders and loss-in-weight feeders. Each feeder type has a very different approach to weighing material flow and has its unique advantages. The best choice really depends on your application needs.