The chain conveyor transports powders and granules in a fully enclosed trough, in which a chain with flights runs.

In a horizontal and slightly inclined configuration, a layer thickness is conveyed that is much higher than the chain itself. The system is suitable for controlled and dust-tight transport over relatively short to medium distances.

Chain conveyors can be executed in S-shape and C-shape, enabling complex routes to be realised with a single conveyor.

Animation of a dosing chain conveyor

In the animation you can open and close the gates of the inlets and the intermediate outlet. Inlet A has a double bottom and a dosing gate. Use the slider buttons to control everything. Inlets A and B cannot be open at the same time.

Required power for chain conveyors

The required power depends on the capacity, the length and the friction of the product. For horizontal transport of granular products such as grain, flour and animal feed, the power can be estimated using:

Power (kW) = Capacity (t/h) x Length (m) x 0.003

As an example:
a chain conveyor of 20 metres long with a capacity of 50 tonnes per hour requires 3 kW.

For ores and crystalline products such as salt and sugar, the factor 0.003 is two to three times higher. For a precise calculation, use the calculation tool of Jansen & Heuning.

Application chain conveyors

If products are non-sticky, they are suitable for a chain conveyor.

• Products that are readily possible:
  – Granules: all types of grain, animal feed, cement, biomass, lime, sulphur, cocoa beans, coffee beans, sugar, salt, nuts, peanuts, almonds, sand, gravel, etc.
  – Powders: flour, meal, semolina, starch, milk powder, cocoa powder, dried vegetables, bentonite, fly ash, stone meal, etc.
• In industries such as agriculture, chemical, food, food ingredients, minerals, construction materials, biomass, recycling industry, wastewater treatment, etc.
• Chain conveyors are suitable for much higher temperatures than conveyor belts. All components are made of steel and can be manufactured in heat-resistant steel if required.
• Chain conveyors are most suitable for lengths from 8 to 80 metres. The limiting factor for the length is the tensile load in the chain.
• Multiple volumetric dosing inlets and outlets with or without slide gates can be freely positioned, for example for unloading or filling a row of silos.
• For transport in two directions, either a double bottom or two drives are applied
• Applicable in straight, Z-, S-, or C–shaped routes