ANSI/CEMA 350-2021: Screw Conveyors for Bulk Materials
Screw conveyors are a versatile solution for moving bulk materials. These conveyors use a rotating screw, or auger, to move bulk materials horizontally or along inclines and can also facilitate feeding, mixing, heating, and cooling. Effective screw conveyor design depends on multiple factors. ANSI/CEMA 350-2021, Screw Conveyors for Bulk Materials provides accepted engineering and application practices for the design and use of screw conveyors.
What Is a Screw Conveyor?
A screw conveyor is a mechanical device that uses a rotating helical screw blade inside a stationary tube or U-shaped trough to continuously move bulk materials from one location to another. Its enclosed design allows for controlled handling of loose, granular, semi-solid, and viscous materials while helping reduce spills and contain dust and other particulates.
Screw Conveyor Design and Material Handling
Screw conveyors are versatile bulk material handling systems used to transport, meter, mix, blend, and process materials across industries such as agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, mining, chemicals, and wastewater treatment. Available in horizontal, inclined, vertical, and shaftless configurations, screw conveyors can be designed for materials with different flow properties, densities, moisture levels, temperatures, and abrasiveness.
Factors such as conveyor capacity, screw diameter and pitch, speed, horsepower, length, incline, and trough loading all influence screw conveyor design and performance. Because these variables must be matched to the material and application, selecting and engineering the right screw conveyor is essential for reliable bulk material handling. ANSI/CEMA 350-2021 provides accepted engineering and application practices to help guide these decisions.
What Is ANSI/CEMA 350-2021?
ANSI/CEMA 350-2021 isa book of accepted engineering and application practice as compiled by engineers of leading screw conveyor manufacturing companies based on the experience of many years. It includes ANSI/CEMA 300-2021 and CEMA 352-2018, and offers comprehensive guidance to help engineers select, configure, and operate screw conveyor systems safely and efficiently.
From Ancient Innovation to Modern Screw Conveyors
The basic principle behind the screw conveyor dates back more than 2,000 years to the Archimedes screw, an ancient device traditionally attributed to Greek mathematician and engineer Archimedes. Using a rotating helical surface, the Archimedes screw was designed to lift water for irrigation and other applications. Although its original purpose was different from modern material handling, the underlying concept—a rotating screw moving material—remains central to screw conveyor technology today.
Over the centuries, this simple mechanism evolved from lifting water to transporting bulk materials. Today, screw conveyors are widely used in agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, mining, and other industries to move, feed, mix, heat, and cool bulk materials. Their versatility has made screw conveyors one of the most established technologies for bulk material handling.
Modern Screw Conveyor Engineering and Application
Modern screw conveyors may be far more sophisticated than their ancient predecessor, but the fundamental principle remains the same. Today, screw conveyor systems are engineered in a variety of configurations to accommodate different bulk material handling needs. Horizontal, inclined, and vertical screw conveyors can move materials along different paths, while shaftless designs can be used for sticky, viscous, or difficult-to-flow materials.
Selecting the right screw conveyor requires consideration of factors such as material type, particle size, density, flow characteristics, required capacity, conveyor length, incline, and operating environment. These factors can influence the conveyor’s components, configuration, power requirements, and overall performance. ANSI/CEMA 350-2021 helps engineers and plant operators select, design, and safely operate screw conveyors.
Where to Find ANSI/CEMA 350-2021
ANSI/CEMA 350-2021, Screw Conveyors for Bulk Materials is available on the ANSI Webstore.
ANSI/CEMA 350-2021 was developed by the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA).
Please direct any technical questions relating to this American National Standard to the developer. You can find the contact information for all ANSI-accredited standards developers here: List of ANSI-Accredited Standards Developers (ASDs).
For further information, please refer to: Who to Contact for Standards Related Questions.
