Coating Drum Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A coating drum is a versatile piece of industrial equipment that can be used to enhance the performance, handling characteristics and appearance of a wide range of products, from fertilizers to roofing granules. As the industry’s leading manufacturer of customized coating drums, we often receive questions from our customers about this versatile piece of equipment. 

Here are some of the most common questions and their answers:

1. How coating drum Work?

coating drum work similarly to other rotating equipment in that the material is coated by the rotating motion of the rollers. The surface of the coating drum is covered with coating material. With the rotation of the drum, the material will be wrapped and rolled on the surface of the drum, and fully contact with the coating material, so as to uniformly adhere to the coating.

To improve coating efficiency and uniformity, coating drum are often equipped with a spray system. The spraying system atomizes the coating material into fine particles and sprays them evenly over the surface of the material, making it easier to coat.

The mutual collision and friction between the material particles during the rotation of the coating drum will also further promote the even distribution of the coating, ensuring that all materials can be adequately coated.

2. What are the applications for coating drums?

Coating drums can be used to coat a wide variety of materials, including:

• Food and beverages: candy, tablets, nuts, etc.
• Chemicals: catalysts, adsorbents, fertilizers and soil conditioners, etc.
• Construction materials: roofing granules, asphalt, concrete sealers, etc.
• Others: seeds, electronic components, textiles, etc.

3. What are the advantages of coating drums?

Coating drums have the following advantages:

1. Good coating uniformity: Coating drums allow the coating to be evenly distributed on the surface of the material, avoiding excessively thick or thin coatings.
2. High productivity: The coating drum can be operated continuously with high productivity.
3. Simple operation: the operation and maintenance of the coating drum is simple and easy to use.

4. How does the coating drum distribute the coating material in the drum?

The coating drum uses nozzles to atomize the coating into fine particles which are then sprayed onto the material bed. As the drum rotates, collisions and friction between the materials cause the coating to be evenly distributed over the entire surface of the material.

5. Can a coating drum handle powder coatings? Or only liquid coatings?

The coating drum can dispense both powder and liquid coatings.

6. Do I need a dryer after the material has been coated?

Usually not. Unless the moisture content of the coating is very high and needs to be removed, there is no need for an additional drying process.

7. Are the coating drums batch or continuous?

While coating drums are available in both configurations, continuous coating drums are used for high capacity production environments such as fertilizer pelletizing plants.

8. What is the difference between coating drums and conveyor belt coating?

Coating drums offer several key advantages over coating on conveyor belts.

1. Provides a more uniform coating effect due to mixing in the drum.
2. Avoids the problem of only the outermost layer of material being coated on the conveyor belt
3. Reduces the problem of overspray

9. What is the residence time of the material in the coating drum?

The dwell time or residence time depends on the time required to meet product quality specifications and therefore varies greatly from process to process, from 30 seconds to over an hour.

10. How can I tell if a coating drum is suitable for my process?

Coating drums are suitable for coating any flowable material and have significant advantages over conveyor belt coating. Specific questions or challenges, as well as the determination of key process parameters, can be addressed through process development testing.

11. What capacity can a coating drum handle?

Coating drums can handle capacities ranging from a few hundred pounds per hour to several hundred tons per hour.

12. What are the typical wear parts of a coating drum?

Wear parts for coating drums are similar to other rotating equipment: seals, support wheels/rollers, tires, thrust rollers, and internal components. As with any other type of rotating drum, it is important to maintain proper drum alignment and to address any wear on the tires and support wheels by grinding.

13. How do I prevent agglomeration and buildup in the coating drum?

Preventing agglomeration and buildup should be addressed first and foremost through the design of the equipment. Engineers should limit the areas where material can jam and accumulate and carefully select the materials used in manufacturing. Drum liners can also help prevent buildup and protect the drum shell from corrosion and abrasion.

14. How do I choose the right coating drum for my application?

The following factors need to be considered when selecting a coating drum:

• The nature of the material: This includes the particle size, fluidity, and chemical properties of the material.
• Nature of coating: including viscosity, solid content, drying speed, etc. of the coating.
• Production capacity: the required production capacity.

15. What is the price range for coating drums?

The price range for coating drums varies greatly depending on the size of the equipment, materials, process, degree of automation, customization needs, and additional equipment, making it impossible to generalize.

Factors affecting price.

• Equipment size and capacity: The larger the capacity, the higher the price.
• Materials and manufacturing processes: High-quality materials and advanced processes result in higher prices.
• Level of automation: Automated systems increase costs.
• Customization Requirements: Customized designs increase the cost.
• Additional equipment and accessories: Additional purchases are required.

Reference Price Range.

• Small coating drums: Tens to hundreds of thousands of RMB.
• Large or customized equipment: Millions of RMB.

We recommend contacting the manufacturer or supplier with specific requirements and parameters to obtain a quote.

16. Can the coating drum be automated?

Yes, the coating drum can be automated with a control package that automatically controls the feed rate and coating addition and helps to start up and shut down the equipment.

17. Do coating drums require a recirculation loop?

No, as the coating is usually applied as a finishing process and does not need to be separated or reduced in size after processing.

18. What are some common failures of coating drums?

Common failures of coating drums include:

1. Drum wear: Drums can wear out after prolonged use, resulting in uneven coating distribution.
2. Damaged bearings: Damaged bearings can cause the coating drum to rotate unevenly, affecting the quality of the coating.
3. Clogged nozzles: Clogged nozzles can lead to uneven coating spray.

19. What other equipment is required to support the coating drum?

Coating drums require raw material feed equipment as well as coating pumping equipment (if liquid). In environments where fugitive dust may be generated, an exhaust air handling system may be required.

20. How can I extend the life of the coating drum?

In order to extend the life of the coating drum, the following should be observed:

• Regularly inspect and maintain the coating drum and replace worn parts in a timely manner.
• Use the coating drum correctly to avoid overloading or overloading.
• Use proper coatings to avoid corrosion of the rollers.

21. What data is required to design a coating drum?

Engineers need many data points to design a coating drum. The most important are:

• Raw material feed rate
• Stacking density
• Coating type
• Coating feed rate
• Coating properties (physical and chemical)
• Required capacity

As an important piece of industrial equipment, coating drums provide manufacturers with an efficient and convenient tool to improve the appearance, performance and handling characteristics of their products, resulting in more competitive products in the marketplace.

TONGLI, as the preferred supplier of coating drums in the industry, is committed to providing our customers with high performance and long life coating drums. We have the experience and technical expertise to customize the optimal coating drum solution for your specific needs and help you achieve your production goals.

Advantages of TONGLI coating drums.

• Reliable Quality: Strict quality control system ensures that TONGLI coating drums are durable and provide you with long-lasting and stable productivity.
• Superior Performance: Advanced design concepts and exquisite manufacturing techniques give TONGLI coating drums superior performance, creating higher value products for you.
• Perfect Service: Professional and considerate pre-sales and after-sales service will give you peace of mind to enjoy the quality experience brought by TONGLI.

Whether you are looking for a solution to enhance the appearance, performance or handling characteristics of your products, TONGLI coating drums are the ideal choice. Contact us today for more information and to start your journey towards product value enhancement!