Horizontal vs. Inclined Screens: Choosing the Best Screen for Your Application

December 14, 2020

The construction, mining, material processing, recycling, and farming industries all know the importance of mechanical screening to their work. This process enables these industries to effectively separate raw materials from a crusher or quarry so they can obtain their needed product. And to carry out mechanical screening and get their desired products, they would utilise different types of screening equipment.

A piece of screening equipment basically works by subjecting raw materials to a set of screens and then separating their particles through vibration. The specifications of screening equipment will vary depending on the needed product, work condition, and others. And so, two types of screening equipment that one may utilise are horizontal and inclined screens. They may share some similarities, but these screens still boast differing specifications that make them great and suitable for certain applications.

Horizontal Screens

Horizontal screening equipment, as the name implies, is known to operate well at a flat, horizontal area. However, it can still be adjusted to about 10 degrees in any direction. Horizontal screens have around two or three shafts that can be found within the box’s centre of gravity. To effectively provide an oval or linear motion to the horizontal screens, they have been designed and integrated with timing gears and counterweights. They also utilise out-of-balance motors or geared exciters for their linear motion. As these screens operate, they can provide high g-forces to effectively vibrate and move the material down.

When it comes to overall efficiency, horizontal screens are known to be better than inclined screens since they can retain the materials on the screen longer due to their slower travel rate. This mentioned rate allows horizontal screens to thoroughly screen the materials and let them fall through the screen. Portable plants and areas can easily maximise these screens due to their low profile. Most of the time, horizontal screens are intended to be the tertiary or finishing screens. They are also used for dewatering purposes.

Inclined Screens

Inclined screening equipment is designed to operate at angles of 10 to 35 degrees in one direction. And since they operate at an inclined angle, the gravity helps them move materials and particles down the screen much easier. Inclined screens vibrate in a circular motion, allow them to provide better processing rate or production capacity. The circular motion of these screens is brought by their single or dual shafts that are located within the screen box’s centre of gravity. Unlike horizontal screens, inclined screens cannot exert and produce the same high g-forces.

Since inclined screens only rely on one or two shafts, their expected initial capital expenditure is known to be lower than their counterparts. Additionally, they do not require robust frames and high horsepower motor. And while they are not as efficient as horizontal screens, they are still utilised in stationary plants at any processing phase. Take note, however, that inclined screens normally require more headroom. They likewise have some limitation when it comes to the time spent on screening materials.

If you want to know more about these screens, then feel free to contact us at Hawk Machinery. Established in 1988, we have been manufacturing and supplying crushing, screening, feeding, and conveying equipment to the extractive industry together with plant layout and turnkey projects.

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