Working principle and characteristics of drum flaker

Working Principle of Drum Flaker

• • Basic Process:
    • The drum flaker mainly consists of a rotating drum. The material to be flaked, usually in a molten or semi – molten state, is fed onto the surface of the rotating drum. As the drum rotates, the material spreads out evenly over its surface due to the action of gravity and the rotation of the drum.
    • The drum is usually cooled from the inside. For example, in a refrigerant – cooled drum flaker, a cooling medium such as a refrigerant or chilled water circulates inside the drum. As the molten material contacts the cooled drum surface, it quickly solidifies and forms a thin film.
    • A scraper blade is placed close to the surface of the drum. As the drum rotates and the solidified material film reaches the position of the scraper, the scraper peels off the solidified material from the drum surface, and the flaked material is then collected through a conveyor or other collection device.
  • Heat Transfer Aspect:
    • Heat transfer occurs from the hot molten material to the cooled drum surface. The rate of heat transfer depends on factors such as the temperature difference between the material and the drum, the thermal conductivity of the material and the drum, and the contact area between the material and the drum. The efficient cooling of the drum ensures rapid solidification of the material. For example, if the material is a wax with a melting point of around 70 – 80°C, and the drum is cooled to a temperature below 30°C, the temperature gradient between the wax and the drum promotes quick heat transfer and solidification.

Characteristics of Drum Flaker

• • Product Quality:
    • It can produce flakes with a relatively uniform thickness. The thickness of the flakes is mainly determined by the speed of the drum rotation, the feed rate of the material, and the temperature difference between the material and the drum. For example, in the production of soap flakes, the drum flaker can produce flakes with a thickness ranging from 0.5 – 2 mm, which provides a consistent product size for subsequent packaging and use.
    • The flakes have a smooth surface. Since the material solidifies on the smooth surface of the drum, the flaked products have a good appearance and are less likely to have rough edges or irregular surfaces.
  • Production Efficiency:
    • It has a relatively high production capacity. The continuous rotation of the drum allows for a steady feed of material and continuous production of flakes. For example, in an industrial – scale drum flaker for processing fatty acids, it can produce several tons of flaked products per hour, depending on the size of the drum and the properties of the material.
    • The operation is relatively simple and stable. Once the parameters such as the drum speed, feed rate, and cooling temperature are set properly, the drum flaker can operate stably for a long time, reducing the need for frequent adjustments and maintenance.
  • Versatility:
    • It can handle a wide range of materials. It is suitable for materials such as waxes, resins, soaps, and some food – grade substances (like margarine). Different materials only require appropriate adjustments of operating parameters such as temperature and feed rate to achieve good flaking results. For example, when flaking chocolate mass, the temperature of the drum needs to be carefully controlled to ensure that the chocolate solidifies properly and forms high – quality flakes.