For the final shaping step in fertilizer production, the disc granulator, thanks to its flexibility and efficiency, has become the preferred equipment for many manufacturers. Whether it’s NPK compound fertilizer, organic fertilizer, or other specialty fertilizers, it transforms mixed raw materials into uniformly sized granules, acting like a precise “master of shaping,” transforming fertilizer from a loose powder into a high-quality, easy-to-use product.
The disc granulator’s operating principle appears simple, yet it conceals an ingenious design. Its core component is a circular rotating disc with an adjustable tilt angle. As the disc rotates at a suitable speed, workers or an automated system evenly feed the mixed raw materials (sometimes with the addition of a small amount of binder). Centrifugal force, gravity, and friction combine to cause the raw materials to tumble and agglomerate within the disc. Fine powders gradually coalesce into small granules, which in turn absorb surrounding powders and gradually grow larger, ultimately forming round granules with a diameter of 1-5 mm.The scraper on the edge of the turntable will scrape out the particles that meet the specifications in time, while those that do not meet the standards will continue to “grow” in the turntable. The whole process is continuous and highly efficient.
Compared to double roller press granulator, the disc granulators offer significant advantages. First, they offer high pellet quality, producing round, moderately hard pellets that resist agglomeration and are convenient for transport and field application. Second, they offer high flexibility: by adjusting the disc speed, tilt angle, and feed rate, pellet size can be easily adjusted to meet the needs of different fertilizer varieties. Finally, they offer low energy consumption and ease of maintenance. Their relatively simple structure consumes far less energy than an extrusion granulator during operation, and routine maintenance requires only cleaning the disc and inspecting the scraper blades. The low barrier to entry makes them suitable for small and medium-sized fertilizer plants.
In actual production, disc granulators are highly adaptable. When producing NPK compound fertilizer, they evenly encapsulate nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium nutrients within the granules, preventing nutrient loss. When producing organic fertilizer, they ensure stable granulation, even with slightly higher raw material moisture, preserving the activity of the organic matter. Today, more and more fertilizer manufacturers are choosing to integrate them into their production lines, improving product quality while reducing production costs.
