The high-intensity operating environments of granulators—characterized by impact, friction, and corrosion—make their components prone to wear. Proper maintenance can significantly extend service life and reduce losses caused by downtime. Maintenance priorities vary by machine type:
Drum granulators: The drum liners and riding rings are the components most susceptible to wear. It is recommended to use wear-resistant rubber or high-chromium alloy castings for liners; liner thickness should be checked quarterly, and liners replaced promptly if they have worn down by more than one-third. Good lubrication must be maintained between the riding rings and support rollers; lithium-based grease should be applied weekly, and support roller positions adjusted to ensure the drum’s horizontal straightness deviation remains within 2mm.
Disc granulators: The disc scraper and the edge of the disc body wear out relatively quickly. The clearance between the scraper and the disc bottom should be maintained at 3–5mm; excessive clearance leads to material buildup, while insufficient clearance accelerates wear. A high-polymer wear-resistant coating can be applied to the disc body and renewed every six months.
Double roller press granulators: The roller shell surface is the critical wear part; its lifespan depends on material hardness and extrusion pressure. It is advisable to use hard-alloy surfacing (hardfacing) on the roller surfaces and to control the content of metallic impurities in the feed material (e.g., by installing an iron remover). If pits or cracks appear on the roller surface, the machine should be shut down immediately for repair via surfacing to prevent damage to the roller body. Additionally, for all machine types, standard daily operating procedures—such as running the machine empty before startup and cleaning it after shutdown—must be strictly followed. A log for tracking wear-part replacement should be maintained, and spare parts stocked in advance to minimize unplanned downtime.
