Granulation Technology with Flexibility to Produce a Range of Specialist Products

Keywords: granulation, fortified fertilisers, customised fertilisers, compound fertilisers, fertilisers with additives, high speed drum granulation, internal recycle, granules.

This paper considers the main principles of granulation technology in High Speed Drum Granulation (HSDG) unit, its technical and economic performances and advantages, the range of product produced in HSDG and recent references and associated engineering services provided by NIIK.

HSDG technology enables manufacturers of granular fertilisers to produce material comprised of hard, consistent spherical and dust free granules. It also provides a flexible production facility, able to switch between different types of product. It is suitable for installing into existing granulation plants.

HSDG technology can be used to produce fertilisers with a variety of amendments, in contrast to conventional NPK fertilisers. The value of this technology will grow as sales of these fortified fertilisers are forecast to increase their share of the market over the next few years. As demand for these types of fertiliser is characterised by small volumes of tailored formulations, the flexibility of plants equipped with HSDG technology will be increasingly advantageous.

NIIK has installed two commercial scale HSDG units, and two pilot scale units, so far. Each one of these was commissioned to address a different issue, and has been used in a different way.

The development and installation of NIIK’s HSDG units is aided by extensive usage of 3D design software. This generates a number of benefits for NIIK, the customer, and the working relationship between the two. It can even be used to help with operator staff training before the plant has been commissioned and while they are unable to actually go on site.

Natalia Kargaeva, NIIK, Novgorod, Russia

12 pages, 3 figures, 3 tables