Performance tests on Screw Feeder Conveyor for Nodule Transfer Deep Sea Applications

A screw conveyor is a versatile conveyor used in many process plants for the transfer of bulk solids and powders. The following article has written to understand screw conveyor design and selection of the right screw conveyor for underwater applications to convey crushed manganese nodules to the pump system for nodule transfer. The nodules from the sea bed will be collected by a pickup device and crushed into less than 30mm pieces by using a crusher and pumped by a positive displacement pump to the mother vessel. Screw feeder is used to transfer curshed Polymetallic Nodules from hopper to pump system with controlled feed rate. A land based screw feeder is modified to suit the under water applications. Studies on screw conveyors were conducted to examine performance in land as well as underwater. Most of these studies were experimental in nature. This paper presents a critical review on the design and validation of a screw conveyor.