SCREENING · CONVEYING · BULK MATERIAL HANDLINGBULK MATERIAL HANDLING

Industry solution

Fertilizer Production

Separate fertilizer granules from fines and oversize, keep recycle streams distinct, and reduce breakage during conveying.

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Concept illustration of fertilizer granule processing

Three streams: accepted granules, fines and oversize

Granular fertilizer screening separates the target size band from undersized particles and oversized granules. On a two-cut screen, the upper deck retains oversize and the lower deck separates fines from accepted product. Each outlet needs its own chute or conveyor. Mixing the streams immediately after screening cancels the separation and sends out-of-grade material toward storage or packing.

Linear Vibrating Screen on a white background
Linear Vibrating Screen

NPK, urea and compound fertilizer

Granule shape and strength affect how fertilizer travels across the deck and survives transfer. Weak granules produce fines when they hit a chute or moving component. Some fertilizer products absorb moisture and form cakes in storage. Screening can remove those oversized cakes, but it cannot reverse moisture damage inside the granule. A thick feed bed also lets small particles leave with accepted product before reaching the lower mesh.

Material / observation Separation / cause Equipment / action
Granular NPK Split saleable granules, fines and oversized particles. Multi-deck linear or gyratory screen
Granular urea Grade granules and monitor new fines after transfer. Gentle screening and controlled discharge
Compound fertilizer Remove agglomerates and retain the required size band. Linear, gyratory or tumbler screen
Powder fertilizer blends Remove storage lumps; avoid loss of fine ingredients. Powder screening with enclosed transfer
Illustrative sample of fertilizer granules and pellets
Material illustration: fertilizer materials

Near-size particles and unstable feed

Particles close to the opening need more opportunities to contact the mesh than much smaller particles. An overloaded deck can carry near-size material into the wrong stream. Stabilise the feed, spread it across the width and keep discharge chutes clear. Inspect screen panels for wear or broken wires: a local oversized opening changes the product cut even if the rest of the deck looks sound.

Gyratory Screen on a white background
Gyratory Screen

Grading granules and keeping recycle separate

Linear and gyratory screens provide continuous granule grading. Multi-deck arrangements separate distinct fractions in one machine. Fines and oversize may return to earlier production stages when the fertilizer process uses recycle, but they remain separate from finished product. Oversize crushing and fines recycle have different duties; a common return conveyor should only be used where the upstream process actually accepts a combined stream.

Tumbler Screen on a white background
Tumbler Screen

Where conveying creates extra fines

A long free fall onto a hard chute increases impact damage. Reduce unnecessary drop height, use a chute that guides rather than abruptly stops the stream, and avoid feeding faster than the next conveyor can accept. Compare the fines content immediately after screening with the fines content after the elevator or conveyor. A higher value downstream identifies handling damage rather than a screen cut error. Inspect elevator discharge and transfer chutes for buildup that causes repeated impacts.

Bucket Elevator on a white background
Bucket Elevator

Related equipment

Technical resources

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

Why do fines reappear after fertilizer screening?

Granules can break at elevator discharge, chute impacts or overloaded transfers. Compare samples before and after each transfer.

How are three fertilizer size streams separated?

Two cut points create oversize, accepted granules and fines, with a separate discharge for each stream.

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