A rotary drum granulator is an industrial machine used to produce fertilizer granules through a wet agglomeration process.
It consists of a rotating cylindrical drum installed at a slight inclination. Powdered materials enter through the feeding end and gradually move toward the discharge end as the drum rotates.
During operation, water, steam or a suitable binder is introduced according to the material formulation. As the materials tumble inside the drum, fine particles attach to one another and gradually develop into larger granules.
The equipment is commonly used in compound fertilizer manufacturing, particularly where continuous production and relatively large processing capacities are required. Depending on the formulation and process design, it can also be applied to other suitable fertilizer materials.
Unlike mechanical compression granulation, which forms particles through high-pressure rollers, drum granulation relies mainly on material movement, moisture control and particle agglomeration.
The granulation process depends on the interaction between material movement, moisture distribution and particle growth.
A typical operating process includes material feeding, liquid addition, particle agglomeration, granule growth and discharge. The actual process settings depend on the fertilizer formulation and the required product specifications.
Prepared fertilizer powder is conveyed into the rotating drum at a controlled feeding rate. Feed composition and particle size should be reasonably consistent to support stable operation.
Water, steam or a suitable liquid binder is introduced through the spraying system. The amount of liquid is adjusted according to the material's physical properties and formulation.
As the drum rotates, the material repeatedly tumbles and moves along the drum. Fine particles attach to larger particles through repeated collisions and agglomeration.
Particles continue to grow as additional fine material adheres to their surfaces. Drum operating conditions and moisture distribution affect particle size and shape.
Formed granules leave the drum and are transferred to a screening system. Oversized and undersized particles can be separated, with suitable material returned according to the production design.
Where required by the formulation and process, wet granules are sent to a rotary dryer and cooler before final screening, coating and packaging.
The machine consists of mechanical and process systems that work together to support material movement, granule formation and continuous operation.
Prepared fertilizer powder is conveyed into the rotating drum at a controlled feeding rate. Feed composition and particle size should be reasonably consistent to support stable operation.
Water, steam or a suitable liquid binder is introduced through the spraying system. The amount of liquid is adjusted according to the material's physical properties and formulation.
As the drum rotates, the material repeatedly tumbles and moves along the drum. Fine particles attach to larger particles through repeated collisions and agglomeration.
Particles continue to grow as additional fine material adheres to their surfaces. Drum operating conditions and moisture distribution affect particle size and shape.
Formed granules leave the drum and are transferred to a screening system. Oversized and undersized particles can be separated, with suitable material returned according to the production design.
Where required by the formulation and process, wet granules are sent to a rotary dryer and cooler before final screening, coating and packaging.
_800x600.jpg)
A rotary drum granulator is mainly used for fertilizer materials that can form stable granules through wet agglomeration. Suitability depends on particle size, moisture behavior, chemical composition and binder requirements.
The equipment is widely applied in compound fertilizer production. Suitable formulations may contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium sources such as urea, ammonium phosphate and potassium salts.
For NPK formulations, the granulation process needs to be designed around chemical composition, moisture conditions and the required nutrient ratio. Steam, water or other process liquids may be used depending on the formulation.
Blended organic and inorganic materials may be processed when their physical properties are suitable for drum granulation. Feed preparation and moisture adjustment are particularly important.
Certain soil conditioners and mineral-based fertilizer formulations may also be suitable after evaluating their particle properties and granulation behavior.
Material evaluation: Not every powder can be granulated successfully in a rotary drum. A material test or process assessment should be completed before final equipment selection, especially for sticky, moisture-sensitive or difficult-to-agglomerate materials.
view NPK fertilizer production line view organic fertilizer production lineChoosing a suitable model requires more than comparing the rated capacity. The granulator should be selected according to the material, finished product requirements and the capacity balance of the complete production line.
Start with the required hourly output. Consider whether the production line will operate continuously and whether additional capacity is needed for future expansion.
Different formulations behave differently during wet granulation. Particle size, moisture absorption, bulk density and binder requirements all affect equipment selection.
The required particle size distribution, granule strength and product appearance should be considered when determining drum configuration and downstream screening arrangements.
The granulator should be selected together with feeding, drying, cooling and screening equipment. The output of the entire production line must be coordinated.
The rotating drum supports continuous feeding, granule formation and discharge, making it suitable for production lines designed for ongoing operation.
Different drum sizes can be selected according to production requirements, including medium- and large-capacity projects.
Liquid addition, feed rate and operating conditions can be adjusted according to the material formulation and target granule characteristics.
The granulator can be connected with dryers, coolers, screening machines, conveyors and other equipment.
Actual Images of A Drum Granulator
Different granulation technologies are designed for different raw materials, production capacities and process requirements. The right choice depends on the complete production process rather than one machine specification.
| Comparison | Rotary Drum Granulator | Disc Granulator | Double Roller Press Granulator |
| Granulation Method | Wet agglomeration | Wet agglomeration | Dry compression |
| Main Forming Mechanism | Tumbling and adhesion | Rotating disc and adhesion | Mechanical pressure |
| Liquid Addition | Usually required | Usually required | Generally not required during forming |
| Production Application | Continuous medium- and large-scale production | Small- and medium-scale and flexible production | Dry granulation where material is suitable |
| Space Requirements | Relatively large | Relatively compact | Relatively compact |
| Typical Applications | Compound fertilizer and suitable formulations | Suitable organic and compound fertilizer formulations | Suitable dry powder fertilizer formulations |
Consider a rotary drum granulator when the project requires continuous production and the formulation is suitable for wet agglomeration.
A disc granulator may be suitable when the project needs a relatively compact layout and convenient adjustment of the granulation process.
A double roller press granulator is worth considering when the material is suitable for dry compression and reducing the need for wet granulation is a priority.
Note:Actual suitability should be evaluated against the material formulation, target output, product specifications and operating conditions.
A rotary drum granulator is generally one part of a larger fertilizer manufacturing system. Supporting equipment should be configured according to material preparation, formulation and finished product requirements.
Measures and distributes raw materials.
Reduces oversized raw material particles.
Blends materials into a uniform mixture.
Transfers materials between processing stages.
Forms fertilizer granules.
Reduces granule moisture.
Cools dried granules.
Separates qualified and unqualified particles.
Applies a surface coating when required.
Weighs and packages finished fertilizer.
The actual configuration depends on fertilizer formulation, granulation method, production capacity and local operating conditions. An NPK fertilizer project may require a different feeding and mixing arrangement from an organic-inorganic fertilizer project.
Provides equipment configuration and process solutions for compound fertilizer manufacturing. The production line can be configured according to raw material properties, fertilizer formulations, and required production capacity.
View NPK Fertilizer Production Line →Integrates processing equipment for organic fertilizer manufacturing. The production process and equipment configuration depend on raw material characteristics, moisture content, and finished product requirements.
View Organic Fertilizer Production Line →Combines material preparation, fermentation, granulation, and other processing stages for bio-organic fertilizer production. Equipment selection depends on raw materials, fermentation requirements, and production capacity.
View Bio-organic Fertilizer Production Line →The price of a rotary drum granulator depends on equipment configuration and project requirements. A quotation should be based on actual production conditions rather than a single standard price.
Larger drums generally require more materials, fabrication work and supporting mechanical components. Required production capacity is an important factor in determining equipment cost.
Drum plate specifications, material selection, wear protection and fabrication requirements can affect manufacturing cost.
Motor power, reducer specifications, gear assembly and other transmission components influence the equipment configuration.
A quotation for a complete granulation system differs from the price of an individual granulator. Dryers, coolers, conveyors and screening machines affect the total investment.
Shipping arrangements, installation requirements, commissioning and technical services should be considered when calculating the project budget.
Local power supply, site layout, environmental requirements and integration with existing equipment may affect the final project scope.
A rotary drum granulator is used to produce fertilizer granules through wet agglomeration. It is commonly applied in compound fertilizer production and other suitable fertilizer manufacturing processes.
Powdered materials enter a rotating inclined drum. Water, steam or a suitable binder is added to support particle agglomeration. As the materials tumble, fine particles attach to larger particles and gradually form granules.
Capacity depends on the drum model, raw material properties, formulation and operating conditions. The ZG series specifications shown on this page list nominal capacities from 1 to 20 tons per hour. Confirm the applicable capacity for your material and process before ordering.
Yes. It can be used in NPK fertilizer manufacturing when the formulation and process conditions are suitable for wet granulation. The process configuration should account for raw material composition, moisture and finished product requirements.
A dryer is commonly used after wet granulation when the moisture content of discharged granules exceeds the finished product specification. Its size and capacity should be matched to the granulator and the production process.
Both machines can use wet agglomeration, but they have different material movement patterns and equipment configurations. A rotary drum is commonly used in continuous production lines, while a disc granulator offers a different layout and adjustment approach.
Wet granulation uses water, steam or binders to help particles agglomerate. Dry granulation forms compacted material through mechanical pressure, generally without adding liquid during the forming process.
Consider required hourly capacity, material properties, finished granule specifications, installation space and supporting equipment. A technical evaluation is recommended before selecting a model.
Huaqiang provides fertilizer processing equipment and production line configuration support. The final equipment list depends on the customer's formulation, capacity and project requirements.
The most useful information includes raw material type, target production capacity, finished granule size, fertilizer formulation, power supply and project location.
| Model | Diameter(mm) | Length(mm) | Inclination(°) | Rotation Speed(r/min) | Capacity(t/h) | Motor Power(Kw) |
| ZG1.2*4.0 | 1200 | 4000 | 2.5 | 17 | 1-3 | 5.5 |
| ZG1.5*6.0 | 1500 | 6000 | 2.5 | 11.5 | 3-5 | 7.5 |
| ZG1.8*7.0 | 1800 | 7000 | 2.5 | 11.5 | 6-10 | 18.5 |
| ZG2.0*8.0 | 2000 | 8000 | 2.5 | 11 | 10-15 | 22 |
| ZG2.2*12 | 2200 | 12000 | 2.5 | 10.5 | 15-20 | 37 |
