Tubular Chain Conveyor Daily Operation, Maintenance, and Common Fault Troubleshooting

Article 4: Tubular Chain Conveyor Daily Operation, Maintenance, and Common Fault Troubleshooting

As a continuously operating industrial conveying device, the tubular chain conveyor is mostly used in 24-hour uninterrupted operations such as dry desulfurization and powder production. Standardized daily operation and maintenance can effectively reduce failure probability, extend equipment service life, ensure smooth conveying, and prevent the entire production line from stopping due to equipment downtime. The following are daily operation and maintenance specifications adapted to industrial powder scenarios, as well as quick solutions for common faults, for the convenience of maintenance personnel.

I. Daily Operation and Maintenance Specifications

Daily maintenance (must be done before and after start-up)

• Before start-up, check the lubricant level of the drive motor and reducer to ensure adequate lubrication with no oil leakage or abnormal noise; check the meshing status of sprockets and chains for no jamming or looseness.

• Check the tail tensioning device and confirm the chain tension is moderate; too loose causes chain jumping, too tight accelerates wear. Adjust the tensioning bolts promptly.

• Clean residual material at the inlet and outlet, and check the integrity of pipe seals and sight glasses for no damage or dust leakage risk.

• Run empty for 1-2 minutes to confirm stable operation with no abnormal noise or jamming before feeding material.

• Monitor current and load in real time during operation; overloading and overfeeding are strictly prohibited to avoid sudden large feeding that causes blockage.

Periodic maintenance (weekly / monthly / yearly)

• Weekly, clean dust outside the pipe, check the sealing strips at inlets/outlets and flange gaskets, and replace aged or damaged ones promptly to prevent dust leakage.

• Monthly, check wear of chains and discs; replace chains with excessive elongation and damaged discs promptly to prevent breakage and shutdown; grease sprockets and bearings to ensure smooth rotation.

• Quarterly, check the electrical control system, wiring, and explosion-proof devices to ensure overload protection and alarm functions work normally and static-proof devices are intact and effective.

• Yearly, perform a full disassembly overhaul, clean residual material and agglomerates inside the pipe, replace aged lubrication parts, and fully calibrate the tensioning device and drive system.

Core maintenance taboos: Never convey materials with excessively high moisture content or large impurities to avoid material sticking to the wall and blocking the pipe; never force the equipment to run with faults; stop immediately to investigate upon finding abnormal noise, vibration, or dust leakage.

II. Common Faults and Quick Solutions

• Fault 1: Equipment blockage, material cannot be conveyed. Common causes: excessive feeding, material caking due to moisture, low chain speed, or impurities in the pipe. Solution: stop feeding, clean caking and impurities in the pipe, reduce feeding amount, dry the material, and slightly adjust the speed (high speed is strictly prohibited).

• Fault 2: Chain jumping or slipping. Common causes: chain too loose, sprocket wear, material jamming. Solution: adjust the tail tensioner to tighten the chain, replace worn sprockets, and clear jammed material.

• Fault 3: Equipment dust leakage and heavy on-site dust. Common causes: aged gaskets, loose flanges, broken sight glasses, poor sealing at inlets/outlets. Solution: replace gaskets, tighten flange bolts, repair damaged parts, and add sealing material-blocking devices.

• Fault 4: Loud noise and body vibration. Common causes: bearing lack of oil, chain jamming, loose foundation bolts, uneven load. Solution: replenish lubricating oil, clean jammed areas, tighten foundation bolts, and control feeding amount evenly.

• Fault 5: Material return and insufficient discharge. Common causes: disc wear, low speed, excessive pipe inclination. Solution: replace worn discs, slightly increase speed, and optimize pipe layout angle.

Proper daily operation and maintenance can extend the service life of the tubular chain conveyor by over 30%, greatly reduce wear-part replacement and repair costs, and ensure fully enclosed and stable powder conveying, providing reliable support for the continuous compliant operation of dry desulfurization systems and the entire production line.