Question

Which of the following type of bucket elevator is most commonly used for elevating grains

• A. Continuous bucket centrifugal discharge
• B. Spaced bucket positive discharge
• C. Spaced bucket centrifugal discharge
• D. Continuous bucket positive discharge

Hint:

Grains are free-flowing, cohesive-free materials, making high-speed centrifugal discharge systems the most efficient and practical choice for vertical handling.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
A bucket elevator is a mechanical handling device used to vertically transport bulk materials like grains, seeds, and fertilizers.
Elevators are classified based on the spacing of the buckets and the method used to discharge the materials at the head pulley.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Bucket elevators are categorized into different functional designs:
- Spaced bucket centrifugal discharge elevators feature buckets mounted at set intervals along a belt or chain.
The assembly operates at relatively high speeds so that as the buckets pass over the head pulley, centrifugal force flings the material out of the buckets into the discharge chute.
This design is ideal for free-flowing bulk materials such as wheat, corn, and paddy, because they disperse easily under centrifugal action.
It is the most popular choice in grain storage and milling installations due to its high capacity and cost-effective operation.
- Continuous bucket elevators have buckets mounted close together without spaces.
They operate at lower speeds and rely on gravity discharge, which is suited for fragile, abrasive, or extremely light materials to prevent product damage or dusting.
- Positive discharge elevators have buckets spaced apart but use mechanical tripping or inversion to dump sticky or cohesive materials that do not discharge easily under gravity or centrifugal action.
Therefore, the spaced bucket centrifugal discharge type is the most common design used for free-flowing agricultural grains.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The spaced bucket centrifugal discharge elevator is most commonly used for elevating grains.