At the GEAPS Exchange 2025, Roger Bruere, vice president and Carl Swisher, sales manager of material handling products, at 4B Components, Ltd., shared valuable insights on upgrading bucket elevators to increase capacity without full replacement. The session, titled "What to Look for When Increasing Bucket Elevator Capacity," provided attendees with practical advice and considerations for optimizing existing equipment.
They emphasized that simply increasing speed or adding more buckets is not always the best solution, especially when dealing with wet grain. The speakers outlined several key factors to consider when upgrading bucket elevators:
- Preserving existing infrastructure: Upgrading rather than replacing can minimize downtime and reduce costs.
- Component optimization: Using high-efficiency elevator buckets and selecting the right belting materials can significantly improve performance.
- Moisture content considerations: Wet grain behaves differently and may require adjustments to bucket spacing and elevator speed.
- Head design: Older elevators with flat-top heads may need modifications, such as elliptical shrouds, to accommodate increased capacity.
- Customized solutions: Working with experienced engineers to develop tailored upgrades based on specific facility needs and constraints.
Bruere and Swisher highlighted the importance of understanding the interplay between various elevator components. He demonstrated how changing one parameter, such as belt speed or bucket size, can affect other aspects of the system's performance.
The session also addressed common challenges faced by the industry, including wear issues when feeding on the downside and the need for variable frequency drives to accommodate different grain moisture levels.
Emerging technologies discussed included advanced capacity calculation tools that take into account multiple parameters to provide more accurate upgrade recommendations. Swisher cautioned against relying solely on online calculators, emphasizing the value of working with experienced professionals who understand the nuances of bucket elevator systems.
