Equipment

Coal Feeders

Apron, belt, vibrating, and reciprocating feeders for metered coal extraction from hoppers and silos.

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Overview

What this equipment does

Coal feeders provide controlled, metered extraction of coal from hoppers, silos, bins, and stockpiles. Common types include apron feeders for heavy, lumpy run-of-mine coal; belt feeders for general-purpose duty; vibrating feeders for free-flowing material; and reciprocating-plate feeders for high-tonnage primary feed. Power plant coal handling also uses gravimetric feeders that meter coal to pulverizers by weight rather than volume.

At a Glance
Equipment Type
Coal feeder
Material Handled
Raw coal, washed coal, fines, blends
Capacity Range
20–4,000 tph
Where used

Common Applications

  • Stockpile reclaim
  • Silo and bin discharge
  • Pulverizer feed
  • Crusher feed
  • Ship loader and reclaimer feed
Specifications

Technical Specifications

Coal Feeders
Specification Value Unit
Capacity 20–4,000 tph
Feeder Types Apron, belt, vibrating, reciprocating, gravimetric
Drive Hydraulic or electric VFD
Discharge Width 600–2,400 mm
Speed Control Variable, ±10% typical
Selection guide

Selection Factors

  • Material lump size and bulk density
  • Required turn-down ratio
  • Available headroom under bin or hopper
  • Sticky or free-flowing feed
  • Accuracy required (volumetric vs gravimetric)
Maintenance

Maintenance and Wear Notes

Apron feeder maintenance focuses on pan and chain wear, drive sprocket condition, and skirt sealing. Vibrating feeder maintenance is centered on springs and exciter bearings. Belt feeders share maintenance themes with general conveyors. Gravimetric feeders additionally require load-cell calibration.

Related Equipment

Belt conveyor system

Coal Conveyor Systems

Belt conveyor systems for moving raw coal, washed coal, and rejects between mining, preparation, and load-out points.

200–6,000 tph Raw coal, washed coal, middlings, rejects, coal fines
Coal crusher

Coal Crushers

Primary and secondary crushers for reducing run-of-mine coal to handleable, screenable, or preparation-ready sizes.

50–3,000 tph Run-of-mine coal, washed coal, middlings
Vibrating screen

Vibrating Screens

Vibrating screens for sizing, dewatering, and media recovery in coal preparation plants and handling circuits.

50–1,500 tph per deck Raw coal, washed coal, dense medium, slurry

Related Applications

Equipment for Power Plant Coal Handling

Equipment for coal-fired power plant coal handling: unloading, stockyards, crushing, pulverizer feed, and ash handling.

Equipment for Coal Transfer Stations

Equipment scope for coal transfer stations: conveying, transfer chutes, dust control, sampling, and condition monitoring.
Frequently Asked

FAQ

When is an apron feeder preferred over a belt feeder?

Apron feeders are preferred for heavy, lumpy run-of-mine coal where the feed includes large lumps and tramp material. Belt feeders are used for already-sized coal where lower capital cost and lower headroom matter more than impact resistance.

What is a gravimetric coal feeder?

A gravimetric coal feeder meters coal by weight to a downstream process — usually a pulverizer at a coal-fired power plant. It uses a belt with load cells under it and adjusts belt speed in real time to deliver a target mass flow.

How is feeder capacity controlled?

Feeder capacity is controlled by varying drive speed (VFD on the motor or variable-displacement hydraulic drive). Some installations also use stroke adjustment for vibrating and reciprocating feeders.

What sets feeder turn-down ratio?

Turn-down ratio is set by the practical minimum speed at which the feeder still discharges evenly without bridging. A 3:1 to 5:1 turn-down is common; gravimetric feeders can exceed this with belt-speed control.

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