Air Slide Conveyor vs Screw Conveyor – Which One to Choose for Cement Plants?

(EN)Air Slide Conveyor vs Screw Conveyor for Cement Plants
(ID)Perbandingan Air Slide Conveyor dan Screw Conveyor untuk Pabrik Semen

1. Overview of Cement Powder Conveying in Cement Plants

When choosing between an air slide conveyor vs screw conveyor, cement plants must consider material characteristics, conveying distance, energy efficiency, and dust control requirements.

Cement plants require reliable conveying systems to transport fine powders between silos, mills, and loading points. Key challenges include:

  • Preventing dust emission
  • Ensuring stable and continuous material flow
  • Reducing energy consumption
  • Minimizing maintenance downtime

Two mainstream solutions dominate cement powder conveying systems:

  • Air Slide Conveyor
  • Screw Conveyor

👉 According to Wikipedia, bulk material handling involves the transportation and control of dry bulk materials such as cement, fly ash, and powders in industrial plants.


air slide conveyor vs screw conveyor for cement plants

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Air slide conveyor used in cement plants for smooth and energy-efficient conveying of cement powder.

2. What Is an Air Slide Conveyor?

An air slide conveyor (also called air gravity conveyor) uses low-pressure air to fluidize fine powders, allowing materials to flow smoothly along a slightly inclined trough.

Key Characteristics:

  • Ideal for cement, fly ash, and fine powder
  • Very low power consumption
  • Fully enclosed and dust-free operation
  • Minimal mechanical wear

Air slide conveyors are widely used under cement silos, between grinding systems, and before bulk loading systems.


3. What Is a Screw Conveyor?

A screw conveyor transports material using a rotating screw blade inside a closed trough or tube.

Key Characteristics:

  • Suitable for short-distance conveying
  • Accurate and controllable feeding
  • Handles a wider range of materials
  • Compact installation layout

Screw conveyors are commonly used for dosing, discharge under hoppers, and controlled feeding in cement plants.

screw conveyor used for controlled feeding of cement and bulk materials in cement plants

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Cement Screw Conveyor for Silo Feeding System

4. Air Slide Conveyor vs Screw Conveyor: Key Differences

Comparison ItemAir Slide ConveyorScrew Conveyor
Conveying PrincipleAir fluidization + gravityMechanical rotation
Energy Consumption⭐ Very lowMedium
Material TypeFine, dry powder onlyPowder & granular
Conveying DistanceLong, straight linesShort to medium
MaintenanceVery lowModerate
Dust ControlExcellentGood
Installation AngleSlight incline requiredHorizontal / inclined

5. Which One Is Better for Cement Plants?

Choose Air Slide Conveyor if:

  • You are conveying cement or fly ash powder
  • Energy efficiency is a priority
  • Long-distance, continuous conveying is required
  • Dust control is critical

Choose Screw Conveyor if:

  • You need precise feeding or metering
  • Conveying distance is short
  • Installation space is limited
  • Material properties vary

👉 In many cement plants, air slide conveyors and screw conveyors are used together, forming a stable and efficient powder conveying system.


6. Combined Application in Cement Plants (Recommended)

A typical cement conveying layout includes:

  • Screw conveyors under silos for controlled discharge
  • Air slide conveyors for long-distance powder transport
  • Flow control gates and bulk loading systems for final handling

This hybrid solution ensures efficiency, accuracy, and dust-free operation.

👉 According to guidelines published by the Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA), conveyor selection should consider material flowability, capacity, and operational environment.


7. FAQs – Air Slide Conveyor vs Screw Conveyor

Q1: Can an air slide conveyor replace a screw conveyor in cement plants?

A: Not completely. Air slide conveyors are excellent for continuous powder transport, but screw conveyors are still required for controlled feeding and short-distance discharge.

Q2: Which conveyor consumes less power?

A: Air slide conveyors consume significantly less power because they rely on low-pressure air rather than mechanical rotation.

Q3: Are air slide conveyors suitable for wet materials?

A: No. Air slide conveyors are designed for dry, fine powders only. Moist materials may cause blockage.

Q4: Can both systems be integrated into one conveying line?

A: Yes. This is a common and highly efficient solution in modern cement plants.

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Indonesian Short Version

Dalam pabrik semen, air slide conveyor dan screw conveyor memiliki fungsi yang berbeda.
Air slide conveyor sangat cocok untuk pemindahan bubuk semen dan fly ash dengan konsumsi energi rendah dan sistem tertutup bebas debu.
Sementara itu, screw conveyor lebih sesuai untuk pengumpanan presisi dan jarak pendek.
Kombinasi kedua sistem ini sering digunakan untuk menciptakan sistem penanganan material curah yang efisien dan stabil.