CHAIN SIZING – EXAMPLE OF CALCULATION:

This was done for continuous sterilizer

Sizing calculation
o Assumptions:
 Use density of crushed bunches: 0.65 mt/m3
 Speed: 1.2 meters/min maximum (0.02 m/s)
 Retention time: 70 minutes
 Effective height: 0.35 m (one layer of crushed bunches)
 Length: use standard of 42 meter per pass x 2
o Effective width = 30 mt/hr / (0.35m x 0.65mt/m3 x 0.02m/s x 3600 s/hr) = 1.83 m
o Total height per pass: 0.35 / 70% = 0.5 m minimum
o CBI design: 2.0m effective width (total width 2.4m) x 0.558m height per pass x 45
meters
o Therefore, sufficient. Safety factor = 6 meters = 5 minutes extra

Chain size selection

o Chain pull
 Weight of product = 30,000 kg/hr x 45 m / (1.2 m/min x 60 min/hr) =
18,750 kg
 Weight of chain = 45 m x 2 x 1.05 x 2 strands x 12 kg/m = 2,268 kg
 Weight of scraper = [45 m x 2 x 1.05 x 1000 / (152.4 x 6 pitch)] x 10
kg/scraper = 1,003 kg
 Chain pull = 0.15 (2,268 + 1,003) + 0.3 (18,750) = 6115.2 kg per 2 strands
= 6,849 lbf per strand
 Use service factor of 8: 54,792 lbf
 Therefore to select Renold Premier Extra 60,000 lbf, 6” pitch chain
o Other type of chain can be considered however, with limited trials within the
industry, this is risky: Link chain of min hardness 60 on Rockwell C and breaking
load of 330 kN (74,180 lbf).

Cargill Confidential Page 1 4/28/2021