CEMA Inclined and Vertical Screw Conveyors

Best Practices Guide 2021

Approved: October 11, 2021

CEMA Inclined and Vertical Screw

Conveyors
Best Pratices Guide
2021

Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association, Inc.

CEMA Inclined and Vertical Screw Conveyors
Best Practices Guide 2021

DISCLAIMER

The information provided herein is advisory only.

These recommendations provided by CEMA are general in nature and are not intended as a substitute for
professional advice. Users should seek the advice, supervision and/or consultation of qualified engineers, safety
consultants, and other qualified professionals.

Any use of this publication, or any information contained herein, or any other CEMA publication is made with the
agreement and understanding that the user and the user’s company assume full responsibility for the designs,
safety, specifications, suitability and adequacy of any conveyor system, system component, mechanical or
electrical device designed or manufactured using this information.

The user and the user’s company understand and agree that CEMA, its member companies, its officers, agents
and employees are not and shall not be liable in any manner under any theory of liability to anyone for reliance
on or use of these recommendations. The user and the user’s companies agree to release, hold harmless and
indemnify and defend CEMA, its member companies, successors, assigns, officers, agents and employees from
any and all claims of liability, costs, fees (including attorney’s fees), or damages arising in any way out of the use
of this information.

CEMA and its member companies, successors, assigns, officers, agents and employees make no representations
or warranties whatsoever, either expressed or implied, about the information contained herein, including, but
not limited to, representations or warranties that the information and recommendations contained herein
conform to any federal, state or local laws, regulations, guidelines or ordinances.

Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association, Inc. (CEMA)

1250 Tamiami Trail N, Suite 211
Naples, Florida 34102
www.cemanet.org
Copyright © 2021

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FOREWORD

This publication ‘CEMA Inclined and Vertical Screw Conveyor Best Practice Guide 2021’ was developed as a
separate ‘Best Practices’ document from the development of ANSI/CEMA Standard No. 350, Chapter 7 Inclined
Screw Conveyor and Vertical Screw Conveyors.

The Screw Conveyor Committee of the CEMA Engineering Confer­ence was assigned the task of bringing together this
information under one cover to offer the Best Practices of ‘Inclined Screw Conveyor and Vertical Screw Conveyor’.

An inclined screw conveyor is arranged to convey bulk material up an inclined path and is often very desirable as
it may solve a conveying problem with a minimum of equipment and occupy a minimum of space.

A vertical screw conveyor is one that conveys material upward in a vertical path. Vertical screw conveyors are
sometimes called “lifts” or “elevators,” but such names are ambiguous. They require less space than some other
forms of elevating conveyors.

SAFETY NOTICE

The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA) has developed industry Standard Safety Labels for
use on the conveying equipment of its member companies. The purpose of the labels is to identify common
and uncommon hazards, conditions, and unsafe practices that can injure, or cause the death of, the unwary or
inattentive person who is working at or around conveying equipment. The labels are available for sale to member
companies and nonmember companies.

A full description of the labels, their purpose, and guidelines on where to place the labels on typical equipment,
has been published in CEMA’s Safety Label Brochure (No. 201). The brochure is available for purchase by members
and nonmembers of the Association.

PLEASE NOTE: Should any of the safety labels supplied by the equipment manufacturer become unreadable for
any reason, the equipment USER is then responsible for replacement and location of these safety labels.

Replacement labels and placement guidelines can be obtained by contacting your equipment supplier or CEMA.

A CEMA DVD safety instruction video, A/V 6, titled ‘Screw Conveyor, Drag Conveyor, and Bucket Elevator Safety
DVD’, has also been developed by the CEMA Screw Conveyor Section. It describes key safety practices people
should adhere to when working with and around these different conveyors. It is available for purchase from CEMA.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Inclined Screw Conveyors 1
Horsepower of Inclined Screw Conveyors 3
Drive and Seal Arrangement of Inclined Screw Conveyors 4
Vertical Screw Conveyors 4
Vertical Screw Speeds 6
Capacities of Vertical Screw Conveyors 6
Vertical Screw Conveyor Housings and Casings 6
Discharge Arrangement 6
Hanger or Stabilizer Bearings 6
Bottom Bearings and Main Shaft Seals 7
Horsepower for Vertical Screw Conveyors 7
Types of Vertical Screws 8

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INCLINED SCREW CONVEYORS

Screw conveyors arranged to convey bulk materials up an incline are often utilized due to minimal necessary
equipment and space utilization. Many alternate conveyance arrangements require multiple conveyors to first
move material horizontally, and then vertically respectively.

While inclined screw conveyors offer many benefits, some considerations must be taken for proper application
and operation.

As the angle of inclination increases there may be a significant loss in efficiency, often dependent on the type of
material conveyed. Several direct consequences arise from this loss in efficiency:

1. As the incline increases the overall expected capacity may be drastically reduced.
2. The required horsepower of the unit increases.

Various reasons cause these effects: as the angle of inclination increases, there is a reduction of the effective
angle of the flight as it pushes against the material. At certain angles of incline and screw pitch values, a portion
of the helical flight is virtually on the horizontal plane; this reduces the forward action of the flight, resulting in
loss of efficiency, in addition to material turbulence and trembling.

The losses in effective capacity due to improper flight/angle/pitch combination may ultimately result in a larger
than expected cross-section of material within the screw conveyor. This increased cross section is especially
important when considering an obstruction such as an intermediate hanger bearing. Turbulence and tumbling
of material will also likely result in the need for increased horsepower (power that is not really useful in the
conveyance of the material).

Inclined screw conveyor efficiency may also be detrimentally affected by the geometry of a standard U-Trough.
A U-Trough design contains void space over the rotating screw, resulting in material fallback during operation.
This results in an increased cross-sectional loading and material turbulence, resulting in further loss of efficiency.

Figure 1 exhibits a theoretical conveyor capacity of a screw conveyor at various angles of incline for standard,
modified, and vertical designs. The capacity curve shows that even conveyors modified for incline service
experience minimum theoretical capacity between angles of 25° and 65°. The angle of minimum capacity in this
range is not specified; it greatly depends on material characteristics, flight pitch, speed, housing geometry, etc.

Figure 1. Theoretical Screw Conveyor capacity at various angles of incline for standard,
modified, and vertical designs.

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There are several modified design considerations that may increase the overall efficiency of inclined screw
conveyors:
1. Omit utilization of “standard” screw components (i.e. full pitch screws, U-troughs, standard speed etc.)
in applications >25°, preferably over 15°.
2. Usage of close clearance between trough and screw:
a. CEMA standard clearance of 1/2 inch between flight outside diameter may allow for material to
fall back between this gap. Reducing this gap can prevent material from falling through this open
space. Note that it is important to consider deflection value of screw if reducing clearance, to
avoid possible rubbing on trough.
b. This gap can be reduced in one of several ways:
i. Adding a liner material between the trough and screw outside diameter outer diameter
(O.D.).
ii. Increasing the flight diameter to close the gap.
3. Increase the speed over normally calculated horizontal screw conveyor of same size.
a. When performing a standard horizontal screw calculation, consider adding rpm to the final
calculated value to overcome the loss in efficiency from the incline.
b. The increase in speed of screw rotation imparts a greater forward material velocity, which may
aid in pushing material past an intermediate hanger bearing. Despite the increase in agitation and
turbulence of the material, the net result may be an increase in capacity.
c. Performance gain from a speed increase may greatly depend on material characteristics. Note
that some materials may aerate and/or fluidize at increased speeds, resulting in a net loss of
capacity. Please refer to the material characteristics chart for further information.
4. Usage of short pitch (IE 2/3 or 1/2 pitch) if the material handled permits.
a. See Figure 2. The helical flight modified in this manner places the carrying face of the flight closer
to a vertical position relative to the incline. This results in less material fallback, and a more
effective angle of the flight as it pushes against the material.
b. Reducing the pitch of the screw will create the added benefit of additional flights, creating more
“walls” to help reduce material fallback.
c. Reducing the pitch of the screw in a horizontal conveyor reduces the overall capacity, as each
volumetric flight pocket is smaller. This must also be considered in an inclined variant, typically
requiring an increase in speed to overcome this.
d. Attention to the material type must be paid when reducing pitch. Specifically, on smaller diameter
screws, one must ensure that the lump size of the material is not too large for a reduced pitch.
(Figure 2)

Figure 2. Pitch Angle vs. Incline

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5. Omitting of hangers to reduce obstructions in flow.
a. Elimination of a hanger bearing is usually achieved by increasing the length of a standard screw.
i. Larger than standard screws must consider increased deflection, possibly resulting in the
need for a larger pipe size. Take careful note when increasing pipe size to ensure the
reduction in cross-sectional carrying area allows for the desired material capacity.
ii. Note that hanger obstruction is one of the most common problem areas for inclined screw
conveyors. Elimination of a hanger when possible not only removes a possible failure
mode, but potentially decreases maintenance of a wear area in the conveyor.
iii. In some applications at appropriate rpm, screws may be close-coupled and clocked for an
extended length, and ride on a liner. Contact your conveyor manufacturer before pursuing
this option.
iv. The use of shaftless screw conveyor technology is an effective way to eliminate the need
or use of an intermediate hanger bearing.

Figure 3. Capacity Reduction

6. Use of tubular trough style versus U-Trough to reduce void area at top portion of flight outer diameter
(O.D.).
a. On specifically aggressive inclines or high speeds, material may fall backwards over the O.D. of
the flight at the void area of a U-Trough. Closing off this area with a tubular style trough reduces
the gap between the flight O.D. and trough, assisting in the reduction of material fallback.

Figure 4. Tubular Trough vs. U-Trough

Horsepower of Inclined Screw Conveyors

It is worth noting that the theoretical capacity and horsepower of an inclined screw conveyor may be greatly
dependent on material characteristics, and often cannot be accurately predicted. Materials that can accumulate
on pipe/screw surfaces, aerate, and fluidize pose challenges and can greatly affect the expected performance of

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an inclined conveyor. As such, it is important to consult a screw conveyor manufacturer with detailed application
data to allow for proper design of a product that will meet the end-user’s needs.

Drive and Seal Arrangement of Inclined Screw Conveyors

When considering the drive arrangement of an inclined screw conveyor, it is important to recognize that material
will typically fall due to gravity to the bottom portion of the inclined unit. Noting this, one should use a robust
high-quality seal for the proper material application. For the same reasons, the drive on an inclined screw
conveyor should always be mounted at the top end of the incline when possible; mounting of the drive unit on
the bottom end may result in material infiltration into the drive unit. If a drive unit must be mounted on the
lower end, usage of a bulkhead style end plate or roller chain drive may allow separation of drive components
from the conveyed material. Additionally, one should always consult the conveyor/reducer manufacturer for
proper oil levels when mounting on an incline.

VERTICAL SCREW CONVEYORS

A vertical screw conveyor is used to convey materials upward in a vertical path. Vertical screw conveyors
are sometimes referred to as “lifts” or “elevators”, but such names are ambiguous. Vertical screws have the
advantage of being compact and can often fit into a much smaller footprint than equipment such as a bucket
elevator. There can be additional benefits with the usage of vertical screws:

• Relatively low cost compared to other systems of elevating material.

• No special maintenance required from staff already familiar with screw conveyor systems.
• Screws and housings are often standard screw conveyor components.
• Can be manufactured to contain dusty materials.

Vertical screw conveyors can handle many of the bulk materials shown in the material table of Chapter 2, Column
V, ANSI/CEMA Standard No. 350. Generally, this includes all materials listed with the exception of those that
contain large lumps, are extremely dense, or are excessively abrasive.

1. Lump Size – Material with large variance in particle size, or excessively large lumps tend not to properly
convey in a vertical screw. In general, free-flowing material that does not degrade will work suitably in
a vertical screw. Friable material along with extremely fine powders that aerate will often have issue
working properly in a vertical screw.
2. Extremely Dense Material – Very dense material that has little to no compressive capability may not
convey properly due to the fully loaded condition and speed at which a vertical screw operates.
3. Abrasive Materials – Due to the high speeds and full contact of the material to the screw, abrasive
materials may rapidly degrade components, as well as prematurely wear seals and drive components.

A vertical screw is constructed in fairly similar fashion to a horizontal screw, with a few notable exceptions. A
typical unit consists of a rotating conveyor screw in a tubular housing with a variant inlet type, along with a
discharge at the upper end. The drive is preferably located at the top of the screw (for similar reasons discussed
in the inclined screw section) but may be mounted on the bottom if necessary. The top bearing for the screw
shaft must be able to handle both radial and thrust loading. Note that in the case of a top-mounted drive, the
screw shaft’s opposite end may either be external with a seal and bearing or mounted on a dead-shaft to fully
enclose the end of the screw. Several types of intake arrangements are possible:

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1. Gravity Inlet Hopper - The gravity inlet hopper is typically arranged as

shown in Figure 5. It funnels material by gravity to the lower end of the
vertical screw. While the hopper can be fed manually by dumping sacks
or other containers, they are often fed from another device uniformly.
Successful use of this inlet type is greatly dependent on the material type;
it is recommended to contact a screw conveyor manufacturer should this
style be necessary.
Figure 5. Gravity Inlet Hopper

2. Straight Intake - This inlet type generally interfaces a feeder screw conveyor
to the vertical screw at 90°. The horizontal screw is used to force feed the
material into the vertical. A hanger bearing is generally used at the end of
the horizontal conveyor, at the intake of the vertical. This type of intake is
most frequently used with free flowing material that will not prematurely
wear, and does not easily degrade from being force fed. Note that the
drive on the horizontal feed screw can only be mounted on the inlet end
for this intake arrangement. Figure 6. Straight Intake

For a straight intake, the hand of the screw for most efficient operation is as follows:
a. A vertical elevator with a straight inlet will have all the same hand of screws for infeed, vertical,
and take-away screws, right or left (Right-Right-Right or Left-Left-Left).

3. Offset Intake - This type of intake connects to the vertical casing at a

90° angle; however, it is offset from the center of the vertical as shown
in Figure 7. The advantage of the offset intake is that the shaft of the
horizontal feed screw extends past the vertical casing, eliminating the need
for a hanger bearing. This allows the external bearing on the horizontal
screw to carry the thrust load as well as the radial load of the screw. The
horizontal screw may also be driven from either the inlet or discharge end
in this arrangement. In the case of an offset intake, it is important that the
Figure 7. Offset Intake
correct combination of vertical to horizontal screw hands are chosen for
the most efficient operation:
a. Right-Left-Left – A vertical screw elevator that is offset to left of the intake will have a left-hand
screw and should be fed by a feeder with a right-hand screw. The take-away conveyor should be
a left-hand screw (Right-Left-Left).
b. Left-Right-Right – A vertical screw elevator that is offset to the right will have right hand screw and
will be fed by a feeder with a left-hand screw. The take-away conveyor will also have a right-hand
screw (Left-Right-Right).

The method by which a vertical screw conveyor is fed is extremely important, as some materials behave differently
than others. Take for example very light materials: a gravity fed hopper inlet would not function well, as the high
rotating speed of the vertical screw would act as a fan, and blow material back away from the intake. This can be
addressed by leaning the vertical screw to a slight incline and allowing for the hopper intake to remain on top of
the vertical screw. In general, a uniformly force-fed horizontal conveyor is the superior feed method for efficient
operation.

Note that vertical screw conveyors do not perform well in batch-type operations. The unit functions somewhat
like a pump, in that it must be “primed” or filled until material begins to discharge. Material will also not fully
discharge from a vertical screw; some material remains in the system upon stopping the infeed. As such,
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degradable organic materials such as food products are not recommended for use in vertical screw conveyors,
as contamination may occur over time. This can however be counteracted by a complete wash-down of the
internal components post operation.

Vertical Screw Speeds

Vertical conveyor screw speeds must be adequate not only to convey but to overcome the fall back of the
material in the annular clearance between the housing or casing and the screw. It also must be realized that the
speed of the vertical screw imparts a linear velocity to the material, against the pull of gravity, and this velocity
is very important in propelling the material past the gaps between the screw sections at intermediate hanger
bearings.

Capacities of Vertical Screw Conveyors

Table 7.1, Chapter 7, ANSI/CEMA Standard No. 350 indicates typical average capacities for various sizes of vertical
screw conveyors. These capacities can be exceeded when handling some materials which have particularly
favorable characteristics. A range of vertical screw speeds is shown and although the screw speed is constant for
any given application, the speed will have to be chosen to suit the material characteristics.

Vertical Screw Conveyor Housings and Casings

The tubular housings or casings have flanged ends for bolted assembly and are made in lengths to suit the
length of the screw sections. Often the tubular housings are split vertically and the halves either bolted together
or hinged and clamped, depending on the ease of access desired. Access doors may be installed at the lower
end of the unit for inspection and clean out. The casing joints may be gasketed for tightness. The casing may
have special painting and other features that are consistent with good sheet metal work, conforming with a
number of provisions of Table 5.2 in Chapter 5, ANSI/CEMA Standard No. 350 (though this table was not set
up for vertical screw conveyor enclosures). When any part of the vertical screw conveyor housing is open for
inspection or cleaning, some type of safety control must be provided to prevent accidental operation until all
parts are reassembled in proper operating condition.

Discharge Arrangement
Discharge of material in a vertical screw is achieved through an opening similar to that of a horizontal conveyor.
The discharge spout may be connected to an elbow or other type of discharge to move material into a subsequent
conveyor or process.

To ensure positive discharge of material, vertical screws are often affixed with “kicker paddles”, other flat paddle-
types, or reverse flights to foster complete discharge of the material. Even so, there are times when it is advisable
to provide a safety overflow. This is usually an opening diametrically opposite and above the discharge spout,
arranged to spill the material if the discharge spout becomes clogged and unable to handle the normal material
flow.

Hanger or Stabilizer Bearings

Intermediate hanger or stabilizer bearings are usually necessary in vertical screw conveyors when extended
heights of lift are required to eliminate excessive screw deflection and “whip.” These hanger or stabilizer bearings
are positioned between the sections of the screw and are supported between the housing flanges. The particular
kind of hanger or stabilizer bearing to use is determined by the characteristics of the material being handled.

Some materials travel upward in a mass and would experience obstruction by an intermediate stabilizer or
hanger bearing. One such material is cottonseed, and hanger bearings are not used with it. Certain other
materials tend to center the screw within the housing thus eliminating the need for stabilizer bearings. Some
lighter duty materials can also allow for wear-shoe made out of a material such as UHMW which is simply a flight
that extends slightly past the O.D. of the screw to assist in centering and eliminating “whip.”
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Bottom Bearings and Main Shaft Seals
Bottom bearing and shaft seals are usually necessary to review in vertical screw conveyors when extended
heights of lift are required to eliminate excessive screw deflection and overheating. These bearings and shaft
seals are positioned under the screw conveyor and join the trough end, to the bearing and the main shaft.
The particular kind of bearing and shaft seal to use are determined by the characteristics of the material being
handled, shaft speed and seal diameter.

The higher shaft speeds for vertical and inclined conveyors change the demands on the seals and bottom
bearings. Traditional stuffing boxes provide sealing and radial bearing support, but higher surface speeds change
the operating temperatures that may require special attention to protect the product. Over time they become
ineffective in abrasive service from shaft wear or misaligned operation. Some materials aerate easier with air
applied at the seal. One such material is fine sugar, and in one case, the air to the seal changed the bulk density
in a silo of sugar over a long weekend. Certain other materials tend to center the screw within the housing thus
reducing the demands on the shaft seal and bottom bearing. Some higher duty materials may make a heavy
duty bearing, a drop box, or unique flights’ at the bottom zone things to consider for the seal area. As such, it is
important to consult a screw conveyor manufacturer with detailed application data to allow for proper design of
a product that will meet the end-users needs.

Horsepower for Vertical Screw Conveyors

The following horsepower formula is to be used only for approximating the horsepower required for a vertical
screw conveyor. Because of the many variables that may affect the horsepower of a vertical screw conveyor
installation, it is recommended that the supplier of the vertical conveyor be consulted to determine the
horsepower that actually may be needed.

Because of the difficulty in determining theoretically the power losses in a vertical screw conveyor, most
manufacturers of these units have done extensive testing and, through such experience, have developed
empirical factors that can be used to set up realistic horsepower requirements. These factors may be combined
here in a single factor, Fv, which of course will vary for different applications and for different manufacturers’
designs of vertical screw conveyors.

The basic horsepower formula has been empirically determined as:

hp 
 hpf  hpv 
0.90
Where:
hpf = The horsepower to drive the empty conveyor
hpv = The horsepower to convey the material vertically

and where:

L1  N  Fd  Fb
hpf 
1, 000, 000
L1 = Total length of the vertical screw conveyor (ft)
N = Speed of vertical conveyor screw (rpm)
Fd = Screw diameter factor from Table 3-2, Chapter 3, ANSI/CEMA Standard No. 350
Fb = Hanger bearing factor from Table 3-1, Chapter 3, ANSI/CEMA Standard No. 350

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and where:

C  L  W  Fv
hpv 
1, 000, 000
L = Total lift height in feet, measured from the centerline of the opening to the bottom of the discharge opening
C = Capacity (ft3/hr)
W = Apparent density of the conveyed material (lbs/ft3)
Fv = Manufacturers’ empirical factor

TYPES OF VERTICAL SCREWS