Experiment No.

4
Aim : To determine the effectiveness of a vibrating screen.
Chemicals & Apparatus : Sand, Vibrating screen, weighing balance.
Objective : To separate the solids in two different fractions according to their size across a
screen and to determine the effectiveness of screen based on the oversize and undersize.
Principle : The screen box vibrates as synchronized relying on two sets of the same vibration
motor, making the whole screening machine vibrate linearly at the support and the material
will enter the screen box from the feeding port and moves on quickly and loosely through the
sieve, thus completing screening work. The diameter of the screen sieves is very important
parameter in separating the material in this method.
Theory : Screening is a method of separating particles according to size alone. In practice,
the solids are dropped or thrown into a screening surface from the top. The undersize or fines
pass through the screen opening and the oversize material travels along the screen and is
collected separately. Materials passed through a series of screens of different sizes are
separated into two fractions. The screens vibrate rapidly and keep the material moving and
prevent binding.
The vibrations can be produces either mechanically or electrically. Vibrating screens
may be mounted in a mutideck fashion with the coarsest screen at the top, either horizontally
or inclined up to 455. The vibrations are given to the screen to effect the separation of solid
particles into two fractions. Vibrations given keep the solid particles moving. Proper selected
frequency and amplitude keeps the capacity constant. The vibrating screens have accuracy of
sizing, increased capacity per square meter and low maintenance cost per ton of material
handled. There are many factors affecting the screening operation. The method of feeding,
screen slope, vibration amplitude and frequency are some of them. These factors affect the
screening in any kind of screens. The effect of these factors does not depend on size of screen
or method of vibration.
Procedure :
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250g of oversize material and 250g of undersize material was weighed

Both the materials were mixed together.
This 500g material was then poured on the screen.
The screening apparatus was then started for 2-3 minutes.
Both the oversize and undersize was collected at the discharges.
Then both the fractions were weighed on weighing balance.

Application : Used in metallurgy, mining, coal, building materials, electric power, chemical
and other industries. Especially in metallurgy industry, vibrating is the most widely used
screening, coking plant, concentrator slot. It is also used in cement industry for separation of
cement from the clinkers. They are used in industries where large capacity and high
efficiency of the screen is of prime importance.
Calculation Formulae :

% Screen Effectiveness based on oversize material A = EA =

A xA
F xF

100

A xA
F xF

100

Given Data :
Oversize material fed = 250g
Undersize material fed = 250g
Total material fed = F = 500g
Observations :
Wt. of oversize from screen = 320g
Wt. of undersize form screen = 180g
xA = 0.72
xB = 0.28
Calculations :
% Screen Effectiveness based on oversize material A = EA =

320 0.72
500 0.5

= 92 %
Result : Thus, the effectiveness of the vibrating screen is calculated as 92%.

100