Different Types Of Concrete Equipment
In the construction industry, concrete quality directly determines the safety and durability of a project. Concrete equipment, the core engine of concrete production, often doubles construction efficiency when you choose a right one. Concrete batching plants can be categorized by mixing process: dry and wet. These two types of concrete equipment differ significantly in their operating logic and applicable scenarios.
1. Dry Mixing Plant
The core characteristic of a dry mixing plant is that it "mixes dry materials first, then adds water." During production, raw materials such as sand, gravel, cement, and admixtures are mixed according to the proportions within the plant to form a dry mix. This mixture isthen transported to the construction site via concrete mixer trucks. Upon arrival, water is added as needed to form concrete.
Core Structure: It is primarily composed of a raw material storage silo, a batching machine, a dry mixing unit, a screw conveyor, and concrete mixer trucks. No sedimentation tanks are required (since no wastewater is generated).
Applications: It is suitable for projects requiring long-distance transportation (dry mixes are difficult to initially set) and small, multi-batch production, such as rural self-built houses, road repairs, and decentralized municipal projects.
Advantages and Disadvantages: Advantages include a small equipment footprint, low investment costs (approximately 30% lower than wet-type mixing), and a large transport radius (up to 50 kilometers or more). Disadvantages include the need for on-site water addition equipment, the need for mixing uniformity, and the generation of dust during dry material transportation if not properly sealed.
2. Wet Mixing Plant
A wet mix concrete batching plant (traditional stationary concrete batching plant) provides a one-stop mixing solution: raw materials are mixed with water according to the mixing ratio within the plant, and the liquid concrete is directly mixed into the concrete using a forced mixing unit. This is then transported to the site by a concrete mixer truck (with a rotary drum) for direct pouring.
Core Structure: In addition to the raw material storage and batching systems, it also requires a mixing unit (primarily forced type), a sedimentation tank (for handling cleaning wastewater), and an admixture metering system, resulting in a more complex overall structure.
Applicable Applications: it is suitable for large-scale, centralized pouring projects, such as high-rise buildings, bridges, and subway projects, where high concrete uniformity and slump are critical.
Advantages and Disadvantages: Advantages include stable mixing quality (precise computer control of mix ratios), a high degree of automation (allowing for unmanned production), and environmental friendliness (dust is easily collected and wastewater can be recycled). Disadvantages include a limited transportation radius (usually no more than 20 kilometers to prevent initial setting of the concrete), high equipment investment, and a large footprint (space for sedimentation tanks is required).
Dry Mix vs. Wet Mix
In terms of mixing technology, dry mix plants utilize an on-site dry material mixing model with on-site water addition and mixing. Wet mix plants utilize an on-site water-mixing model with wet concrete transportation, eliminating the need for on-site water addition.
In terms of transportation radius, dry-mix plants have a transportation range of over 50 kilometers because dry mixes are slow to initially set. Wet-mix plants, however, are limited by the initial setting time of concrete and typically have a transportation radius of less than 20 kilometers.
In terms of environmental protection and energy consumption, dry-mix plants do not generate wastewater and therefore have relatively low energy consumption. However, poor sealing during dry-mix transportation can easily lead to dust dispersion. Wet-mix plants, while requiring cleaning wastewater treatment and consuming higher energy, are more easily collected and processed through collection systems, making them more environmentally friendly.
In terms of initial investment, dry-mix plants are relatively low, typically costing around 500,000 to 1,000,000 RMB. Wet-mix plants, due to their complex structure and numerous supporting systems, require higher initial investment, ranging from 1,500,000 to 5,000,000 RMB.
Other Concrete Equipment
In addition to mainstream concrete mixing plants, two other types of equipment are essential in specific scenarios:
Mobile concrete mixing plants: These integrate the core components of the concrete mixing plant onto a trailer or container, allowing them to be moved with the construction site. They are suitable for temporary and remote projects and are typically small dry-mix or simple wet-mix structures.
Twin shaft concrete mixer: The "heart" of a wet concrete mixing plant, it uses agitator blades to forcefully mix the material. It is more suitable for high-grade concrete (such as C60 and above) than a free-fall concrete mixer, achieving a more uniform mix.
Original source: https://www.haomei-machinery.com/a/different-types-of-concrete-equipment.html
Tags: stationary concrete batching plant
Contact Us for a Free Estimate!
