Rotary Dryer System
Alignment
Precision Engineering Survey
A join service between Optimus Solutions and Industrial Kiln & Dryer Group
DATscan™
A DATscan is a cold drum (performed when a rotary dryer or unit is shut down) engineering survey that measures system alignment. A DATscan gives you baseline measurements to inform your maintenance and repair decisions for your rotary equipment. Whether you’re preparing for a plant shutdown or in the middle of one, a DATscan is a great tool to help guide your next steps concerning your rotary unit. This precision engineering survey is checked three ways and boasts an accuracy of +/-0.040”.
Types of Measurements
Information included in the DATscan:
- System Slope
- Base Slope
- Support Roller / Trunnion Slope
- Tire / Roller Angle
- Brief Visual Inspection
Cube at +/- 0.040″ represents the accuracy of rotary tire center, sphere are +/- 0.125″ represents the tolerance of the tire misalignment
When the DATscan is performed, each tire (tyre) / riding ring will be surveyed to establish a unit center point, horizontal misalignment, and unit slope. Support rollers / trunnions will be surveyed to establish their relationship to each tire and support roller / trunnion slope and one base at each pier will be surveyed for center reference points. Additionally, a brief visual inspection will be performed on the rotary unit to detect any noticeable problems and recommendations for adjustments will be made.
How Does the DATscan Work?
The DATscan involves the use of optical instrumentation and specially designed software that communicates wirelessly with multiple tools to gather data. It is a cold drum survey engineering survey and the rotary dryer or rotary unit must be shutdown to perform this engineering service.
Why Schedule a DATscan?
Understanding a Float vs. a DATscan
When a rotary unit is “floating,” it means the equipment has a natural pull of gravity on it down the slope and is exactly balanced by the combined force of the support rollers / trunnions pushing the shell uphill. Efforts from each support roller should be equivalent. Floats are performed as part of routine maintenance.
An alignment situates the support rollers so that shell flexing is minimized. The beginning of understanding alignment is to know where the support rollers / trunnions are holding the equipment in relation to a straight line. Alignment is best utilized as a preventative maintenance measure. A DATscan provides the data necessary to perform an alignment on your rotary unit.
Quick View of a Float vs. DATscan™
DATscan™
- Alignment such as slope
- Can determine roller coordinate system
- Can get base slope information
- Determine base settling if any
- Determine diameters of tires and rollers
- Compare coordinates to base centers
Float
- Referred to as skew, thrust Neutralization, or balancing a rotary unit
- Makes sure the rollers give a balanced uphill thrust
