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.

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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?

If you are unsure of your baseline measurements as designed and initially installed, experiencing aggressive or excessive, unexpected wear even after an alignment or as a periodic check of baseline as a measure of your maintenance performance (recommended every two years) and as part of a continuous improvement initiative.

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.