The efficiency of the aggregate screens system can be greatly reduced or even eliminated by blinding or plugging.

What are Blinding and Plugging of Aggregate Screens?

If fine particles stick to the surface, media blinding occurs due to moisture building up over the openings.

Plugging results from near-size particles becoming lodged in the openings of the aggregate screen. It creates a less open area for the material to fall through.

Truly, there are a few methods to help prevent blinding and plugging, and there is a possibility that these problems may occur. With that being said, use the solutions below to help resolve any issues you may be having with blinding or plugging in your screen.

How to Fix a Screen Plugging?

lugging is easier to fix than blinding. Yet, many methods are used for plugging that are applied to blinding.

More Stroke

When the energy is not enough, it is forced onto the screen, and large particles are stuck in the holes. If this happens, try to increase the amount of energy on the screen. Increasing the energy increases the stroke, which provides the force needed to lift the particles out of the screen holes.

Change the Shape of the Holes

The shape of the particle can sometimes cause plugging.

If that particles of a particular shape always get stuck in the screen openings, consider changing the shape of the screens’ holes.

For example, the particles keep getting stuck in square openings, and switching may be beneficial to a screen with octagonal holes to reduce plugging. That means it pops out materials in the plugged holes.

Adjust the Crusher Setting

Adjust the settings on your crusher if particles continue to clog your screen, which means reducing the plugging. Use this method if there are no other methods that work.

Different Surface Media

The type of screen media may also be a reason for plugging when using it for an application. It considers switching to a rubber screen if plugging occurs in your woven wire screen or vice versa.

Moreover, rubber panels are more durable that can push out materials more effectively when energy is put into the screen.

How to Fix Screen Blinding?

Blinding is more difficult to fix than plugging. The moisture of the fine material is more difficult to remove from the screen than simply pulling out large particles from the holes.

Although there is more effort involved, there are a few ways to solve the problem of screen blinding.

Adjust the stroke

Like plugging, it increases the stroke of the screen, which can have advantages and disadvantages. When the stroke increases, you can decrease the opportunity for blinding to occur.

However, increasing stroke also increases stress on the screen. It determines if the amount of screen wear would leave a positive economic return for a specific application.

Increase the speed

One way that blinding can be resolved is to increase the speed of the screen. Increasing the speed increases the material’s travel rate and acceleration. The increase in speed can reduce blinding if it allows less time for fine material to build upon the screen.

Use ball trays

If you do not have a ball tray in your screening system, it is important to implement one and solve the issue of blinding.

Different surface media

It is important to look at the type of screen media being used. If blinding occurs, try using a flexible screen that can move.

Heated screen decks

When fine material clings to the screen surface due to moisture, a heated screen deck can help prevent it. Moreover, by heating the screen deck, its moisture is burnt off. That means it allows the fine material to flow down the screen rather than build up.

Before using aggregate equipment, it is important to note that not every solution may apply to your screening system. Contact JW Bell for assistance if there are any issues with plugging or blinding in your screen.

If you have any questions, visit our website https://www.jwbell.com/ or call us at 319-365-3655.