Jaw and gyratory crushers are commonly used as primary crushers in crushing plants. Their capacity differences are mainly influenced by their operating principles and design features.
Jaw crushers: These crushers use a reciprocating motion to compress and crush the feed material between two jaws. This batch-like operation inherently limits their capacity compared to continuous crushing processes. The discharge width of a jaw crusher is relatively small, further limiting its capacity. Jaw crushers are generally suitable for plants with a capacity of up to 1600 tons per hour. However, certain models such as the C200 jaw crusher can handle up to 470-600 tons per hour.
Gyratory crushers: These crushers operate continuously and use a rotating cone inside a fixed bowl bed to crush the material. This continuous crushing action, combined with a generously sized circular discharge opening, contributes to higher capacity compared to jaw crushers. Gyratory crushers excel in large-scale operations with capacities starting at 1,200 tph and above. For example, the Superior MK-II gyratory crusher can have capacities from 1,635 tph to over 8,890 tph, depending on size and configuration.
Factors Affecting Capacity Comparison
It is important to note that these capacity figures are indicative and can vary based on a number of factors, including:
Feed material properties: The hardness, abrasiveness, size distribution and moisture content of the feed material significantly affect the capacity of both types of crushers.
Crusher settings: The closed side setting (CSS), which determines the size of the discharge opening, directly affects the crusher capacity and product grading.
Operating parameters: Factors such as crusher speed, feed rate and operating conditions can all affect throughput.
Application-Specific Requirements: The choice between jaw and gyratory crushers should be made based on the specific application, the size of the product being processed, and economic factors.
Summary
Gyratory crushers generally offer higher capacities than jaw crushers, making them well-suited for large-scale operations with high throughput requirements. Their continuous operation and larger discharge area contribute to their higher capacity. Jaw crushers are more cost-effective for smaller capacity plants and offer advantages in terms of feed size and maintenance requirements. However, their capacity is inherently limited due to their batch-like operation and smaller discharge width.
