chapter  6
24 Pages

Material Handling and Feeder Technology

Feeders are used in conjunction with extruders in the pharmaceutical

industry for both melt extrusion and wet granulation processes to accurately

meter solids and liquids. Feedstocks include pellets, powders, granules,

gases, and liquids. Materials are either continuously metered directly into

the extruder, or alternatively into a vessel to facilitate a premix that will then

be fed into the extruder. Feed streams are introduced into the extruder either

in a ‘‘starve-fed’’ manner, where the rate is set by the feeders and is independent of the extruder screw rpm; or alternatively via gravity, referred

to as ‘‘ﬂood feeding,’’ where the hopper sits over the feed throat opening and the extruder screw rpm determines the throughput. Twin-screw extruders are

typically starve fed, and single-screw extruders are normally ﬂood fed. Figure 1 shows a typical, continuous, starve-fed melt extrusion installation

with multiple feeders.