Which is better? Asphalt Batch mix plant or Drum mix plant?
An asphalt batch mix plant differs from a drum mix plant in many ways, ranging from its equipment structure, operational style, end product, and price. If you want to install a hot-mix plant, these are the factors that need to be considered.
The asphalt batch mix plant produces finished mixtures in batches with short intervals, whereas a drum mix plant can continuously produce mixtures with any interruptions. In some countries, the asphalt hot-mix batching plant is called the intermittent asphalt plant. A drum mix plant, as you have rightly guessed, is the continuous asphalt plant.
How to choose between the two?
- If the project size is large, high in grade and need to change the oil stone ratio during operations, the choice between asphalt batch mix plant is supposed to be a better choice than the drum mix plant.
- If the project scale is small, the grade is low, and protection from the environment is not mandatory, then the asphalt drum mix plant is a good option.
- The project requirement and budget should be considered when deciding on the hot-mix plant. One can get it customized by attaching an additional baghouse dust collector to the asphalt drum plant or adding a recycling and utilization system to the asphalt batch mix plant, and so on.
Advantages and disadvantages of mix plants
Both have their own set of advantages and disadvantages to take into account. Asphalt mix batch plant is mainly used for the high quality of the finished mixture. In contrast, the asphalt drum mix plant is found to be more cost-effective and can have more applications to a low-grade road in rural areas.
- Advantages
Asphalt Batch Mix Plant
- More precision screening of cold aggregates and accurate weighing of all components is a must in the batch plant
- The facility to easily add various admixtures
- The facility to monitor Oil-stone Ratio in real-time and flexibility to change the ratio during the operation process
- Implement the Pulse Baghouse Dust Collector, and if environmental performance is fine
- Highly Intelligent Control System
- High quality of the finished mixture
- Suitable for Large-scale and High-grade Road Construction Projects
Asphalt Drum Mix Plant
- Convenient for relocation and transportation due to its compact structure.
- Useless land Footprint and can be used in constricted areas
- Comparatively low operating cost, low Investment Cost and highly cost-effective
- Suitable for locations where there is a rapid development of rural transport
- Disadvantages
Asphalt Batch Mix Plant
- Because of the structure of the plant, more land footprint is required and not suitable for small project sites.
- Has a high Initial Investment cost
- Requires high maintenance and operation Cost
- The plant is complex and needs expert handling
Asphalt Drum Mix Plant
- Accuracy and precision are absent in screening and weighing
- No option of adding various admixtures during the process
- Monitoring real-time is not possible and making changes in Oil-stone Ratio
- Low Quality of finished Mixture