Experimental verification of electrical power consumption of resonant electromagnetic vibratory feeder

The resonant vibratory feeder is the most effective transporting and feeding system of particulate materials that is used in process industry. The resonant effects of such system will allow high system efficiency. The energy savings in the process industry that operate continuously are very high. This paper discusses experimental verification of electrical power consumption of one type of resonant electromagnetic vibratory feeder (REVF), which is highly represented in process industry. The power (i.e. energy) consumption is determined and compared by bringing the feeder into three operating modes: sub-resonant, resonant and super-resonant. Electromagnetic actuator of REVF is driven from the appropriate switch-mode power converter. In the experiments, the electrical values, voltage and current of the vibratory actuator and one mechanical value, output displacement of vibratory trough of the REVF, were measured. Specifically, it is demonstrated, quantitatively and qualitatively, that electrical power consumption of the REVF operating in resonance is much lower than consumption in the sub and super-resonance modes. The paper shows the key experimental results and based on these results, appropriate comments and conclusions were given.