Rotary Scrubber Specifications
The figures below describe typical industry specifications for this class of equipment rather than a single fixed model. Use them to scope a requirement, then confirm exact figures against the supplied unit before purchase.
| Specification | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Drum diameter | 1.2–3.0 m |
| Drum length | 4–12 m |
| Retention time | 3–8 minutes, longer for heavier clay |
| Drive | 11–75 kW depending on size |
| Speed | 30–45% of critical, typically 8–14 rpm |
| Water | 2–5 m³ per m³ of feed in fat clay; less in light clay |
| Internal fittings | Lifter bars and, in heavy-duty units, internal spray manifolds |
| Discharge screen | Trommel-style discharge screen, or feeds a separate trommel |
| Capacity | 10–120 t/h depending on drum size and clay content |
| Mounting | Skid, trailer or static frame |
Rotary Scrubber: Uses and Applications
- Sticky, clay-bound alluvial and eluvial gold ore
- Ahead of a trommel, where the trommel alone cannot break the clay
- Reprocessing old amalgamation tailings bound in clay
- Any wet-season ore that forms balls rather than breaking apart in water
Maintenance Schedule
Most premature failures in this equipment class trace back to a missed routine check rather than a design fault. The intervals below are a practical starting schedule; adjust them to your duty cycle and the manufacturer manual.
| Interval | Task |
|---|---|
| Every shift | Confirm spray water is reaching the full drum length; listen for abnormal drum or trunnion noise; check discharge for unbroken clay balls. |
| Weekly | Inspect lifter bars and liner plates for wear; check trunnion rollers or tyres. |
| Monthly | Grease trunnions and drive components; inspect seals for water ingress; check drive-chain or gear tension. |
| Annually | Replace worn lifter bars and liner sections as a planned set; overhaul the drive. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a scrubber if I already have a trommel?
Depends on the clay. A trommel gives ore a short pass with light scrubbing, which is enough for gravel with little or no clay. Sticky ore that forms balls in water needs the much longer retention time a dedicated scrubber gives it. If clay balls are coming off your trommel unbroken, or gold is being lost inside them, add a scrubber ahead of it.
How much does a scrubber slow the plant down?
Throughput usually drops compared with a dry-feed rate, because retention time is what does the work. Sizing the scrubber for your actual tonnage, not squeezing it in as an afterthought, is what keeps overall plant throughput on target.
Can the scrubber discharge go straight to a centrifugal concentrator?
No. Scrubber and trommel discharge still contains coarse material. Screen to below 2 mm before it reaches a centrifugal concentrator; larger material blocks the bowl and lowers recovery. Route the 2 mm and above fraction to a sluice or jig instead. See the alluvial gold wash plant page for how the sizes are split.
How much water does a scrubber use?
More than a trommel alone: 2–5 cubic metres per cubic metre of feed in heavy clay. Water recycling through a settling pond is standard, not optional, especially where water is limited in the dry season and the plant still has to handle wet-season stockpile.
Supply and Delivery Across Tanzania
Bart Mining supplies rotary scrubber and related equipment to mining operations throughout Tanzania, with primary coverage of the Lake Victoria Goldfields (Mwanza, Kahama, Geita, Shinyanga and Bukombe), alongside the Lupa Goldfields around Chunya and Mbeya, and delivery nationwide from Dar es Salaam.
Request a quotation
Need a rotary scrubber specified for your site?
Tell us your duty, depth or throughput and available power supply. We will come back with a specification and price, and flag anything on site that needs to change to make it work.