4. Planetary gear Vs Worm gear
Worm gear system Planetary gear system
Power
consumption
High power ~ 30 HP Low power Max. 7.5 HP
Efficiency Very poor, upto 30% due to heavy
mechanical losses
Highly efficient, 90% due to compact
and sealed design
Handling Difficult due to heavy design Very easy since it is lightweight and
compact
Hand operation
during power
failure
Difficult due to higher volume and
greater inertia
A single person can easily rotate due to
its lower inertia and proper lubrication
Installation Alignments have to be done with
extreme caution. Phosphorus bronze
bearings have to be used which have
very short life span. They tend to
damage other components as they
generate micro particles which in turn
increase wear and tear
It is directly mounted on crystallizer
shaft. No wear and tear to other parts
as it is completely sealed
Maintenance Costlier, due to wear and tear as the
gearing system is open
Only maintenance is the oil change at
certain intervals
Cleanliness Since the components are in open
condition, foreign particles gather in the
gears and they can damage other
components. Also, oil spillage is
maximum, which adds to the damaged
environment and higher maintenance
costs
The housing is completely sealed and
no foreign particle can enter the
system. This ensures clean surroundings
and less maintenance costs.