Challenge
A customer recently contacted General Kinematics to explore alternatives to their water bath, wet tank arrangement that they were currently using to separate heavies from lights in an existing C&D Sorting facility. With the existing wet tank, the facility was averaging over 500,000 gallons of water consumption per month and spending approximately $50,000 per year for sewer and water usage. In addition, the maintenance required to operate the water tank during the winter months as well as the added weight of the landfill waste as a result of the water encouraged them to keep looking for alternatives.
Approach
Working with the customer, an on-site demonstration was performed utilizing GK’s proven Single Knife De-Stoner air classifier. The GK Single Knife De-Stoners vibratory action and high velocity / low pressure air streams fluidize and stratify material according to difference in terminal velocity of particles to remove heavy items such as glass, metallics, stones, dirt, etc. The customer installed the unit after the wet tank and shut off the water to see how the De-Stoner would handle the same materials online. The positive test results gave the customer the confidence to proceed with the removal of the wet tank.
Solution
To meet the capacity requirements of the customers system, GK provided an upgraded Dual Knife De-Stoner in lieu of the wet tank. With guidance from GK, the customer built and installed a drop out box at the end to contain the lights. Taking it one step further, the customer installed a belt conveyor at the end of the De-Stoner to capture the “light” woods stream.
Result
The end result was that the customer successfully removed heavies from the product stream, captured the wood at the end of the De-Stoner, and separated the “dry” lights which could then be sent to the landfill. Eliminating the wet tank proved to be a sound business decision with a practical payback period, and improved operating conditions.
