ECI JCB Open Day
CDE offers AquaCycle thickeners and GHT filter presses and the
company says that there is a growing realisation that their introduction
does actually offer a more efficient way of operating. According to
CDE the water recycling systems offer operators a way to ensure a
much more efficient and easily managed washing plant.
A new dry processing option?
While washing is widely accepted to be the most efficient way of
producing high quality sands for use in a variety of applications, CDE
have introduced a new dry processing technology – the Sirocco air
classification system - to respond to the unique climate in the Gulf
region.
According to Mr Walker, “Even with full closed circuit water
recycling reducing the volume of fresh wash water required to around
5% of the total volume, some operators are simply not able to ensure
supply of the volumes needed to operate a wash plant.”
The introduction of the Sirocco air classifier to the Gulf, allows
operators, previously unable to do so because of a lack of water
availability, to achieve the higher specification sand products that will
allow them to diversify into new sectors of the construction market.
According to CDE, the Sirocco air classification system is far removed
from the traditional dry screening process which has been problematic
for those seeking to produce high quality sand.
“We prefer to describe the Sirocco as a ‘dry wash’ system – or
‘washing without the water’, as it is able to achieve the same results as
washing in terms of minus 75 micron fines removal.” says Mr Walker.
“We have several Sirocco units operating in the Gulf which are
producing concrete sands to the same specification as those being
produced by our EvoWash sand washing plant.” explains Mr Walker.
C
DE Global have built a reputation on the delivery of
efficient sand washing plants throughout the world over
the last two decades, and have been working in the Gulf
for almost 10 years. During this time the company has
completed many sand washing installations including two 1,200 tonne
per hour plants in Qatar, and have also introduced a new dry ‘wash’
system to suit this water deprived region.
EvoWash system
Over the years CDE has replaced inefficient traditional sand
washing plants, such as bucket wheels and screw classifiers, with the
hydrocyclone based EvoWash system.
“Old sand washing technology has a number of issues, not least the
loss of significant quantities of quality fines to the settling ponds or
water treatment phase” explains Mr Iain Walker, CDE Sales Manager
for the Middle East and North Africa.
According to CDE, operators using inefficient sand washing plants
are taking a hit on two fronts. Not only is the final value of their sand
product compromised by the presence of larger quantities of minus
An additional feature
of the Sirocco system
that has made it attractive
to operators is the small
amount of space required
to accommodate the
system. The fines product
from the Sirocco is not a
waste material but has a
number of applications
including its use in the
manufacture of ceramic tile adhesives and grouts. This provides
additional revenue for operators from what many consider to be a
waste material.
The Sirocco system, unlike others on the market, is available in a
variety of configurations from 50 tonnes per hour to 800 tonnes per
hour in a single unit, and is available as a stand alone unit or as part of
a turnkey package.
We prefer to describe the Sirocco as
a ‘dry wash’ system – or ‘washing
without the water’, as it is able to achieve the
same results as washing in terms of
minus 75 micron fines removal.
“The effect of being able to guarantee a sand specification is
to maximise the commercial value of the material and thus the
profitability of the operation.”
75 micron material than is ideally the case, but operational costs are
also increased as a result of the requirement to clean out settling
ponds regularly in an effort to recover the good material that has been
lost.
There are various design features on the EvoWash plant that
prevent this problem from arising, with the choice of hydrocyclone
technology being one of the key factors. Hydrocyclones offer the
most efficient means of delivering the required cut point, thus
ensuring a sand product that meets the desired specification. The
effect of being able to guarantee a sand specification is to maximise
the commercial value of the material and thus the profitability of the
operation.
Water recycling
The ability to offer operators water recycling equipment to
accompany the sand washing plant has also been a key factor in the
success that the company has enjoyed in the Gulf. The climate in
the region and a scarcity of water made the CDE water recycling and
sludge management system a ‘must have’ rather than a ‘like to have’
as it was seen in some other territories.
May/June 2011 | Machinery Movers
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