Aggregate washing - Better by design

So what makes a well designed aggregate washing plant?

According to Italian company Tecnoidea Impianti, it is when a treatment plant is purposely designed for all industrial applications where there are sequences related to washing of aggregates.

The plant, firstly, ensures the abatement of suspended solids. This makes it possible to obviate the problem of supplies of wash water and, secondly, to reduce the volume of the treatment sludge as much as possible, minimising transport and disposal related to its transport and disposal.

Tecnoidea Impianti supplies plant pre-assembled and it can be installed in any position according to the nature of the site. The sequence of operations is performed automatically, according to a programmed logic, guaranteeing a simple operation of the plant and minimising the action required of the operator.

Plants are designed to permit effective purification of the input water, in compliance with the required quality standards for aggregate washing.

Due to a high level of technological innovation, the plants are designed with the aim of obtaining water with a reduced concentration of suspended solids and sludge with a reduced humidity content.

In the first stage, wastewater from the processes is pumped into a vertical-flow static settling tank.

At the same time, a doser pump injects a suitably dosed flocculant solution into the turbid water delivery piping.

The result achieved is that sludge flocks rapidly form inside the settling tank and these precipitate into the conical part, while the purified water is discharged from the upper part and is reused in a closed cycle by the various user equipment of the washing plant.

In the second stage, thickened sludge in the cone of the settling tank is channelled into a special homogenisation tank and subsequently dewatered by a plate filter press.

The result of the filtering process is the transformation of the thickened liquid sludge into solid sludge, which can easily be shovelled and does not drip.

Teconoidea Impianti said that controlled discharge of turbid water onto land or into waterways would cause physical pollution, with drastic consequences for the balance of the environment.

This treatment plant has been able to obviate the problem of consumption of water resources, which are becoming increasingly limited, and pollution of such resources, guaranteeing significant advantages both from the economical point of view and from that of the environment.

Choice and flexibility

McCloskey Washing Systems (MWS) launched a new product range – the Compact Sand Plant (CSP) – at the AGG1 and World of Asphalt Show in Houston, Texas.

The new additions to the MWS product range are compact sand plants, CSP 60, CSP 120, CSP 200 and CSP 250 single and twin sand plants.

The range has been designed to give the ultimate choice and flexibility to meet customers’ expectations.

Sean Loughran, McCloskey Washing Systems director said: “We have an aggressive road map, a clear vision of where we and our dealers should be positioned in the coming years. We have a commitment to grow our businesses together, to provide world class products, and deliver exceptional levels of customer service.”.

The McCloskey CSP range enables superior separation efficiency, produces the driest, drip-free final washed sand product, and produces up to two in-spec sands, to a desired grade, at up to 250 l t/hr.

The McCloskey S130 and S190 Tracked Rinsers, paired with the right size CSP, offers a portable wash plant option for up to 250 t/hr total sand production and an overall production of sand and aggregates of more than 400 t/hr.

By simply building up an elevated terrace on site to elevate the S130 or S190 Rinser nominally 2.13 to 2.44 m (7 to 8 ft) above the ground grade level that the CSP sits on, the tracked wet screen has plenty of elevation for gravity flow to move sand and water to the sump of the CSP.

In October 2017 the company held its first United Kingdom Open Day at Crown Aggregates to highlight new washing and classifying equipment for both quarrying and recycling applications.

Crown is a leading recycling company and bought the first new McCloskey wash plant in the UK.

At the open day, McCloskey hosted a live working demonstration of its SandStorm 516 and AggStorm 150, working in tandem as a shared solution.

The event also marked the launch of a the modular AggStorm 80 and 150 range, and the AggStorm Modular Log washer range designed to operate as standalone units or to integrate with the SandStorm range of wash plants.

McLanahan Corporation has showcased pieces of equipment their established line of waste handling equipment, as well as the new McLanahan Mobile Solutions (MMS) line at a range of industry events.

The equipment included a demonstration model Optical Sorter that was available for demonstrations, which drew significant attention and inquiries, while additional waste handling equipment was showcased using three-dimensional models.

The company has also displayed its MMS Track Trommel, which processes material that includes aggregates, waste fines, construction and demolition material, compost, topsoil, ash, and wood waste.

The Optical Sorter was also displayed in the adjoining booth by the McLanahan partner company Mayfran.

Increasing presence

McLanahan’s increasing presence in the United Kingdom and Ireland has generated interest in its Modular Wash Plants, which include both custom and modular washing solutions.

The wash plants are the result of work by in-house teams of engineers and technical support services who have each spent years serving the processing industries and know the tough requirements mineral processing operations face, backed up by a worldwide 24/7 service presence.

Also during 2017 the company’s public appearances featured a cross belt sampler, the Max Series Inclined Vibrating Screen, the newest version of its long-standing modular wet processing plant.

In addition it featured an array of wear solutions as part of the company’s commitment to supporting customers through the life of the machine.

With offices in six countries, McLanahan is committed to providing customers with local service and support through its Global Response Team.