Equipment Spotlight | NOV 2019 Waste-to-Fuel

by MARY M. THORNTON

There is an ever increasing need to invent processes which result in fuel alternatives via the use of waste.

CM Shredders, a leading manufacturer of industrial shredders and recycling systems, recently introduced a new line of single shaft shredders for use in waste-to-fuel applications and a wide range of other uses as well. “The new CM SOLO series single shaft shredders line features CM’s world renowned shredding technology along with replaceable sizing screens and a ‘Smart-Ram’ system that automatically adjusts ram pressure for maximum efficiency. The machines are ruggedly built and engineered for performance, durability and lowest cost of operation in the industry,” said Mario Vazquez, sales and marketing director. The CM SOLO Series machines are designed for less power usage, minimal dust, and reduced manpower requirements. Five models are available, with the choice of 12”, 15” or 20” rotor diameter and powertrain options from 30 to 125 hp. They also feature four-way reversible tool steel cutting teeth to handle small applications as well as large scale size reduction operations.

CM Shredders recently opened a new 4,000 sq.ft. R&D test lab and demo facility at CM’s headquarters in Florida, featuring an array of both single shaft and dual shaft shredding systems. “Our new CM test lab will provide new products and processes to help our customers with a proactive approach when facing the challenges of today’s production environments, whether through test shredding, applications, developing turn-key systems, training support or R&D work. We work closely and proactively with key suppliers and other industry experts to find high performance solutions that help our customers to improve and optimize their current operations,” explained Vazquez.

The new CM SOLO series single shaft shredders line is the first new product developed jointly with CM’s new sister company, Schutte Hammermill, a New York-based manufacturer that has developed an extensive line of size reduction equipment that includes hammer mills, lump breakers, crushers and shredders.

According to Tim Hanna, vice president of business development, Evaled Vacuum Evaporators and Crystallization are a clean separation technology that has been recognized as a Best Available Technique in waste-to-energy programs, the recycling of e-waste and batteries, auto salvage storm water leachate, and more.
Prab Vacuum Evaporators are fully automatic, standardized, modular units that are low in energy consumption and have a low CO2 footprint. Capacities range from 1 to 200 tons per day (43-53,000 gpd) of distillate from wastewater treatment. These highly reliable evaporators are effective in reducing wastewater volume and producing a high quality, reusable distillate (ZLD). They are an effective solution for concentrating and removing salts, heavy metals and a variety of hazardous components. Prab Ultrafiltration Systems are designed to separate organics, emulsified oils and suspended solids from wastewater, incoming water, and process water without the use of chemical additives. PRAB wastewater treatment technologies help companies meet zero manifesting goals and comply with federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act requirements, as well as state and local discharge regulations.

Systems are fully automated, and modular units are low in energy consumption. Other water and wastewater treatment equipment is available for a wide range of industries and applications. Application examples using these systems include: per EPA compliance, reducing wastewater materials from auto salvage storm water; converting dangerous automotive and lead waste in automotive batteries into useful products for society; production of synthesis gas, made from solid biomass and carbonic feedstock such as wood chips; landfill leachate recovery which is then used as biogas energy; metal chip and fluid separators that can convert materials into briquettes that can be used as fuel, and are easy to re-melt, transport, and store.

Prab has a portfolio of over 39 customizable equipment offerings across 4 divisions, all unified under the Prab brand-offering metal chip processing equipment, fluid filtration equipment, conveyors, industrial water and wastewater treatment equipment, parts, services, and solutions to meet the unique needs of a variety of customer industries around the world. Prab works with its customers to optimize operational performance by improving the management of their waste streams, helping to increase customer profit margin and in meeting or exceeding compliance to strict environmental rules and regulations.

RDF, or refuse derived fuel is created from post-industrial waste, post-consumer or household waste as well as from materials such as carpet (fibers), wood and paper. “Weima’s Precut machine is perfect for applications like these, which require pre-shredding. In waste-to-energy settings, the infeed material is typically mixed waste. In order to properly sort and process these materials down the production line, it’s important to sort out those pieces that can’t be properly reduced into RDF. Several pieces of equipment including a cross-belt magnet and eddy current on the discharge portion of the pre-shredder can help prevent foreign bodies from damaging the machinery further down the line,” Dale Walker, technical sales engineer explained.

Weima was founded with the goal of diverting manufacturing and consumer waste from landfills. Because the company is involved so many industries and shreds so many types of scrap, the single-shaft shredders are available in a range of sizes and configurations to accommodate these industries. “Our experience in these industries continues to strengthen our ability to process all kinds of waste. With the Weima Precut, those materials can be shredded simultaneously because the rotor is robust and can withstand most foreign bodies that accidentally make it into the pre-shredding process.

“The National Sword dilemma has left some manufacturers with a significant amount of production waste piling up at their facilities. This is problematic from an operational standpoint. At one point in the past, that material would’ve typically been sent to a landfill. It’s an exciting time to be in the recycling industry. Companies are seeing that there’s more to ‘going green’ than just being trendy. It has become necessary, more and more, to responsibly dispose of or reintegrate byproducts of production processes,” Walker stated.

Published in the November 2019 Edition