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Combining two process steps in one unit saves time and money.
In the process industry, an efficient operation allows greater throughput of product, saving time and money. As technologies adapt and change, innovation becomes important in the development of ever more effective process heating operations. Often, advancements in process technology are made by creating customized solutions that combine manufacturing steps that previously required two or more machines.
One example of such innovation is a system that combines the drying and cleaning processes necessary in a glass recycling operation into a single machine. Because the glass is simultaneously dried and cleaned, handling is reduced, and breakage and product degradation is decreased. Also, the amount of capital equipment and necessary investment are reduced.
Combining processes can save a company time, money and energy without compromising the final product. Examples of combination units include drying and cooling units, screening and conveying units and, as mentioned, drying and cleaning systems. Combining technologies saves space and time while accomplishing the tasks to the same quality.
Glass recycling is a growing industry that reduces energy use and waste. For every 10 percent of recycled glass used in a new product, 2 percent of energy is saved compared to that consumed to create glass using all new materials. Reducing waste means less glass is sent to landfills and instead is used to create new products.
When recycling glass from the waste stream, the glass must be separated from other recyclables such as paper and plastic and cleaned. Typically, workers manually separate non-glass materials such as plastic bags and bottles from the glass to be recycled. Larger pieces of glass are broken into smaller pieces with hammers. Next, magnetic separators remove ferrous material from the line, leaving only a few, typically organic, substances...