ECOCENT

IN ONE SINGLE STEP FROM HOT DROSS TO PURE ALUMINIUM

The ECOCENT process is an innovative system for the direct recovery of pure aluminium from hot dross.

After skimming the hot dross is fed immediately, when possible without any cooling, into the converter for further heating and homogenisation.

HOMOGENISING, HEATING


During homogenisation larger size clusters of dross disintegrate, thus ensuring a complete separation of metal from residues during the centrifugation. The further heating up of the dross serves the same purpose.

As soon as the set temperature is reached the hot and homogenised dross is poured into the centrifuge.

Within minutes the centrifugal forces separate the oxides from the aluminium. The metal accumulates as a liquid ring on the wall of the spinning vessel. Due to the surface tensions the non-metallic residues float on the surface of the liquid metal.

After pouring of the separated metal and decharging the residues another treatment cycle can be started.

The separated metal can either be returned to the mother- melt or be cast into ingots.

RECOVERY OF SOLID ALUMINIUM RINGS


As an alternative the hot and homogenised dross can be centrifuged in a mould and the metal is then recuperated in the shape of solid metal rings. Once the metal has solidified the ring falls, after the opening of the mould, onto a shakeout separating the remaining fine dust / sandlike residues from the ring and the facility is ready for another cycle.

RECOVERED COMPACT PURE METAL

EXTREMELY HIGH METAL RECOVERY
Because of the short treatment cycles of the dross, the oxidation of the aluminium is minimised and the percentage of recovered metal is the highest of all existing dross treatment processes.

KNOWN COMPOSITION OF THE ALUMINIUM
Due to the batchwise operating mode, the composition of the metal is known, which greatly enhances its value.

QUICK REUSE OF THE METAL
The separated LIQUID metal can either be returned to the mother- melt or be cast into ingots.
Alternatively the solidified compact aluminium ring can be remelted. Due to its nature, the remelting losses of the metal ring are negligible.

ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Due to the treatment of hot dross the consumption of energy in the ECOCENT Process is lower than in any conventional process.

AMORTISATION
The ECOCENT System for the recovery of aluminium comes in two configurations, one producing liquid metal, the other solid metal rings. In both configurations the system is so reasonably priced and efficient that- depending on local circumstances as energy cost etc.-periods of amortisation can be as short as 9 months only.

SAFETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Proven equipment components and simple handling procedures guarantee a smooth operation. No cooling water is needed, no salts have to be added.

ECOCENT V 150 VENEZUELA

Our Production Programme for the economical and ecological direct recovery of aluminium from hot dross by centrifuging consists of the following machine types:

For the recovery of liquid aluminium:

V 8 C for a dross generation from 200 to 1000 tons / year, batch size 160 Kg

V 10 C for a dross generation from 400 to 2000 tons / year, batch size 400 Kg

V 12 C for a Dross generation from 1000 to 5000 tons / year, batch size 600 Kg

V 15 C for a dross generation from 2000 to 7000 tons / year, batch size 1000 Kg

V 150 for a dross generation from 2000 to 4000 tons / year, batch size 1000 Kg

V 200 for a dross generation from 3000 to 6000 tons / year, batch size 2000 Kg

For the recovery of solidified aluminium rings:

V 130- 40 for a dross generation from 1000 to 2500 tons / year, batch size 700 Kg

V 150- 50 for a dross generation from 2000 to 3500 tons / year, batch size 1000 Kg

V 160- 60 for a dross generation from 3000 to 4500 tons / year, batch size 1500 Kg

On request we offer also other machine sizes.

ECOCENT COMPACT TYPE

A design developed together with industry resulting in a compact machine and effective operation.

ECOCENT COMPACT TYPE

The machine consists of a charging device, the converter (which is also centrifuge), a burner, a slag skimmer, a pouring bogie, fully electronic controls for semiautomatic as well as manual operation, a control panel and security devices.

PROCESS DESCRIPTION
The hot dross ( or cold dross ) is charged as quick as possible to the converter which can rotate with different speeds and which can be turned to several positions. After charging the converter is turned to the heating / homogenising position, the dross is heated up to process temperature by an air-gas or oxy- gas burner. During the heating the converter rotates with the lowest speed.
Above a dross temperature of 750°C the converter rotates with the medium speed to break up bigger dross lumps by autogenous grinding. Aluminium droplets, already liquid, agglomerate now to bigger drops. After reaching the process temperature ( 820 to 850°C) and sufficient homogenisation of the dross, the converter is turned to the upright position and accelerated to the centrifuging speed.Within some minutes the separation of metal and oxides ( by centrifugal forces) is finished and the speed reduced, the converter is turned to the pouring position.
At this moment a slag skimmer is brought into position to cover the converter opening to more than 95% and the metal is poured into a ladle placed on a pouring bogie ( no rotation of the converter). The oxides / residues are held in the converter by means of the slag skimmer. Then the pouring bogie changes the position to bring an oxide container into place, the slag skimmer is removed, the converter turned to nearly vertical position and the oxides are, during slow rotation of the converter, emptied into the oxide container.The process needs no cooling water and no salt addition, on the contrary, salt additions are unwanted for an optimum safety of the operation.
The complete cycle time is about 35 minutes for hot dross, even with cold dross only about 60 minutes are necessary.
To avoid any dust emissions the complete ECOCENT machine is in a housing, all exhaust gases are sucked to a bag filter. The emissions are below the European standards (ÖNORM, DIN, TA Luft).
The ladle with the recovered aluminium and the oxide container are removed by a forklift and replaced by another set.
The recovered aluminium is liquid, clean of oxides and can be used immediately in a casting machine or can be poured back to the mother melt (holding furnace).
The residues have a low metal content (average below 10 %) and can be used as industrial raw material.

ECOCENT V 12C JAPAN