Terex wash system tackles Australian tasks

A Terex Washing Systems plant being used by Clarence Sands in Sydney, Australia, is helping that firm produce up to 300 metric tons of sand per hour while recycling about 90 percent of the water used during the washing process.

The wash plant features an H30 50-metric-ton feeder that receives raw sandstone feed material and distributes it evenly on the main conveyor. At this point any stones or rock larger than 100 millimeters (4 inches) are removed from the feed material.

The sand then makes its way up to the modular Deck Rinser Screen. The screen at Clarence Sands has been designed specifically to handle the tonnage needed for that operation, says Terex. A total of 19 spray bars give the material an initial rinse as the vibrating screener shakes the sand and stone down through the polyurethane decks as it is classified by size. The polyurethane decks have a much longer wear life than typical metal decks, according to Terex.

Any larger aggregates can pass through the screen onto aggregate and oversize conveyors where they are stockpiled as products for sale.  Any sand, silt, clay or other fine impurities that were present within the feed material is washed to the split catchbox of the screener. Terex Washing System catchboxes have adjustable blending paddles, which assist in blending the correct amount of fines into the coarse fraction. This ensures the required spec is always achievable.

The material is gravity fed into one of two FM 200C Sand Plants. Each sand plant receives a separate split, one coarse sand and one fine sand. The sand deemed up to spec is then transferred onto a 26-meter (85-foot) radial stacking conveyor designed to suit the needs of the customer, says Terex.

The water used to initially rinse the feed material, also washes the sand within the FM 200C is recovered from the dewatering screen to be pumped into a 17-meter (56-foot) rake thickener tank.

In Australia, where water is managed carefully, Terex Washing Systems advised the customer to include “a robust water management system” that would be both environmentally friendly and save on running costs.

“Over the last number of years, Terex Washing Systems have developed our water management product range to the point that we’re confident we can meet the needs of any application,” says Neil Rooney, engineering manager for Terex Washing Systems. “Our wash plant at Clarence Sands is a good example of how an efficient water management system can take an operation to the next level. For Clarence Sands, settling ponds maintenance is drastically reduced, freeing up valuable machinery and time.”

Terex Washing Systems are designed to serve in several applications, including aggregates processing and upgrading other materials generated by construction and demolition recycling activities.