MELT FILTRATION | TECHNOLOGY
Suppliers of melt filtration systems are improving their technologies to ensure efficient removal of contaminants even at finer levels. By Chris Saunders
Melt filtration moves in new directions
The growth of plastics recycling for post-consumer packaging and its expansion into areas such as fibre production makes quality a top priority for new melt filtration technology. Rising to the quality challenge, suppliers are developing systems that also provide recyclers with greater automation, increased throughput and improved control. “Since the early days of plastic recycling, melt
filtration has been a crucial part of the process,” said Matthias Schmitz, Head of Engineering Recycling Technology at BB Engineering (BBE). “State of the art for decades were screenchangers and laser filters in different executions. With an increasing demand for high quality applications like melt spinning, the requirement for finer filtration is gaining importance. Filter ratings of 20 µm or finer are in operation.” Building its reputation as a supplier to large spinning and film lines, BBE, based in Remscheid, Germany, has grown its capabilities in rPET fine filtration. It says its non-stop filtration equipment can easily be retrofitted either into existing recycling lines or directly into spinning lines to make them rPET- ready. The company said an interruption-free process is guaranteed by an easy switch-over between congested and clean filter inserts, while its
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know-how and ongoing innovation result in the latest generation of candle-type filters, which are specially designed for the demands of recycled polymers. Over 400 BBE installations are currently running
around the world. The continuous filtration is available with 1.8 to 40 m² of filtration area, result- ing in very low flux rates, defined as throughput per area. These are necessary to extract the finest particles down to 15 µm as well as gels or accumu- lations. The produced melt achieves the lowest filter pressure values, which in turn increases the perfor- mance and feasibility of subsequent processes. One of the latest innovations used by BBE is known as White Filter Cleaning (WFC), a pre-clean- ing system for filter media and filter housings that does not use hazardous or harmful chemicals such as TEG. Instead, superheated steam is used to effectively remove residues on the filter media via hydrolysis. This treatment is not only environmen- tally friendly, but also improves filtration perfor- mance and extends the life of the filter media. “With WFC, BBE is offering an ecological
alternative to widely spread cleaning with TEG and a solution to reduce the filter cleaning costs by over 50%,” said Schmitz. “WFC uses nothing but superheated steam to free the filter cartridges from
March/April 2024 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 33
Main image: Break Machin- ery’s Duo self-cleaning double filter system
IMAGE: BREAK MACHINERY
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