Tests took place on March 14th at Costarelli’s machine shop, with the purpose to show   customer the good performances of drying centrifuge CDO 850.

As for the capacity (about 650 kg/h the value registered after testing in two separate weightings), it must be as uniform as possible.

The material used for testing is polyethylene. Obviously, the thinner the material is, the lower is the efficiency that can be expected. However, even in presence of thin materials (like in this subject case) some very good results were obtained.

The following drawings showing the machine can help appreciating the centrifuge and its accessories: feeding augers, discharge pipes, cyclones, pneumatic flow fan pushing the material towards the storage belt (this last one contributing to a better efficiency of the drying process).

Results of the experimental tests

The following measurements show the various rates of humidity registered during tests, with machine at full work. Samples were taken 15 minutes one from the other. Surveys were made both at the exit of first cyclone and the second (the one discharging into the storage belt), in order to appreciate also the outstanding contribution given by the pneumatic transport fan and the pipeline.

Obviously the most important value of humidity is the one registered at the exit of second cyclone. For each survey it was used quantity of 100 grams of humid material.

During tests, the first survey showed a humidity mean of 150-200% on input material. This percentage can be obtained through the following formula:

Where:

P_B:      weight of wet material

P_A:      weight of dry material

Results of tests made on 14h March   2008

The first two tests were not included in the total calculation of the mean, as it was seen that the machine requires about 20 minutes to reach its maximum performance.

As it can be seen, at the exit of second cyclone the percentage of humidity registered is lower than 4.5%, a remarkable value considering the typology of material used.

On 15^th March 2008, in order to obtain even more precise measurements, it was decided to make 3 surveys of humidity, using a more consistent quantity of material, equal to 500 grams.

The following table shows the results of such test (the machine is at full work, therefore all surveys contribute to the final mean)

Result of tests made on 15th March   2008

The tests made and the surveys that followed show that the residual humidity obtained on exit material is lower than 4.5%. Considering the typology of material used, this is an outstanding result, confirming the values registered on 14^th march in presence of the customer.