Eldan Recycling A/S

The Danish company Eldan Recycling A/S specializes in every aspect of refrigerator recycling. Here it presents an in-depth look at its business, technology and plant. by Berit H Vous The Denmark-based Eldan Recycling A/S, employing more than 110 staff, specializes in development, manufacturing, marketing and installation of machines and complete plants for the recycling industry. The company dates back to 1956, and since the beginning it has specialized in developing and manufacturing machines and plant for the recycling industry. It is an enterprise that prides itself on innovation, and has installed more than 7000 individual machines and 770 complete recycling systems worldwide these all comply with current legal requirements and could be easily modified if the need arose in future. During 2008, Eldan Recycling expanded its production facilities by adding two new workshops to its premises. This step was taken to meet the high demand for Eldan equipment and to shorten the delivery time; it also gives an excellent opportunity carry out trials with the specific material types. Eldan’s recycling equipment is primarily for: Waste tyres Scrap cables and wires WEEE scrap Aluminium scrap Non-ferrous scrap Municipal solid waste (MSW) Shredder light fraction/automotive shredder residual (SLF/ASR) Refrigerators Eldan recycling plants provide: High performance Low processing costs Low power consumption Low maintenance costs Proven technology Eldan is one of the few companies delivering equipment to the recycling industry which has its own production facilities, so ensuring the quality of the product and the flexibility of the production program. It is a turnkey supplier of complete plants, i.e. the customer only deals with one partner, from the first approach through to the customized solution. Eldan Recycling’s technical staff are responsible for design and development, and the project managers and supervisors are in charge of the project work, installation, erection, training and commissioning of the plant. Stage II: CFC/pentane liquefaction system Click here to enlarge image The service division offers ad hoc service on existing and new equipment, using trained and experienced service engineers and supervisors. Eldan after-sales division’s flexible service contracts ensure planned, preventive maintenance of the customers’ production lines. The after-sales division looks after sales and guidance over wear and tear, and spare parts, to customers worldwide. The company also maintains an extensive stock of spare parts. Spare parts contracts ensure that parts are available for immediate dispatch. Refrigerator recycling It must be emphasized that the recycling of refrigerators is within the more complex of waste treatments. The company sold its first complete recycling plant for the processing of refrigerators in 2001. Apart from separation and recycling of magnetic and non-magnetic metals, plastic and foam; oil and CFC gasses must be collected. This is done in separate oil extraction and degasification systems enabling companies to show that they collect the dangerous greenhouse gasses which damage the ozone layer. According European and national standards, specific values must be observed and complied with. Eldan Recycling has just recently installed an 80 unit/hour plant in Spain. Similar plants are in operation worldwide and they observe the values for treatment of cooling appliances. Fridges on their way to the sluice Click here to enlarge image null The plant The plant is constructed for the crushing of refrigerators of up to a maximum size of 2000x1200x1000 mm (height x width x depth). Bigger fridges must be reduced in size prior to processing. A complete fridge recycling system including everything from pre-chopping to separation can be divided into the following stages: pre-handling shredding separation degasification Pre-handling The refrigerators are unloaded and pre-classified. The cords are cut off and glass inserts are delivered to special containers. The compressors are dismantled. Oil, all CFC-gasses, pentane gas and Isobutan gas are extracted. Illsa køleskab 033 tower: Fridge tower for chopping of the fridges Click here to enlarge image null Shredding The fridges are then transported to the Eldan ‘fridge tower’ through a sluice. The fridge tower is a unique, integrated unit, which combines the super-chopper (pre-chopper) and the heavy pre-granulator. This makes possible one inert cutting chamber, eliminating the risk of fire and explosion. The output size from the fridge tower is approximately 30 mm. PUR foam separation Next step is the ‘zig-zag wind-separator,’ where the PUR foam is separated out and transported to the ‘pelletizer.’ In the pelletizer the PUR foam is pressed into pellets. At the same time CFC gas is sucked out into the CFC/pentane liquefaction system. Further separation The iron particles are separated out by an over-band magnet. The remaining fraction is passed over an Eddy Current separator, where it is separated into plastic and aluminium/copper fractions. The gas and oil treatment Stage I: Oil and CFC/pentane/butane gasses are sucked to the CFC/oil suction unit. The gas is separated from the oil, and the gas is collected in closed gas vessels. The oil is pumped out into an open vessel. Stage II: The nitrogen used to reduce the oxygen level in the cutting chamber of the fridge tower is recovered and recycled in a closed circuit system to minimize the consumption. The gasses are collected in closed gas vessels. Berit H. Vous is sales and marketing co-ordinator for Eldan Recycling A/S, Faaborg, Denmarke-mail: bhv@eldan-sr.com