A system multiple having units in a linear arrangement employs density separation processes. In one arrangement, the system provides more control over the agitation and forces separating the material. One system has a paddlewheel 115, 215 in some or all of the units to create movement to optimize the residence time (faster or slower) to optimize separation.

A system multiple having units in a linear arrangement employs density separation processes. In one arrangement, the system provides more control over the agitation and forces separating the material. One system has a paddlewheel 115, 215 in some or all of the units to create movement to optimize the residence time (faster or slower) to optimize separation.

A cyclonic separation and materials processing method and system is presented in which materials entry at one end and which is arranged so that the materials that enter will be given a tangential velocity component as they enter. Specific embodiments include a three-dimensional sorting system with the use of an outward centrifugal motion and up/down (or vertical) motion flow of water or other media, which can be thought of as a three-dimensional separation.

A method for washing and separating pieces of plastics material from contaminating material that also includes metal elements, comprises the steps of: supplying, to a washing container, a washing fluid, having a first specific weight value , and the pieces of plastics material joined to the contaminating material; driving, in the washing container, a stirring arrangement provided with blades for generating in the washing fluid a turbulent stirring action to remove from the plastics material, through mechanical action, the part of contaminating material adhering thereto. The tilt of the blades and the rotation speed of the stirring arrangement are chosen carefully to generate a thrusting action upwards so as to maintain in a floating condition the plastics material with a specific weight that is greater than the specific weight of the fluid; the force of the thrusting action is limited to a value that is such as not to hinder the downward precipitation of the contaminating metal elements that have a further specific weight value that is greater than the aforesaid second value. The plastics material is retained inside the container for sufficient time to obtain a desired degree of purity and decontamination for the plastics material, after which it is evacuated by controlled overflow. The heavy contaminating material, in particular the metal elements that accumulate on the bottom, are periodically evacuated by a device of valve or pump type. The apparatus for implementing the aforesaid method is also disclosed.

Method for washing a plastics material and for separating contaminating substances therefrom comprises the steps of: supplying a first flow of a washing fluid together with the plastics material with contaminants to a washing container in which a stirrer generates a turbulent action to detach mechanically the contaminants adhering to the plastics material, enabling a first fraction of heavier contaminants to precipitate onto a first bottom portion of the container, thus performing a first action of separating contaminants; transferring a second flow: of fluid with floating plastics material from the container to a first separating chamber, in which a second separating action takes place with the precipitation of a second fraction of the contaminants onto a second bottom portion of the first chamber; conveying a third flow of fluid with floating plastics material from the first chamber to a second separating chamber and evacuating by overflowing an outgoing flow of fluid together with the processed plastics material; in the transit froth the first chamber to the second chamber the agglomerates of floating plastics are disaggregated, and to the third flow and to the plastics material a downward propelling action inside the second chamber is imparted to promote a third separating action with precipitation of a third fraction of the contaminants onto a third bottom portion of the second chamber; removing from the second chamber a recirculation flow comprising precipitated fluid and contaminants and sending the recirculation flow to a screen unit that retains the contaminants, returning the washing fluid to the first or second chamber. The apparatus for implementing the aforesaid method is also disclosed.

Method for washing a plastics material and for separating contaminating substances therefrom comprises the steps of: supplying a first flow of a washing fluid together with the plastics material with contaminants to a washing container in which a stirrer generates a turbulent action to detach mechanically the contaminants adhering to the plastics material, enabling a first fraction of heavier contaminants to precipitate onto a first bottom portion of the container, thus performing a first action of separating contaminants; transferring a second flow: of fluid with floating plastics material from the container to a first separating chamber, in which a second separating action takes place with the precipitation of a second fraction of the contaminants onto a second bottom portion of the first chamber; conveying a third flow of fluid with floating plastics material from the first chamber to a second separating chamber and evacuating by overflowing an outgoing flow of fluid together with the processed plastics material; in the transit froth the first chamber to the second chamber the agglomerates of floating plastics are disaggregated, and to the third flow and to the plastics material a downward propelling action inside the second chamber is imparted to promote a third separating action with precipitation of a third fraction of the contaminants onto a third bottom portion of the second chamber; removing from the second chamber a recirculation flow comprising precipitated fluid and contaminants and sending the recirculation flow to a screen unit that retains the contaminants, returning the washing fluid to the first or second chamber. The apparatus for implementing the aforesaid method is also disclosed.

A method and apparatus for washing sheets of plastic material originating from industrial and agricultural waste, for subsequent reuse thereof as a raw material. The sheets of plastic material, precut into soiled pieces of large dimensions, and a water flow are supplied to a washing tank containing a water bath; a screw stirrer generates intense stirring of the water bath and recirculation, inside the tank, of the soiled plastic pieces that causes the contaminating material to be detached and separated by sedimentation from the plastic pieces. The cleaned pieces of plastic material of large dimensions, devoid of contaminant, which float in the water bath are removed by dragging, in a floating condition, along a discharging channel by the combined action of a dragging device and of a water flow that exits the washing tank; the dragging device, consisting of an endless belt, extends from one side of the washing tank along the discharging channel, supported in a freely tiltable manner.

A method and apparatus for washing sheets of plastic material originating from industrial and agricultural waste, for subsequent reuse thereof as a raw material. The sheets of plastic material, precut into soiled pieces of large dimensions, and a water flow are supplied to a washing tank containing a water bath; a screw stirrer generates intense stirring of the water bath and recirculation, inside the tank, of the soiled plastic pieces that causes the contaminating material to be detached and separated by sedimentation from the plastic pieces. The cleaned pieces of plastic material of large dimensions, devoid of contaminant, which float in the water bath are removed by dragging, in a floating condition, along a discharging channel by the combined action of a dragging device and of a water flow that exits the washing tank; the dragging device, consisting of an endless belt, extends from one side of the washing tank along the discharging channel, supported in a freely tiltable manner.

A method and apparatus for washing and separating pieces of plastics material from contaminants includes supplying to a washing container pieces of plastics material containing contaminating material and an entering flow of washing fluid. A turbulent stirring action to detach and separate mechanically the contaminating material from the plastics material is generated. evacuating through overflowing, through an outlet port An outlet flow of washing fluid and a quantity of plastics material that has undergone the turbulent stirring action is evacuated by overflow through an outlet port. A controlled-conveying and retaining arrangement is driven to retain the plastics material in the washing container and to advance in a controlled manner the quantity of plastics material to the outlet port independently of the advancement of the outlet flow of washing fluid. An adjustable bulkhead is arranged in the washing fluid at a depth with respect to the free surface to divert from the outlet port the pieces of plastics material that, once supplied to the container, by advancing more on the surface, tend to reach the outlet zone of the washings container. The bulkhead guides and forces the pieces of plastics to undergo the turbulent stirring action to separate and detach the adhering contaminants therefrom.

Systems and methods for separating materials and recovery of valuable materials such as from end-of-life vehicles and appliances are disclosed. Vehicles are shredded and resulting pieces are dropped into a fluidic separator that separates the shredded vehicle scrap into heavier pieces and lighter pieces. The fluidic separator separates the bulk of the more valuable metals of the non-metals. The fluidic separator, which may be used for separating many kinds of mixtures of pieces of varying specific gravity, comprises a fluid-filled container in which the pieces and the fluid are stirred so that pieces of specific gravity greater than that of the fluid tend to sink and pieces of specific gravity less than that of the fluid tend to float.