1
Identificeer de lichte fractie om te verwijderen
Bepaal of het doelcontaminant papieren labels, PE/PP-folieresten, vezels, stof of een mix is.
Hulpapparatuur
Zigzag-luchtclassificator voor Lichte Fractie Scheiding bij Kunststofrecycling
Een zigzag-luchtclassificator gebruikt een stijgende luchtkolom in een meertraps hoekig kanaal om lichtere materialen — labels, folieresten, stof en fijne deeltjes — te scheiden van zwaardere kunststofvlokken of granulaat. Rumtoo helpt de classificator te dimensioneren op basis van de werkelijke materiaalmix, doelzuiverheid en lijncapaciteit.
Hoe Kies Je een Zigzag-luchtclassificator
De classificator moet worden afgestemd op het dichtheidsverschil, deeltjesgroottebereik en de doorvoer van de lijn.
2
Pas kanaalgeometrie aan op materiaalgrootte
Het aantal zigzagtrappen, kanaalbreedte en schothoek moeten passen bij het vlok- of granulaatgroottebereik.
3
Stel luchtvolume in op het scheidingspunt
De ventilator wordt afgesteld zodat de luchtsnelheid contaminanten lichter dan de doeldrempel optilt terwijl schoon materiaal naar beneden valt.
4
Integreer cycloon en stofafvang
De lichte fractie die bovenuit wordt meegevoerd moet worden opgevangen door een cycloonseparator en optioneel zakkenfilter.
What Buyers Actually Need From an Air Classifier
The zig-zag design is chosen when a recycling line needs a dry, density-based separation stage that handles moderate throughput with high purity in a small footprint.
Effective Label and Film Removal
The multi-stage zig-zag column reliably separates paper labels, thin film scraps, and lightweight contaminants from heavier PET, HDPE, or PP flakes.
Adjustable Separation Sharpness
Air volume and feed rate can be fine-tuned to shift the light/heavy cut point, allowing the same machine to handle different material mixes without mechanical changes.
Compact Vertical Footprint
The vertical column design uses much less floor space than horizontal air tables or vibrating density separators while delivering comparable separation performance.
Common Air Classification Problems
Most issues arise from incorrect air volume, wrong placement in the line, or ignoring the moisture condition of the feed material.
Problem
Rumtoo Solution
Labels and film fragments still appear in the clean flake output.
Rumtoo reviews the particle size distribution and adjusts the number of zig-zag stages and air velocity to improve the separation of near-density contaminants.
Problem
Rumtoo Solution
Too many good flakes are carried out with the light fraction, reducing yield.
Rumtoo tunes air volume and feed rate together so the cut point sits between the contaminant density and the product density, minimizing flake loss.
Problem
Rumtoo Solution
Wet or damp material clogs the zig-zag channel and disrupts separation.
Rumtoo places the classifier after the drying stage and verifies the inlet moisture is low enough for reliable aerodynamic separation.
Problem
Rumtoo Solution
Dust emission around the classifier discharge area.
Rumtoo integrates a cyclone separator and optional bag filter on the light-fraction outlet for enclosed, zero-emission operation.
Machine and Separation Principle Reference
The zig-zag channel creates multiple separation stages where rising air lifts light fractions while heavy flakes fall through gravity.
Machine View: vertical zig-zag column with controlled airflow
The classifier feeds material into a vertical column with angled baffles that create turbulence zones. A blower generates upward airflow, carrying light contaminants to a top cyclone while clean heavy flakes discharge at the bottom.
- Multiple zig-zag stages increase separation sharpness
- Adjustable air volume fine-tunes the light/heavy cut point
- Compact vertical footprint compared to horizontal air tables
Process View: separating light contaminants from heavy PET bottle flakes
In a typical washing line, the air classifier sits after drying or after granulation. It separates residual paper labels, thin film scraps, fiber, and dust from heavier PET bottle flakes, ensuring the final output meets purity requirements for extrusion or premium flake sale.
- Particularly effective after label removers and dryers
- Reduces contamination before extrusion or flake packing
- Can be paired with cyclone and dust collection for zero-emission operation
Zig-Zag Air Classifier Demo
See how the zig-zag air column separates light contaminants from heavy plastic flakes in a working recycling line.
Typical Air Classifier Use Cases
Zig-zag air classifiers are used wherever a dry density-based separation step is needed to remove lightweight contaminants from recycled plastic streams.
PET Bottle Flake Cleaning
Removes residual paper labels, cap liner film, and dust from washed and dried PET flakes before extrusion or sale as clean flake.
HDPE/PP Flake Purification
Separates film scraps, label fragments, and fines from rigid HDPE or PP regrind after crushing and washing.
Post-Shredder Light Fraction Removal
Removes film, paper, and fiber contaminants from mixed shredded streams before further sorting or pelletizing.
Label Separator Complement
Works in series with hot-wash or friction label removers to catch any remaining label material after the primary separation stage.
Pre-Extrusion Quality Gate
Final dry cleaning step before the extruder to reduce contamination-related pressure variation and pellet defects.
Mixed Plastic Sorting Aid
Assists with removing lightweight foreign materials from mixed rigid plastic streams before NIR or sink-float sorting.
Reference Configurations
These are planning references. Actual separation performance depends on material type, particle size, moisture content, and the upstream process.
| Model | Channel Width | Throughput Range | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| RT-ZZ300 | 300 mm | 300–500 kg/h | Compact, 4-stage zig-zag, ideal for small washing lines |
| RT-ZZ500 | 500 mm | 500–1000 kg/h | 6-stage zig-zag, adjustable baffles, standard cyclone |
| RT-ZZ800 | 800 mm | 1000–2000 kg/h | 8-stage zig-zag, heavy-duty blower, dust collection ready |
| RT-ZZ1000 | 1000 mm | 2000–3000 kg/h | 10-stage, dual-inlet option, high-capacity recycling lines |
Throughput depends on bulk density, particle size, and target purity. Rumtoo will confirm the right model after reviewing your material data.
Air Classifier Checklist Before RFQ
These inputs help size the zig-zag column and blower correctly for your line.
Material Type and Contaminant
State the main plastic type (PET, HDPE, PP, mixed) and the light contaminant to be removed (labels, film, dust, fiber).
Particle Size Range
Share the flake or granule size after the upstream crusher, granulator, or dryer — this determines channel geometry.
Throughput Requirement
Provide the target kg/h and any peak-hour variation so the blower and feed system are sized with margin.
Moisture and Line Position
Confirm whether the classifier will sit after a dryer (preferred) or directly after washing, and share the expected moisture range.
Why Zig-Zag Classifiers Outperform Generic Air Separators
| Decision Criteria | Single-Stage Air Separator | Rumtoo Zig-Zag Air Classifier |
|---|---|---|
| Separation stages | One pass through an air stream | Multiple zig-zag stages for progressive separation |
| Cut-point control | Coarse — air volume only | Fine — air volume, baffle angle, and stage count together |
| Footprint | Wide horizontal layout | Compact vertical column |
| Near-density contaminants | Often missed in a single pass | Caught by repeated direction changes in the zig-zag channel |
Veelgestelde Vragen
Wat is een zigzag-luchtclassificator?
Het is een verticale kolom met interne hoekige schotten die meerdere scheidingszones creeren. Stijgende lucht voert lichte materialen omhoog terwijl zware vlokken naar beneden vallen door zwaartekracht.
Waar in de recyclinglijn moet de classificator worden geplaatst?
Doorgaans na de droogfase en voor extrusie of vlokverpakking. Het voedingsmateriaal moet droog zijn voor de beste aerodynamische scheiding.
Kan het papieren labels van PET-vlokken verwijderen?
Ja. Papieren labels zijn aanzienlijk lichter dan PET-vlokken, waardoor ze een ideaal doel zijn voor zigzag-luchtclassificatie.
Hoe voorkom je verlies van goede vlokken in de lichte fractie?
Door luchtvolume en voedingssnelheid af te stemmen zodat de scheidingssnelheid tussen de eindsnelheid van het contaminant en het product ligt.
Is stofafvang nodig?
Een cycloonseparator op de lichte fractie-uitlaat is standaard. Voor fijn stof wordt een aanvullend zakkenfilter aanbevolen.
Droge Scheidingsstap Nodig voor Lichte Verontreinigingen?
Deel uw materiaaltype, vlokgrootte, doorvoer en het te verwijderen contaminant. Rumtoo adviseert het juiste zigzag-luchtclassificatormodel.
Offerte Air Classifier Aanvragen