pet bottle washing plant

Types of Pet Bottle Washing Plants

The pet bottle washing plant recycling industry has witnessed significant growth due to increasing environmental concerns and waste management issues. Enhancing the recycling process is crucial in reducing plastic waste, and bottle washing plants play a vital role in this. PET bottle washing plants are designed to clean waste plastic bottles and produce high-quality PET flakes for further processing. These plants contribute to a more efficient recycling process and help reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste.

A PET bottle washing plant generally has the following parts:

• Sorting Conveyor: The PET bottle washing line begins with a sorting conveyor. Here, the workers sort out the non-PET materials manually to get the recycling process started correctly.
• Crusher with Magnet: The crusher then smashes the sorted bottles into smaller pieces. It comes with a magnet that eliminates any metal material in the set. When added to the Assembly Line, it offers a low-cost and impactful solution to start the washing line.
• Washing Tanks: The washing machine consists of multiple tanks. PET bottle flakes are thoroughly cleaned using different types of detergents and brushes in these tanks. The quantity and name of the washing tanks differ based on the specific washing line.
• Dryer: After the washing tanks, a spinner or dryer arrives that removes the majority of water from the flakes. Sometimes, a dryer is not a part of the process and instead is followed by a drying unit.

Other machines that might be included in a PET bottle washing plant are hot washing tanks, de-labelers, screw conveyors, float tanks, and separators. In some plants, water treatment plants are also utilized as they help to clean the washing water and recycle it again and again, reducing the overall cost of the washing process.

Specification and maintenance of PET bottle washing plants

Specifications

• Feed conveyor: The trash conveyor feeds the non-PET materials into the sorting area. The main conveyor belt then transports the PET bottles toward the hopper entrance of the crushing and washing machine. The feed conveyor includes an electromagnetic separator to separate the contaminants.
• The sorting area: Manual sorters examine the bottles and remove labels, caps, and other non-PET items. A metal separator also removes any metal contaminants that may have entered the conveyor belt.
• Crushing and washing machine: In this phase, the bottles are further inspected after entering the crusher. The labels are removed while the caps are still on, and hot water is sprayed inside the bottle before it gets crushed and turned into PET flakes.
• The main washing tank: This is where the actual washing takes place. Hot water, caustic soda, and other detergents are used to clean the bottles. Blowers and air flotation may be used to remove labels from the PET bottles.
• The de-water machine: After the main wash, the flakes are dried using centrifugal force, where up to 98% water is removed. Then, the flakes are further dried with hot air and a blow dryer.
• The final washing tank: The flakes are washed again in this tank to ensure they are thoroughly cleaned.
• Dryer: The final washing results in some moisture again, which the dryer eliminates using hot air and a blower.
• Separator: Finally, contaminants like labels, sediments, and other items are removed before the PET flake enters the silo.
• Storage silo: The clean PET flakes are stored in a silo until they are exported.
• Process capacity: This indicates how many bottles the washing plant can handle, which may vary depending on the machine's size.
• Power requirements: PET bottle washing plants come with distinct power and motor specifications, which may utilize single or three-phase power in different parts of the plant.
• Water requirements: Washing the bottles may need a particular volume of water per hour or per kilogram of PET material processed.

Maintenance tips

• Regular inspection: Check all the main parts of the washing plant: conveyors, sorters, crushers, tanks, de-watering machines, dryers, separators, and silos for leakage, loose belts, misalignment, or abnormal noise. Do not forget to check the electrical system, wash tanks, water pipes, and spray nozzles.
• Lubrication: Repair and replace all components that need regular lubrication to avoid increased wear.
• Replace components: Based on the replacement cycle or the condition of the parts, change the worn or damaged components.
• Cleaning: Make sure to wash and remove the residuals and impurities in the washing plant to avoid any blockage or influencing the washing effect.
• Adjustment: Adjust the belt's tension and the water flow and spray pressure to ensure the proper functioning and washing effect of the equipment.
• Pay attention to safety: Follow the operating procedures and safety rules, cut off the power, and take safety precautions before maintenance and repair. Use safety gear and equipment, and check the gas and electrical lines. Make sure there is no leakage.

Applications of PET bottle washing plants

Recycling has become integral in many industries to encourage environmental sustainability. PET bottle washing plants play an essential role in recycling PET bottles so they can be used to produce new bottles and other products. Such washing plants are usually used in recycling facilities. Still, their application is not limited to that as they also used in commercial and industrial spaces to wash PET bottles prior to recycling.

As the number of PET bottles produced continues to rise globally, so too does the demand for PET bottle washing facilities to ensure these bottles are carefully cleaned before they are used to produce new materials.

The features and functions of PET washing plants make them suitable for many application scenarios in the recycling industry.

• Recycling industry

  The primary industry that extensively utilizes PET bottle washing plants is the recycling industry. Recycling plants across the globe use these washing plants to carefully wash and clean the PET bottles before they are used to produce new plastics. In some countries where recycling is mandatory, bottles are collected, transported to a washing facility, and the bottles are then washed and processed into high-quality rPET flakes that can be used to produce new PET products.

• Manufacturing industry

  Manufacturing industries that produce PET bottles, jars, and other products make use of the PET washing plants to ensure they have a steady supply of rPET material that can be used to produce PET bottles. By incorporating these washing plants, manufacturing industries can bring down production costs and also use a material that is environmentally friendly.

• Commercial facilities

  Some commercial facilities may also have small to medium-sized PET washing plants set up to wash and clean PET bottles before they are sent off to recycling facilities. These on-site PET washing plants allow commercial facilities to minimize waste and ensure the maximum number of PET bottles are being recycled.

• Household use

  Smaller, compact PET bottle washing plants can also be used in typical household settings to wash PET bottles. While these at-home washing plants may not be as extensive as industrial ones, they are still capable of recycling PET plastic and significantly reducing household waste.

• Export industries

  Some export industries may have PET washing facilities installed to prepare and package products in PET containers. Having a PET washing plant on-site allows these export industries to ensure the quality of their containers and maintain international standards for packaging.

How to Choose Pet Bottle Washing Plants

There are several key factors to consider when choosing a PET bottle washing plant for sale. These include the quality of the bottles after washing, the design of the plant, its capacity, and energy efficiency.

A good washing plant for PET bottles should make it possible to wash the bottles thoroughly, removing every single label and contaminant. It should also allow safe washing of the bottles without damaging any parts of them. The design of the washing plant is also crucial because it determines how effectively the bottles can be washed. Ramps, vibrating strings, and sprayers are some features in a well-designed washing plant that effectively clean every part of the bottle.

Different washing plants have different capacities. The capacity chosen depends on the volume of waste PET bottles and the number of recyclables required. It is crucial to check the capacity and ensure it is in line with the volume of waste bottles available. Energy efficiency is also important. Consider facilities with energy reuse capabilities and high-efficiency motors.

Pet Bottle Washing Plant Q & A

Q: What are the main steps involved in the PET bottle washing process?

A: The main steps involved include sorting, shredding, rinsing, de-labeling and de-capping, washing, air drying, and packing.

Q: What are the types of PET washing plants?

A: The two main types are the inline washing plants integrated into recycling production lines and standalone or central washing plants used independently.

Q: How much space does a PET bottle washing plant require?

A: The footprint of the plant will vary depending on the size and capacity. A small-scale plant may occupy about 100 square meters, while large plants may occupy several thousand square meters.

Q: What is the flow rate of a typical PET bottle washing plant?

A: The flow rate will depend on the capacity. A small to medium-sized plant may have a flow rate of 300 to 2,000 kg per hour, while large industrial plants can process up to 10,000 kg per hour or more.

Q: What is the recovery rate for PET washing plants?

A: The recovery rate is the percentage of processed PET material that is successfully extracted and collected. The recovery rate in most plants is about 80 to 95%.