The Lead Acid Battery Breaking and Separation process is based on a consolidated procedure which has been developed and improved over the years by several engineering companies operating in this sector all over the World.
Nevertheless, it cannot be considered infallible. One of the possible risks involved is, for example, the presence of solid and coarse residues of the lead paste resulting from the crushing process accumulating on the bottom of stirred tanks or other similar equipment. These phenomena might cause the abrasion of the centrifugal pump impellers and the blockage of the operating equipment, in addition to the consequent downtime of the whole plant. This is exactly what happened to Team Italia, an Italian recycling company located in the South of Italy who contacted STC for a simple consulting service. In 2018, STC proposed a revolutionary but incredibly simple solution: the inclusion of the Delta Separator (Elutriator) inside the existing plant. This machinery, normally used to separate the lead paste from metal fractions, has been applied for the first time to implement a separation of the lead paste in two different portions: coarse and fine fraction. The final aim is to obtain a more homogeneous final suspension having a lower sliding resistance which leads to a consequent lower risk of equipment obstruction or abrasion phenomena. This modification is particularly beneficial in prevision of the potential inclusion of the lead paste desulphurization area and consistently prevents the potential future obstruction and damage of any breaking & separation plant.
