P U B L I C I D A D E

ABRIR
FECHAR

P U B L I C I D A D E

ABRIR
FECHAR
Voltar

Technologic trends

Quality of final product together with high flexibility and cost reduction became a reference for asphalt plants, from gravimetric to continuous and containerized plants

The advancement of technology is allowing the country to offer more and more productive equipment that may ensure at the same timeat the same timea significant reduction in operating costs. In the area of asphalt production, for example, solutions such as modular and containerized gravimetric plants are not too much developed, although being easier to assemble and disassemble and having higher mobility, what reduces logistic expenses.

To ensure this result, all components of each module are ready to start operation just afterbeing connected in the final assemblage. “This type of solution makes easy the plant demobilization and its quick transport to other worksite with no need of concerning with spare parts and equipment depreciation”, says David Kaffka, comercial manager from Lintec.

In addition, as pointed out by the engineer, since the equipment is containerized, it does not need foundations to be assembled and has protected components, what reduces dust and noise emissions. “These features allow its easy installation in any place”, ends him.

TRANSIT TIME

More used in foreign countries, containerized plants are used mainly in road concessions or urban projects. “The high quality of the asphalt mass—which is their main purpose—is now possible without the problems brought by the assemblage of a large production plant in a worksite or in a large urban center”, ensuresKaffka.

He says that the containers have ISO certification for land transportation. Modules are transported in lowboys of normal dimensions that do not need special permissions of travel. “The container solution ensures the best condition for ship transportation, consideringtransit time, freight cost and international insurance”, comments the expert.

The assemblage of these plants is simple, carried out with the support of a crane that connects the modules. “It is a real giant Lego”, compares the expert from Lintec, who also says: “Once unloaded in the place of assemblage, the plant may start operation in just five or ten days, depending on resources and labor involved.”

In the portfolio of Lintec, models offered include the CSD1510 (120 to 140 t/h) and the CSD2500B (160 to 180 t/h), which are produced in Brazil. And there are plants produced in Germany with capacities up to 400 t/h. But it is not possible to talk about sustainability of asphalt plants without thinking in reduction of power consumption. “And energy economy is one of the huge concept differentials of CSD plants, which may carry out the processof material drying and selection in a single drum located at the top of the tower.This reduces heat losses during the transport and selection of materials which occur in conventional gravimetric plants”, explainsKaffka. “In addition, the double-function dryer is more efficient, since the dryer’s heat supports the process during the separation.”

DIFFERENCIATION

Brazilian market, however, is quite mature in this area. The marketing manager fromCiber, Jandrei Goldschmidt, raises an interesting question about the differences between modular gravimetric plants and containerized plants. According to him, the design of each one is different and “there is no consolidated demand for containerized plants in Brazil”. “All local manufacturers produce modular plants in the country, except some special models that are imported and consequently have high cost due to exchange, transport and importation taxes”, said him.

The product and application expert fromCiber, Marcelo Zubaran, adds that gravimetric plants may also be produced in modules (with container dimensions or not) to make easy their transport and assemblage. According to him, transport and installation costs are high due to the dimensions and complexity of the equipment: “Modularization became an important requirement to make feasible gravimetric plants, mainly in emerging markets”, says him.

According to Goldschmidt, that is why gravimetric modular plants attend to specific demands of the internal market. He points out that historically more than 90 percent of the Brazilian demand are for counterflow portable plants, which ensure higher returnon investment due to their simplified mobility and maintenance. According toZubaran, modular plants are more suitable for long-term works, since the transportand installation of gravimetric plants take more time and are more expensive than those of continuous plants. “Modular plants are a good alternative when the contractor produces and sells several types of asphaltic mixtures requiring constant change of formulas”, explains the engineer. He also highlights that gravimetric plants are also less influenced by external factors such as particle size variation or contamination of aggregates between the cold silos of the plant. “The lower susceptibility results mainly from the double system of aggregate dosing—before and after drying—that may ensure the adjustment of particle size during processing”, points him. “Therefore, logistic concerns to produce asphalt concrete in these plants are less rigid than those used in continuous production plants.”