All types of structures, including homes, stores, factories, and streets, are built with concrete and rebar because it is so robust. Concrete demolition contractors and recyclers can transform this precious material from demolition sites into an end product that may be used in a number of projects, rather than sending it entirely to landfills.
Easy-to-follow guidance on how to choose the ideal concrete crusher for the job at hand is provided below for demolition contractors and concrete recyclers. An overview of the three most common crusher types available is provided first.
Crushing Machine Types
Jaw crushers
Jaw crushers have similar technology to nutcrackers at their most basic level. Two “jaws” that are vertically orientated and tapered to let only smaller material pass through crush the debris between them. The jaws are driven by a flywheel and function similarly to a mouth’s opening and closing. Jaw crusher benefits include cheaper operating costs, the capacity to handle huge infeed sizes, and the processing of exceptionally hard and abrasive materials. They are not ideal if aiming to reach a smaller and higher value end product because they are a primary crusher and can only crush down to a 3″ or 4″ minus, which is generally sold or used as a fill type material of lower value.
Impact crusher.
Impact crushers employ impact to smash concrete as opposed to compression, which is how jaw crushers do it (as their name implies). A massive rotor running at a high RPM is located in the crushing chamber, which receives material input. The material is broken apart by the blowbars or “hammers” on the rotor, which also accelerate it quickly against the curtain wall or walls in order to further crush it. In recycling applications, impact crushers can be very productive. They are also available in a “closed circuit” form with an integrated screening deck, enabling users to reach a final product as tiny as 3/4″ or even less if necessary. The majority of concrete or asphalt recycling applications, in our opinion, are best served by an impact crusher.
Crushing cones
For recycling applications, these are less typical. The geometry of their primary crushing chamber is a cone with an open top that can accommodate rock. Between two internal liners, one of which is fixed and the other of which is moving eccentrically, the aggregate is crushed as it descends toward the cone’s base. Cones can only be used for secondary and tertiary crushing because of their low tolerance for tramp iron and other impurities prevalent in demolition materials. They are best suited for breaking hard, abrasive rock and are not ideal for recycling applications.
Additional Details / Factors
After having a fundamental understanding of various crusher kinds, you can move on to the machine in question’s more particular features. The following characteristics are those that concrete demolition specialists look at when selecting a new crusher:
Size and type of feedstock
Can other ingredients be added to the concrete the machine processes, or can it solely handle concrete? How large a feed can the machine handle before processing it safely and economically? When deciding on the best equipment for your application, these are crucial considerations that must be addressed.
Output size
Which items the crusher is capable of producing depends on this. A jaw will generate a coarse 3″ to 8″ minus product, whereas a closed circuit impactor can produce 34″ minus or even smaller, if necessary.
Levels of production.
Each machine has a unique productivity rate, which is commonly expressed in tons of material processed per hour. Be skeptical of claims made in brochures; instead, speak to people who have experience using the equipment in question and who have access to reliable tools for calculating accurate output rates.
Reduction ratio
Horizontal shaft impactors can have a reduction ratio of up to 15:1, while jaw and cone crushers typically have a 4:1–8:1 range.
Size of the equipment.
Transport and storage possibilities are determined by machine dimensions. You should consider where you will transport the crusher and the area’s weight and size limitations before making a purchase.
Contrasting Specifications
In order to compare different brands of a comparable type of crusher, we advise making a spreadsheet. Consider critical characteristics first before looking at initial purchasing costs, which have minimal bearing overall.
