The Vertical Floatation Decoater for Efficient, High Metal Yield Decoating and Delacquering of Aluminum Scrap

The Vertical Floatation Melter (VFD) has undergone pilot testing in removing organics from scrap aluminum. The VFD uses a vertical cone in which the scrap is dropped into the top and products of combustion at 1000 °F are introduced into the bottom, flowing countercurrent to the scrap. The gases float the scrap in the cone resulting in very high convective heat transfer which leads to rapid decoating with minimal metal loss. Turnings, fines, Twitch, and UBC have been processed through a single unit. Decoating times are about 1 min. Measured energy use varies from 78 to 854 Btu/lbm; measured preheat temperatures are 850 °F. Decoat efficiency appears good with visually no oxidation present and no evidence of organics. Samples have been sent to a lab to confirm this.