INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

CASE STUDY #  116

1.   Headline:  Spinning rings hardened on a fluidized bed dry
     process eliminates waste production.

2.   Background:  See below.

3.   Cleaner Production Principle:  new technology

4.   Description of Cleaner Production Application:  This audit
     of manufacturer of spinning rings used in the textile
     industry suggests that by replacing the conventional
     cyanurated salts bath followed by rapid oil cooling
     hardening process with a dry process on a fluidized bed
     there is almost no waste generated.  Baskets containing
     parts to be hardened are dipped into a fluidized bath of
     nitrogen and corundum particles at temperature between 840
     and 860 deg C.  Baskets are then dipped into another
     fluidized bath at 50 deg.C.  Corundum left on processed
     parts is recovered and recycled.

     Material/Energy Balance and Substitution

                    FEEDSTOCKS:   0.4 Kg of corundum, 25 m3 of
                    nitrogen and 0.63 GJ of electricity per
                    1000 spinning rings.

                     WASTES:     Negligible amount of dust

                     MEDIUM:     Fluidized bath of nitrogen
                    and corundum particles

5.   Economics

                    COST:        (Annual production of
                    300,000 spinning rings)

                    CAPITAL COST: FF 185,000 (1979 figures)

     OPERATION/MAINTENANCE:   60% of the O&M costs for the
     standard technology (excluding treatment plant operating
     costs).

     DISPOSAL & FEEDSTOCK: FF 125,000 (1979 figures, including
     the capital cost for the treatment plant).

6.   Advantages

     FEEDSTOCK REDUCTION: Corundum left on processed parts is
     recovered and recycled.

     WASTE PRODUCTION: The polluting wastes generated by the
     standard technology: used cyanurated salts, oil fumes, and
     rinse water at a pH of 12.5 (3.5 m3 per 1,000 rings,
     containing 75 Equitox) are completely eliminated.

     IMPACT/PROBLEMS:  This technology is more flexible in its
     application than the standard technology.

7.   Constraints:  No information provided.

8.   Contact and Citation:

     Compendium on Low and Non-waste Technology, United Nations
     Economic and Social Counsel,  "Hardening of Spinning Rings
     by a Dry Process on a Fluidized Bed", Monograph
     ENV/WP.2/5/Add.71

9.   Keywords: France, textile, spinning ring, new technology,
     fluidized bed, salt, cyanurated salt, corundum, ISIC 3800.

10.  Reviewers Comments:  This case study was originally
     abstracted for the US EPA Pollution Prevention Information
     Clearinghouse.  It underwent a UNEP IE funded technical
     review in 1994 for quality and completeness. It was edited
     for the ICPIC diskette in July 1995.

(DOCNO: 400-071-A-308)