With the development of science and technology, colour sorter is gradually applied to all aspects of life. Its traditional application fields are mainly concentrated in rice, coarse cereals, tea and other agricultural products finishing fields. Now it gradually infiltrates into the fields of industrial plastics and ores. Among them, seafood, jewelry and metal industries are also gradually involved in colour sorter.
It can meet the color selection requirements of more than 7000 kinds of products such as rice, tea, beans, medicinal materials, seeds, shrimps, nuts, all kinds of dry goods, plastics, jewelry, ores and other special materials.
These industries all need air compressors.
How is the air compressor applied in the color sorting industry?
The air compressor is the main part of the air source equipment, which converts the mechanical energy of the prime mover (usually the motor) into the air pressure energy, and is the air pressure equipment of compressed air.
Colour sorter itself is unable to supply air, so it needs to be equipped with energy-saving air compressor to supply air source. When the selected material enters the colour sorter for color selection, the air stored in the energy-saving air compressor is converted into clean air to be supplied to the colour sorter. The output signal of the colour sorter system drives the solenoid valve to operate, and the different color particles are blown into the waste material cavity of the receiving hopper, while the good selected material continuously falls into the product cavity of the receiving hopper, So as to achieve to select the good parts.
How to select a suitable air compressor for a colour sorter?
Let us now examine the key matching points and considerations for this equipment!
Matching Key Points:
- Pressure: Typically, the pressure for a colour sorter is around 0.6 MPa. The corresponding air compressor’s rated pressure should be higher, primarily to account for pressure loss, requiring an additional margin of 0.1 MPa. For instance, if the colour sorter requires 0.6 MPa, select an air compressor rated at 0.7 MPa.
- Flow Rate: Calculate the total air demand by multiplying the number of air channels (each requiring 0.1–0.3 m³/min) by the operating pressure. Following the same principle, the air compressor’s flow rate should exceed the total demand by approximately 1.2 times.
- Oil-bearing/Oil-free: This denotes the oil content within the compressed air. Compressors are categorised as oil-injected or oil-free types. Oil-free compressors are recommended, paired with precision filters to significantly reduce the risk of nozzle blockages caused by long-term oil accumulation in colour sorters.
- Stability: Select an air compressor with pressure fluctuations below 0.02 MPa, and configure it with a volume exceeding 1.5 times the aforementioned total flow rate. This configuration achieves exceptional stability.
- Additional Compatibility: For colour sorting machine applications, choose either mobile or stationary air compressors as appropriate. Power and voltage specifications should generally be consistent.
Recommended Air Compressors
1. Oil-Free Piston Air Compressor
For food industries handling rice, coffee beans, nuts, or pulses requiring air compressors for colour sorters, Elang’s oil-free piston compressors are ideal. Their primary advantage lies in oil-free operation, complemented by simplified construction that significantly reduces maintenance costs compared to alternative machines.
2. Screw Air Compressor
Should your facility require continuous operation, the screw air compressor is the natural choice. Its rotating screws are specifically engineered for sustained performance, though appropriate filters must be integrated. Beyond these core attributes, Elang’s screw compressors achieve breakthrough energy efficiency, further reducing operational costs by minimising energy consumption.
Related Products
Motor Power: 7.5 – 560 kw
Working Pressure: 7 – 12.5 bar
Air Delivery: 0.28 – 102 m3/min
Motor Power: 7.5 – 90 kw
Working Pressure: 7 – 12.5 bar
Air Delivery: 0.7 – 102 m3/min
