Blue Tech – APCM (Air Purge Classifier Mill)

For over a quarter of a century, Blue Tech has been a leader in the design and manufacture of custom size reduction equipment and systems. With an in-house engineering and design staff, Blue Tech assists clients with choosing and developing the right reduction system for the customer's specific application. One of the many process equipment areas that Blue Tech specializes in is the Air Purge Classifier Mill (APCM). An APCM system includes a classifier/pulverizer, which internally circulates the material being processed – this results in the production of fine grinds at high capacities. A primary operating feature of the APCM is a variable speed separator drive, which gives the operator of the APCM the capability to change particle size without shutting down the mill. Blue Tech designs and manufactures coaxial or independent APCM machines, depending on each client's requirements. Independent APCM units are used in high heat applications.

The APCM Principle of Operation

The prospective material to be ground is mechanically or pneumatically moved (conveyed) from the hopper to a pin, stator, or bar rotor where the breakup of the material occurs. As the material particles become smaller, they are drawn in by the air wall and shroud ring with baffles. The material particles are then deflected inward by an air-dispersing ring, where the particles are either accepted or rejected by the separator. Acceptable sized ground particles are pulled upward through the exhaust and into the collector. Particles that are oversized are carried downward via an internal air stream and returned to the pin, stator, or bar rotor for more grinding. Another key component of the APCM, the classifier, allows for acceptance of the required sized ground particles. Material particles that are rejected by the classifier continue to be recycled back to the impactors for additional grinding until they meet particle size requirements.

Blue Tech produces a range of APCM units. The Model 5 APCM laboratory milling unit is extremely well suited for the research and development stages of processing. A 200 horsepower mill can turn up to 20 tons of material per hour of 200 mesh limestone. APCM machines are available in the following ranges:

2-5 horsepower
10-25 horsepower
30-50 horsepower
60-150 horsepower
200-300 horsepower
400-600 horsepower

The Blue Tech Model 400 APCM is a production size Air Purge Classifier Mill with a capacity in excess of 35 tons/hour of production depending on the client's requirements. This heavy-duty unit is designed for easy maintenance and minimum component change out times.

Advantages of a Blue Tech APCM system are:

Dust free operation
Low energy requirement results in low grinding costs
Highest degree of fineness
Adjustable particle fineness with defined separation – adjustment of the particle size can be done while the unit is operating
High airflow and cool grinding
Easy maintenance and cleaning

Blue Tech also offers a full line of replacement parts for APCM machines, including:

Spindle assemblies (rebuilds), including shafts, bearings, spacers
Rotors
Bar hammers
Liners
Baffles and shrouds
Classifiers

In addition, Blue Tech will manufacture, at the client's request, replacement parts for all competitors' machines.

The processing specialists at Blue Tech provide experienced assistance with choosing or developing the right APCM system for your specific application. For all your APCM needs, contact the design team at Blue Tech today with all your unit and parts requirements!