Drying
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The next step in PVC manufacturing separates the PVC from the slurry to complete the process. Most of the water is removed when the slurry passes through the centrifuge. A damp 'cake' of polymer leaves the centrifuge and is conveyed into the fluid bed dryer. Here, the remaining water contained in the porous grains evaporates as a stream of heated air bubbles through the polymer powder.
In order to minimise emissions, entrained powder is collected in a cyclone and the moist air is wet-scrubbed before discharge into the atmosphere.
Any oversize particles are screened from the dried resin before conveying to silo.
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Currently, Australian Vinyls manufactures five grades of PVC resin at the Laverton plant. The main difference between the different grades is in the degree of polymerisation and in-grain porosity. Resins are tailored to specific customers and applications.
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