We get contacted a lot by people asking if they can use a wire chopper for processing aluminum-copper radiators. And, the answer is yes and no.

There are several differences we use in our approach to processing aluminum-copper radiators. When dealing with aluminum-copper radiators, the deck of your screen can quickly become clogged, mostly due to residual oils present in the pipes. Even a small amount of oil left from the shredding process can migrate and cause obstruction in the air table, necessitating frequent cleaning.

To mitigate this issue, our process involves shredding or granulating the material first, then screening it. During screening, we separate the fine copper and aluminum dust, which often contains the residual oils and lint from the radiator fins. This fraction is collected separately, preventing it from reaching the air table and causing clogs. The cleaner material is then sent to the air table, reducing the frequency of clogging significantly. While it does not eliminate the risk entirely, it extends the operational time between cleanings to several hours instead of minutes.

Another strategy we employ is using a larger screen size in the air table, although this can lead to some loss of material through the bottom screen. These methods are crucial in optimizing the processing of aluminum-copper radiators, ensuring efficiency and minimizing downtime due to maintenance.

For any questions or more insight on this, please reach out to us.