FRP Spiral Washer – High-Efficiency Equipment for Washing Sand and Ores

The Spiral Washer, also known as a Fine Material Screw Washer, is designed for washing, classifying, and dewatering fine materials in sand, aggregate, and mineral processing plants.

It removes silt, clay, and light impurities from sand or crushed rock, producing a cleaner, lower-moisture product for construction aggregates and industrial mineral applications.

What Is a Spiral Washer and How Does It Work?

A Spiral Washer consists of an inclined water trough with one or two rotating screw shafts.

As the screw rotates, it agitates the material against a counter-current water flow, washing away clay, silt, and light impurities.

Clean and denser material is conveyed upward and discharged at the top, while turbid water carrying fine impurities overflows at the weir.

This combined process of washing, classification, and dewatering makes the Spiral Washer an important part of modern sand and fine material washing circuits.

Key Features of FRP Spiral Washers

• Single or Twin-Shaft Options – Single-shaft models are suitable for moderate capacities, while twin-shaft models provide higher throughput and stronger dewatering performance.
• Adjustable Process Control – Water flow and overflow weir settings can be adjusted according to material condition and product requirements.
• Washing and Dewatering in One Unit – The inclined screw design washes fine materials while conveying and draining the clean product.
• Simple Mechanical Structure – Fewer moving parts make daily inspection, maintenance, and operation straightforward.
• Flexible Plant Integration – Can be used alone or combined with Log Washers, Rotary Scrubbers, Hydrocyclones, and Dewatering Screens.

Typical Applications for Spiral Washers

FRP Spiral Washers are commonly used in the following applications:

• Construction Aggregates – Removing silt and clay from sand and crushed stone for concrete and asphalt production.
• Industrial Minerals – Washing and classifying silica sand, quartz sand, and other fine mineral materials.
• Mineral Processing – Cleaning fine ore fractions before further concentration, screening, or dewatering.
• Recycling Materials – Washing and recovering usable fine materials from recycled aggregates and demolition waste.

Integration with a Complete Washing System

In a typical washing plant, the Spiral Washer is installed after a vibrating screen, rotary scrubber, or log washer to process the fine fraction, usually below 5 mm or 10 mm.

It rinses and dewaters the undersize material, while upstream equipment handles coarse, sticky, or heavily contaminated feed.

When combined with hydrocyclones and dewatering screens, the system can improve fine sand recovery, reduce water loss, and deliver more consistent product quality.

How to Select the Right Spiral Washer

Choosing the correct Spiral Washer depends on material properties, capacity requirements, and the overall process layout.

• Material Type and Clay Content – Heavily contaminated or sticky materials may require a Log Washer or Rotary Scrubber upstream.
• Feed Size and Composition – Fine sand and silty materials can usually be processed directly, while coarse feed requires pre-screening or pre-washing.
• Capacity Requirement – Single-shaft models are suitable for smaller and medium tonnages; twin-shaft models are preferred for higher throughput.
• Water Availability – Water supply, overflow handling, and possible closed-loop water recovery should be considered during plant design.

FAQ — Fine Material Spiral Washer