XD & XL Series · Sand Washing Equipment

Sand Washer
Wheel & Spiral Types

Washing and classifying equipment for manufactured sand produced by VSI crushers. Removes stone powder, clay, and fines from 0–5 mm sand output, producing clean, well-graded material that meets concrete and asphalt specifications. Two designs — bucket-wheel (XD) and screw-type spiral (XL) — to match your capacity, feed quality, and product requirements.

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Series

Models

20–260

t/h Capacity

0–5 mm

Target Sand

Equipment Details

Two Designs for Every Sand Washing Need

Wheel Sand Washer — XD Series

Bucket-Wheel Design: Gentle Washing, Low Water Consumption

The XD wheel sand washer uses a rotating bucket wheel with multiple froth paddles to agitate the sand-water mixture inside the tank. Clay, mud, and excess stone powder are lifted by the paddles and carried away in the overflow water stream, while clean sand settles and is discharged by the central sand outlet at the bottom. The bucket-wheel design is gentle on sand particles — preserving the cubical grain shape produced by the upstream VSI. Low power consumption, compact structure, and simple maintenance make the XD series the preferred choice for medium-capacity manufactured sand lines with light-to-medium clay content.

SUNREX XD wheel sand washer bucket wheel design

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Bucket-Wheel Agitation

Multiple froth paddles rotate inside the tank, lifting clay and fines while clean sand settles — gentle on particle shape and effective for light clay removal.

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Low Water Consumption

Closed-tank recirculation design reduces fresh water demand to 1–3 m³/t, making it suitable for sites with limited water supply or where water recycling is required.

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Compact Footprint

Integrated structure combines tank, drive unit, and sand outlet in a single assembly — less space required compared to open sluice or spiral configurations.

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Simple Maintenance

Wear parts limited to paddles and tank linings — both accessible and replaceable without full disassembly. Standard bearing lubrication system.

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Extended Scrubbing Path

Full-length screw flights provide continuous agitation over a long retention time — effective on heavy clay, high mud content, and sticky feed materials.

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Integrated Classification

Coarse particles are conveyed upward by the spiral while fine fractions overflow — producing a natural size split without a separate classifier unit.

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Higher Fines Recovery

The screw action recovers a higher percentage of usable sand fractions compared to wheel washers, reducing product loss and improving overall line yield.

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Large-Capacity Lines

XL series is designed for medium-to-high throughput lines where material quality demands aggressive washing — standard in large-scale manufactured sand and glass sand plants.

Spiral Sand Washer — XL Series

Screw-Type Classifier: Stronger Scrubbing, Better Fines Recovery

The XL spiral sand washer uses one or two continuous screw flights rotating inside a sloped trough. Material enters at the lower end; the screw flights lift and transport it toward the discharge end while water flows counter-current through the trough. The extended scrubbing path and mechanical lifting action of the spiral flights provide significantly stronger washing force than bucket wheels — effective for materials with heavy clay content, high mud fractions, or where the target is high-purity sand with minimal fines. The spiral also performs a classifying function, with coarser particles settling and being conveyed upward while finer fractions are washed out in the overflow.

SUNREX XL spiral sand washer screw classifier

Model Range

XD & XL Series — Full Specifications

Click a tab to view specifications for each series. All models are designed for 0–5 mm manufactured sand washing with adjustable output gradation.

Model	Capacity (t/h)	Wheel Diameter (mm)	Wheel Speed (r/min)	Motor Power (kW)	Weight (t)
XD1515	20–40	1500	8	5.5	3.5
XD2020	40–80	2000	6	7.5	5.2
XD2626	60–120	2600	5	11	8.6
XD2826	80–160	2800	5	15	10.5
XD3026	100–180	3000	4.5	15	12.8
XD3226	120–200	3200	4	18.5	14.2
XD3630	160–250	3600	3.5	22	18.6
XD3830	200–300	3800	3	30	22.5

Model	Capacity (t/h)	Spiral Diameter (mm)	Spiral Speed (r/min)	Motor Power (kW)	Weight (t)
XL508	20–40	500	12	5.5	2.8
XL610	40–80	600	10	7.5	4.5
XL762	60–120	750	8	11	7.2
XL915	100–200	900	6	15	12.5

Application Coverage

Where Sand Washers Deliver Immediate Value

Any production line where clean, well-graded 0–5 mm sand is the target product requires a washing stage. The two most common entry points are immediately after VSI crushing and at the classified oversize return from a screening stage.

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Manufactured Sand Cleaning

VSI output contains excess stone powder, clay, and dust that must be removed before the sand meets concrete and asphalt specifications. Washing after the VSI produces clean, well-graded 0–5 mm sand that passes GB/T 14684 cleanliness and grading requirements.

Concrete / Asphalt / Mortar

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River Pebble Sand Washing

Crushed river pebble contains higher levels of surface clay and organic coating compared to mechanically crushed rock. Spiral washers are particularly effective here — the extended scrubbing path removes adhered clay particles that bucket wheels may leave behind, producing high-purity sand for premium concrete applications.

River Pebble / High Clay / Glass Sand

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Construction Waste Recovery

Recycled aggregate from demolition contains cement paste, gypsum, and mixed clay contamination. Washing is essential to produce a marketable recycled sand product. Spiral washers handle the mixed contamination profile effectively; wheel washers suit lower-contamination streams. Both can be integrated into mobile or fixed C&D waste processing lines.

C&D Waste / Recycled Aggregate / Demolition

FAQ

Common Questions About Sand Washers

How do I choose between a wheel sand washer and a spiral sand washer?

Choose a wheel sand washer (XD series) when: your material has low-to-medium clay content, you prioritised low water consumption and compact footprint, or you need gentle washing that preserves sand particle shape. Choose a spiral sand washer (XL series) when: the material contains heavy clay or high mud content, you need stronger scrubbing action and higher fines recovery rates, or you require dewatering and classification in a single unit. For most manufactured sand lines after VSI, a wheel washer is sufficient; spiral washers are preferred for high-capacity lines processing sticky or heavily contaminated feed.

Can a sand washer remove clay and mud from manufactured sand?

Yes — both wheel and spiral sand washers are designed specifically to remove clay, mud, and excess fines from aggregate and sand. The washing action inside the rotating bucket wheel (XD) or the screw flights (XL) agitates the material, freeing clay particles and silt so they are carried away with the overflow water. Wheel washers handle light-to-medium clay effectively; spiral washers with their longer scrubbing path are more effective on heavy clay and high mud-content feed. For materials with very high clay content, pre-screening ahead of the washer and adding a attrition scrubber may be recommended.

What water consumption should I plan for a sand washing system?

Water consumption depends on feed material cleanliness and target product quality. Wheel sand washers typically consume 1–3 m³ of water per tonne of sand processed, making them more water-efficient. Spiral sand washers consume slightly more — approximately 2–5 m³/t — due to the longer retention time required for scrubbing. Closed-loop water recycling using a settling pond or filter press is standard practice at most production sites. SUNREX engineers will specify recirculation rates and tank sizing based on your hourly throughput and local water availability.

Is a sand washer always required after a VSI sand maker?

Not always — it depends on your end-use specification. If the VSI output is used for road base, backfill, or drainage layers where some fines content is acceptable, washing may not be necessary. However, for manufactured sand destined for ready-mix concrete, asphalt, or high-grade mortar, washing is almost always required to remove excess stone powder, clay particles, and dust that would otherwise compromise the concrete's strength, workability, and durability. Even when washing is not strictly required, adding a sand washer improves the cleanliness and market value of the final product and reduces the risk of concrete quality complaints.

Next Steps

Complete the Sand Making Line

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Get the Right Sand Washer for Your Line

Tell us your material type, clay content, hourly throughput target, and end-use specification — our team will recommend the correct series and model.

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Sand Washer
Wheel & Spiral Types

Two Designs for Every Sand Washing Need