ANS:B - squirrel-cage disintegrator

Fibrous material is typically broken or shredded by a squirrel-cage disintegrator.

Explanation:

• Squirrel-Cage Disintegrator: This type of equipment is designed to shred or disintegrate fibrous materials into smaller pieces. It consists of a rotor with hammers or blades that rotate inside a cylindrical chamber. The fibrous material is fed into the disintegrator and is impacted by the rotating hammers or blades, which effectively break down the material into smaller fragments.
• Characteristics:
  • Shredding Action: The high-speed rotation of the rotor and the impact from the hammers or blades tear and shred the fibrous material.
  • Application: Squirrel-cage disintegrators are commonly used in industries such as biomass processing, paper recycling, and waste management, where fibrous materials need to be reduced in size for further processing or disposal.
• Other Options:
  • Roll Crusher: Typically used for reducing larger rocks or ores into smaller pieces by compression.
  • Ball Mill: Used for grinding materials into fine powders through impact and attrition, not specifically for fibrous materials.
  • Tube Mill: Also used for grinding materials into fine powders, similar to a ball mill, but not specifically for breaking down fibrous materials.