An automated control method and system for waste rubber recycling equipment
By obtaining the effective moisture content and bound water content level of waste rubber, and dynamically adjusting the pyrolysis treatment strategy, the problems of pressure fluctuation and energy consumption surge when the moisture content is high are solved, thus achieving stability and high efficiency in the waste rubber recycling process.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- JINAN LAIWU FUQUAN RUBBER CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-02
AI Technical Summary
In the existing waste rubber pyrolysis recycling process, when the moisture content of the raw materials is too high, the automated control system cannot effectively cope with the pressure fluctuations and energy consumption surges caused by the rapid evaporation of moisture, resulting in production interruptions.
By obtaining the effective moisture content and bound water content level of waste rubber, the initial pyrolysis treatment strategy is dynamically selected and controlled, including the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method and feed management rate, in order to suppress pressure fluctuations and energy consumption surges caused by rapid moisture evaporation.
It significantly improves the stability and safety of the pyrolysis process, ensures the continuity and efficiency of production, and reduces the probability of production interruption.
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Figure CN122125829A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of waste rubber recycling technology, and in particular to an automated control method and system for waste rubber recycling equipment. Background Technology
[0002] In the industrial production of waste rubber pyrolysis recycling, the automated control system is the core element to ensure stable and efficient production. Existing technology has established a fixed control logic for ideal materials with relatively simple composition and meeting dryness standards. This system precisely coordinates the operation of the feeding unit, heating unit, and pressure control unit to ensure stable pyrolysis of the material under set process conditions. Specifically, the system controls the material conveying speed according to a preset program, adjusts the heating power to change the reactor temperature along a predetermined heating curve, and uses pressure sensors to monitor in real time to ensure that the pressure inside the reactor remains stable within a safe range.
[0003] However, in actual recycling operations, the sources of raw materials are very complex, making it difficult to guarantee that each batch of waste rubber has the same physical and chemical properties. For example, when processing waste rubber with a significantly high moisture content, the existing automated control system encounters problems. In the initial heating stage, a large amount of heat energy is used to evaporate moisture rather than heat the rubber itself, causing the actual temperature inside the reactor to fail to reach the preset heating curve requirements for a long time. Detecting the low temperature, the control system, according to its established logic, continuously increases the power of the heating unit. This not only results in a large waste of energy, but more seriously, the evaporation of moisture produces a large amount of water vapor, causing the pressure inside the reactor to rise sharply in a short period, far exceeding the pressure increase generated by oil and gas during normal pyrolysis. The pressure control unit frequently opens the pressure relief valve, but due to the rapid pressure rise, the system remains in a passive, large-amplitude pressure regulation state, unable to achieve stable control, and even triggering overpressure alarms multiple times, leading to production interruptions. Summary of the Invention
[0004] This application proposes an automated control method and system for waste rubber recycling equipment, aiming to solve the technical problem that in the existing waste rubber pyrolysis recycling process, when the raw material moisture content is too high, the automated control system cannot effectively cope with the pressure fluctuations and energy consumption surges caused by the rapid evaporation of moisture, thus causing production interruptions.
[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides an automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment, used to control the initial pyrolysis process of a pyrolysis reactor, the method comprising the following steps:
[0006] Before the waste rubber enters the pyrolysis reactor, the effective moisture content and bound water content level of the waste rubber are obtained;
[0007] Based on the effective moisture content and the bound water content level, a corresponding initial pyrolysis treatment strategy is selected to suppress pressure fluctuations and energy consumption surges caused by rapid evaporation of moisture during the initial pyrolysis process.
[0008] Based on the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy, the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process are adjusted to achieve heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process.
[0009] As some embodiments of this application, the step of obtaining the effective moisture content and bound water content grade of the waste rubber before it enters the pyrolysis reactor includes:
[0010] The waste rubber on the feed conveyor belt of the pyrolysis reactor is sensed, and the material mass flow rate of the waste rubber per unit time and the spectral characteristic data related to the moisture content of the waste rubber are obtained in real time.
[0011] The preliminary moisture content of the waste rubber was obtained by analyzing the spectral characteristic data.
[0012] Based on the micro pyrolysis analysis unit set next to the feeding conveyor belt, the waste rubber on the feeding conveyor belt is periodically sampled. The micro pyrolysis analysis unit is used to heat the obtained waste rubber to a preset initial pyrolysis temperature range to monitor and record the change of water vapor concentration released during the heating process over time, and generate a curve of water vapor release rate over time.
[0013] By analyzing the curves of the initial moisture content, the water vapor release rate over time, and the material mass flow rate, the effective moisture content and bound water content grade of the waste rubber are obtained.
[0014] As some embodiments of this application, the step of analyzing the spectral characteristic data to obtain the preliminary moisture content of the waste rubber includes:
[0015] Obtain a preset moisture content spectral database, which stores spectral characteristic data of historical waste rubber and corresponding moisture content calibration values;
[0016] The spectral feature data is matched with the spectral feature data of historical waste rubber in the moisture content spectral database to obtain the preliminary moisture content of the waste rubber.
[0017] As some embodiments of this application, the step of analyzing the preliminary moisture content, the curve of the water vapor release rate changing over time, and the material mass flow rate to obtain the effective moisture content and bound water content grade of the waste rubber includes:
[0018] Based on the curve of water vapor release rate changing with time and the mass flow rate of the material, the total amount of water vapor released by the waste rubber is extracted, and the preliminary moisture content is corrected to obtain the effective moisture content of the waste rubber.
[0019] Based on the curve of water vapor release rate changing with time, the maximum water vapor release rate of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃ is extracted as the first characteristic parameter, and the cumulative water vapor release of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 120℃ to 180℃ is extracted as the second characteristic parameter.
[0020] The bound water content level is determined based on the relative relationship between the first characteristic parameter and the second characteristic parameter.
[0021] As some embodiments of this application, the step of determining the bound water content level based on the relative relationship between the first characteristic parameter and the second characteristic parameter includes:
[0022] Calculate the ratio of the second feature parameter to the first feature parameter;
[0023] The ratio is compared with a preset level threshold;
[0024] If the ratio is greater than or equal to the grade threshold, then the bound water content grade is determined to be high.
[0025] If the ratio is less than the grade threshold, the bound water content grade is determined to be low.
[0026] As some embodiments of this application, the bound water content level includes high and low;
[0027] The step of selecting the corresponding initial pyrolysis treatment strategy based on the effective moisture content and the bound water content level includes:
[0028] If the effective moisture content is less than the preset moisture content threshold, the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is the standard pyrolysis mode.
[0029] If the effective moisture content is greater than or equal to the preset moisture content threshold and the bound water content level is low, then the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is the first high moisture content treatment mode, which is used to remove free water during the heating process.
[0030] If the effective moisture content is greater than or equal to the preset moisture content threshold and the bound water content level is high, then the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is the second high moisture content treatment mode, which is used to remove free water and bound water during the heating process.
[0031] As some embodiments of this application, when the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is the standard pyrolysis mode, the steps of adjusting the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process according to the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy to achieve heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process include:
[0032] The heating management curve of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a preset first heating curve, so that the residence time of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃ reaches the preset first residence time.
[0033] The pressure relief management threshold of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a preset first pressure threshold;
[0034] The pressure relief management method of the pyrolysis reactor is set to release pressure once when the pressure inside the reactor reaches a preset first pressure threshold.
[0035] The feeding rate of the waste rubber is set to a preset first feeding rate.
[0036] As some embodiments of this application, when the first high moisture content treatment mode is selected, the steps of adjusting the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process according to the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy to achieve heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process include:
[0037] The heating management curve of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a preset second heating curve, so that the residence time of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 90°C to 110°C reaches a preset second residence time, and the second residence time is longer than the first residence time.
[0038] The pressure relief management threshold of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a second pressure threshold that is lower than the first pressure threshold;
[0039] The pressure relief management mode of the pyrolysis reactor is set to continuous pulse pressure relief triggered by the second pressure threshold.
[0040] The feed rate of the waste rubber is set to a second feed rate, which is lower than the first feed rate.
[0041] As some embodiments of this application, when the second high moisture content treatment mode is selected, the steps of adjusting the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process according to the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy to achieve heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process include:
[0042] The temperature control curve of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a preset third temperature control curve, so that the residence time of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃ reaches a preset third residence time, which is longer than the second residence time; and
[0043] The waste rubber is kept at a preset constant temperature within a temperature range of 120°C to 180°C.
[0044] The pressure relief management threshold of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a third pressure threshold that is lower than the second pressure threshold;
[0045] The pressure relief management mode of the pyrolysis reactor is set to an intermittent pressure relief mode triggered by the third pressure threshold.
[0046] The feed rate of the waste rubber is set to a third feed rate that is lower than the second feed rate.
[0047] Secondly, this application also provides an automated control system for waste rubber recycling equipment, used to control the initial pyrolysis process of a pyrolysis reactor, the system comprising:
[0048] The characteristic acquisition module is used to acquire the effective moisture content and bound water content level of the waste rubber before it enters the pyrolysis reactor.
[0049] The strategy selection module is used to select the corresponding initial pyrolysis treatment strategy based on the effective moisture content and the bound water content level, so as to suppress the pressure fluctuation and energy consumption surge caused by the rapid evaporation of water during the initial pyrolysis process.
[0050] The pyrolysis control module is used to adjust the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process according to the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy, so as to realize the heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process.
[0051] The technical solution according to the embodiments of this application has at least the following beneficial effects:
[0052] The automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment proposed in this application introduces the pre-acquisition of the "effective moisture content" and "bound water content level" of waste rubber, and dynamically selects and adjusts the initial pyrolysis treatment strategy based on these parameters. This closed-loop control mode of "sensing-decision-execution" enables the system to transform from passive response to active adaptation, effectively suppressing pressure fluctuations and energy consumption surges caused by rapid moisture evaporation during the initial pyrolysis process, significantly improving the stability and safety of the pyrolysis process, ensuring the continuity and efficiency of production, and reducing the probability of production interruption.
[0053] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description
[0054] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the technical solutions of this application and constitute a part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of this application to explain the technical solutions of this application and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions of this application.
[0055] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating an automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment provided in an embodiment of this application.
[0056] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of an automated control system for waste rubber recycling equipment provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation
[0057] The technical solutions of this application will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. The components of this application described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of this application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0058] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures indicate similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures. Furthermore, in the description of this application, terms such as "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.
[0059] Traditional automated control systems for waste rubber recycling equipment suffer from numerous problems when processing waste rubber with significantly high moisture content. For example, in the initial heating phase, a large amount of heat energy is used to evaporate moisture rather than heat the rubber itself, making it difficult for the actual temperature inside the reactor to reach the preset heating curve. When the control system detects a low temperature, it continuously increases the power of the heating unit, which not only wastes energy but, more seriously, causes a rapid increase in pressure inside the reactor due to the rapid evaporation of moisture, far exceeding the pressure increase generated by oil and gas during normal pyrolysis. The pressure control unit frequently opens the pressure relief valve, but due to the excessively rapid pressure rise, the system remains in a passive and large-scale pressure regulation state, unable to achieve stable control, and even triggering overpressure alarms multiple times, leading to production interruptions. Failure to address these problems will severely impact the production efficiency, energy consumption, and safety of waste rubber recycling equipment.
[0060] In this regard, such as Figure 1 As shown, this application proposes an automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment, used to control the initial pyrolysis process of a pyrolysis reactor. The method includes the following steps:
[0061] S110, before the waste rubber enters the pyrolysis reactor, the effective moisture content and bound water content level of the waste rubber are obtained;
[0062] S120, based on the effective moisture content and the bound water content level, select the corresponding initial pyrolysis treatment strategy to suppress pressure fluctuations and energy consumption surges caused by rapid evaporation of moisture during the initial pyrolysis process.
[0063] S130, based on the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy, adjust the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process to achieve heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process.
[0064] To better understand the automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment proposed in this application, it is necessary to explain some key terms and implementation environments involved.
[0065] This method is mainly applied to the pyrolysis reactor in waste rubber recycling equipment, which is the core equipment for pyrolysis treatment of waste rubber.
[0066] "Effective moisture content" refers to the amount of water in waste rubber that can be removed by heating and evaporation. It directly affects the heat required in the initial stage of pyrolysis and the amount of steam that may be generated. In contrast, "bound water content grade" reflects the degree to which water in waste rubber is bound to the rubber matrix.
[0067] The "initial pyrolysis treatment strategy" is a control scheme developed based on the moisture content characteristics of waste rubber. It aims to optimize the heating, pressure, and feeding processes during the initial stage of pyrolysis to avoid the negative impacts of rapid moisture evaporation. This strategy includes the regulation of the "temperature rise management curve," "pressure relief management threshold," "pressure relief management method," and "feed management rate."
[0068] The "temperature rise management curve" refers to the preset path of temperature change over time in the pyrolysis reactor during the initial pyrolysis process. Its design needs to consider the moisture content of the waste rubber to achieve stable dehydration and temperature rise. The "pressure relief management threshold" is the upper limit of the pressure inside the reactor. When the pressure inside the reactor reaches this threshold, a pressure relief operation needs to be initiated. The "pressure relief management method" refers to the specific execution method of pressure relief, such as single pressure relief, continuous pulse pressure relief, or intermittent pressure relief. The "feed management rate" refers to the speed at which waste rubber enters the pyrolysis reactor. A reasonable feed rate helps maintain a stable state inside the reactor.
[0069] Obtaining the effective moisture content and bound water content level of waste rubber is fundamental to the entire control method, and accurately acquiring these parameters is crucial for selecting an appropriate treatment strategy. For example, these parameters can be obtained through manual sampling and laboratory analysis. Specifically, waste rubber samples can be randomly drawn from the feed conveyor belt, then sent to a laboratory where their moisture content is measured using a drying method, and the moisture release characteristics are analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to determine the bound water content level.
[0070] Based on the obtained effective moisture content and bound water content level, a corresponding initial pyrolysis treatment strategy is selected to suppress pressure fluctuations and energy consumption surges caused by rapid moisture evaporation during the initial pyrolysis process. For example, multiple treatment strategies can be preset, and simple condition judgments can be made based on the combination of moisture content and bound water content level.
[0071] Based on the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy, the system adjusts the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feed rate during the initial pyrolysis process to achieve heating, pressure, and feed control. For example, multiple sets of parameter configurations can be pre-stored in the control system, each corresponding to a specific initial pyrolysis treatment strategy. When a strategy is selected, the system directly loads and executes the corresponding temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and feed rate.
[0072] The automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment disclosed in this application obtains the effective moisture content and bound water content level of the waste rubber before it enters the pyrolysis reactor, thereby enabling targeted selection of the initial pyrolysis treatment strategy. When the moisture content of the waste rubber is high, the system no longer blindly increases the heating power, but adjusts the heating curve, pressure relief threshold, pressure relief method, and feed rate according to the characteristics of the moisture (free water or bound water). For example, for waste rubber containing a large amount of free water, the system selects a gentler heating curve and extends the residence time in a lower temperature range to gently evaporate the free water and avoid a sudden pressure rise. At the same time, the pressure relief management threshold is set lower, and continuous pulse pressure relief or intermittent pressure relief is used to more precisely control the pressure inside the reactor and prevent overpressure. The feed rate is also reduced accordingly to reduce the total amount of moisture entering the reactor instantaneously.
[0073] The automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment proposed in this application introduces the pre-acquisition of the "effective moisture content" and "bound water content level" of waste rubber, and dynamically selects and adjusts the initial pyrolysis treatment strategy based on these parameters. This closed-loop control mode of "sensing-decision-execution" enables the system to transform from passive response to active adaptation, effectively suppressing pressure fluctuations and energy consumption surges caused by rapid moisture evaporation during the initial pyrolysis process, significantly improving the stability and safety of the pyrolysis process, ensuring the continuity and efficiency of production, and reducing the probability of production interruption.
[0074] In some embodiments of this application, the step of obtaining the effective moisture content and bound water content grade of waste rubber preferably includes:
[0075] The waste rubber on the feed conveyor belt of the pyrolysis reactor is sensed to obtain the material mass flow rate of waste rubber per unit time in real time, as well as the spectral characteristic data related to the moisture content of waste rubber.
[0076] The preliminary moisture content of waste rubber was obtained by analyzing spectral characteristic data;
[0077] Based on the micro pyrolysis analysis unit set next to the feeding conveyor belt, waste rubber on the feeding conveyor belt is periodically sampled. The micro pyrolysis analysis unit is used to heat the obtained waste rubber to a preset initial pyrolysis temperature range to monitor and record the change of water vapor concentration released during the heating process over time, and generate a curve of water vapor release rate over time.
[0078] By analyzing the curves of the initial moisture content, water vapor release rate and time, as well as the material mass flow rate, the effective moisture content and bound water content grade of waste rubber were obtained.
[0079] Sensing waste rubber can be understood as real-time monitoring of its physical properties using various sensors. For example, a mass flow sensor can be used to measure the mass flow rate of waste rubber per unit time, or a high-precision electronic belt scale system installed on the feed conveyor can be used. This system uses a load cell to detect the instantaneous load per unit length of the belt, and a speed sensor to monitor the belt speed. The control system multiplies the instantaneous load by the belt speed to obtain the instantaneous mass flow rate, smooths the short-term data, and finally outputs the processed mass flow rate. Simultaneously, near-infrared spectral sensors and other equipment can be used to acquire the spectral characteristics of the waste rubber. This data is closely related to the moisture content of the waste rubber and can provide preliminary moisture content information.
[0080] A micro-pyrolysis analysis unit is configured to periodically sample waste rubber from a feed conveyor belt. The unit heats the obtained waste rubber samples to a preset initial pyrolysis temperature range, such as 90°C to 180°C, and continuously monitors and records changes in water vapor concentration over time during this process. By processing this monitoring data, a curve showing the water vapor release rate over time can be generated, reflecting the evaporation characteristics of moisture in the waste rubber, including the release of both free and bound water.
[0081] By comprehensively analyzing the curves showing the changes in initial moisture content, water vapor release rate over time, and material mass flow rate, the effective moisture content of waste rubber can be accurately calculated, and its bound water content level can be determined. Effective moisture content refers to the total amount of water that can be effectively removed during actual pyrolysis, while the bound water content level reflects the degree to which water is tightly bound to the rubber, which is crucial for selecting a suitable pyrolysis treatment strategy.
[0082] This application's solution, through multi-dimensional data collection and analysis, overcomes the limitations of traditional methods in obtaining the moisture content of waste rubber, which may suffer from insufficient accuracy or limited information. By combining the speed of spectral analysis with the precision of micro-pyrolysis analysis, this application can more accurately identify the content and release characteristics of free and bound water in waste rubber. This provides more reliable and refined data support for the formulation of subsequent initial pyrolysis treatment strategies, enabling more precise control of the pyrolysis process to adapt to waste rubber with different moisture contents. This effectively suppresses pressure fluctuations and energy consumption surges caused by rapid moisture evaporation, improving the operational stability and economy of the entire recycling equipment.
[0083] In a specific embodiment of this application, the step of analyzing spectral characteristic data to obtain the preliminary moisture content of the waste rubber preferably includes:
[0084] Obtain a preset moisture content spectral database, which stores spectral characteristic data of historical waste rubber and corresponding moisture content calibration values;
[0085] The spectral feature data is matched with the spectral feature data of historical waste rubber in the moisture content spectral database to obtain the preliminary moisture content of the waste rubber.
[0086] The moisture content spectral database is a pre-established collection containing a large amount of waste rubber sample data. This database establishes a correspondence between spectral characteristic data and actual moisture content by performing spectral measurements and laboratory moisture content calibration on waste rubber samples with different moisture contents. The spectral characteristic data of historical waste rubber refers to specific spectral response data of waste rubber collected by spectral analysis equipment under different moisture content conditions. The moisture content calibration value refers to the accurately measured actual moisture content value of the waste rubber corresponding to these spectral characteristic data.
[0087] Once the spectral characteristic data related to the moisture content of the current waste rubber is acquired, this data is input into the system. The system then matches this real-time acquired spectral characteristic data with the historical spectral characteristic data of waste rubber stored in the moisture content spectral database. The matching process can employ various algorithms, such as pattern recognition, machine learning, or spectral similarity analysis, to find the historical data entry that most closely matches the current spectral characteristic data. Through this matching, the preliminary moisture content of the current waste rubber can be inferred based on the known moisture content calibration values in the database.
[0088] This application's solution achieves rapid, non-contact acquisition of the preliminary moisture content of waste rubber by establishing and utilizing a moisture content spectral database. Its working principle lies in the fact that waste rubber with different moisture contents exhibits unique absorption or reflection characteristics in specific spectral bands. By pre-collecting and calibrating spectral data from a large number of samples with known moisture contents, a mapping relationship between spectral characteristics and moisture content is established. When the spectral characteristic data of a new waste rubber sample is acquired, by comparing and matching it with historical data in the database, the preliminary moisture content of the current sample can be inferred based on the moisture content calibration value of the most similar historical sample. This method avoids the time-consuming and destructive nature of traditional physical measurement methods, improving measurement efficiency and real-time performance.
[0089] In a specific embodiment of this application, the step of analyzing the preliminary moisture content, the curve of the water vapor release rate changing over time, and the material mass flow rate to obtain the effective moisture content and bound water content grade of the waste rubber preferably includes:
[0090] Based on the curve of water vapor release rate changing with time and the mass flow rate of the material, the total amount of water vapor released by the waste rubber is extracted, and the preliminary moisture content is corrected to obtain the effective moisture content of the waste rubber.
[0091] Based on the curve of water vapor release rate changing with time, the maximum water vapor release rate of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃ is extracted as the first characteristic parameter, and the cumulative water vapor release of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 120℃ to 180℃ is extracted as the second characteristic parameter.
[0092] The bound water content level is determined based on the relative relationship between the first characteristic parameter and the second characteristic parameter.
[0093] In obtaining the effective moisture content of waste rubber, the total amount of water vapor actually released during the heating process is first calculated using the water vapor release rate versus time curve generated by the micro pyrolysis analysis unit and the material mass flow rate. This total water vapor release can be understood as the total amount of moisture actually contained in the waste rubber. Then, the preliminary moisture content obtained through spectral characteristic data is compared and corrected with this total water vapor release. For example, if there is a deviation between the preliminary moisture content and the total water vapor release, the preliminary moisture content is adjusted based on the total water vapor release to obtain a more accurate effective moisture content. The purpose is to eliminate potential errors in spectral measurements and improve the accuracy of the moisture content data.
[0094] For example, a micro pyrolysis analysis unit uses a pneumatic sampling device to periodically grab small, representative waste rubber samples from the feed conveyor belt of a pyrolysis reactor and place them into its micro heating chamber. Inside the chamber, the sample is heated according to a preset temperature program (e.g., from room temperature to 200°C at a rate of 10°C / second). During this process, a high-sensitivity water vapor sensor (e.g., a thin-film or spectroscopic sensor) integrated into the chamber's exhaust port monitors and records the water vapor concentration in the outflowing gas in real time at a high frequency (e.g., 10-100 times per second). The control system receives these continuous concentration data and corresponding timestamps, processes them using a real-time differential algorithm (i.e., calculating the change in concentration per unit time), and calculates the instantaneous water vapor release rate at each moment. Finally, the system generates a curve showing the water vapor release rate versus time, with time as the horizontal axis and instantaneous release rate as the vertical axis. By performing time-domain integration on this curve, the absolute total amount of water vapor released by the representative sample during the complete pyrolysis process can be calculated. Combined with the sample mass, the measured moisture content of the sample is obtained, and this value serves as a local benchmark.
[0095] To achieve control over the entire feed line, local baseline values need to be integrated with the preliminary moisture content measured by an online near-infrared spectrometer. The material mass flow rate plays two crucial roles here. First, it serves as the benchmark for scale transformation. By multiplying the preliminary moisture content by the mass flow rate, the estimated total water load of the entire feed line is obtained, providing load data for system-level control. Second, it is a dynamic weighting indicator of data reliability: when the mass flow rate is stable, indicating uniform feed, the system assigns a high weight to the preliminary moisture content, performing a weighted average with the measured moisture content of the sample to obtain the effective moisture content. When the mass flow rate fluctuates drastically, indicating that the online near-infrared measurement is susceptible to interference, the system prioritizes the measured moisture content of the sample and corrects the preliminary moisture content accordingly. This ensures that the final effective moisture content used for control always accurately reflects the overall moisture characteristics of the feed flow, providing a basis for subsequent refined control.
[0096] When determining the bound water content level, it is necessary to extract the first and second characteristic parameters. The first characteristic parameter refers to the maximum water vapor release rate of waste rubber within the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃. This temperature range typically corresponds to the rapid evaporation stage of free water (i.e., unbound water) in waste rubber, so the maximum release rate can reflect the content and release characteristics of free water. The second characteristic parameter refers to the cumulative water vapor release of waste rubber within the temperature range of 120℃ to 180℃. This temperature range typically corresponds to the release stage of bound water (i.e., water bound to the rubber molecular structure) in waste rubber, so the cumulative release can reflect the bound water content. In practical applications, these temperature ranges can be fine-tuned according to the specific type and pyrolysis characteristics of the waste rubber.
[0097] By analyzing the relative relationship between the first and second characteristic parameters, the bound water content level of waste rubber can be determined. This relative relationship can be a ratio, difference, or other mathematical relationship between the two. The purpose is to distinguish the relative proportions of free water and bound water in waste rubber, thereby more accurately assessing the overall moisture characteristics of waste rubber and providing a refined basis for the selection of subsequent pyrolysis treatment strategies.
[0098] This application's solution, by correcting the initial moisture content with total water vapor release, effectively corrects potential errors in spectral measurements, ensuring that the obtained effective moisture content more closely reflects the true moisture content of waste rubber. Simultaneously, by extracting characteristic parameters of water vapor release within different temperature ranges—specifically, the maximum water vapor release rate within the 90℃ to 110℃ range as the first characteristic parameter, and the cumulative water vapor release within the 120℃ to 180℃ range as the second characteristic parameter—this solution can distinguish the different release characteristics of free water and bound water in waste rubber. Free water evaporates rapidly at lower temperatures, while bound water is gradually released at higher temperatures. By analyzing the relative relationship between these two characteristic parameters, the bound water content level in waste rubber can be accurately determined.
[0099] In a further embodiment of this application, the step of determining the bound water content level based on the relative relationship between the first characteristic parameter and the second characteristic parameter preferably includes:
[0100] Calculate the ratio of the second characteristic parameter to the first characteristic parameter;
[0101] The ratio is compared with a preset level threshold;
[0102] If the ratio is greater than or equal to the grade threshold, then the bound water content grade is determined to be high.
[0103] If the ratio is less than the grade threshold, the bound water content grade is determined to be low.
[0104] In determining the bound water content level, the ratio of the second characteristic parameter to the first characteristic parameter is first calculated. By calculating the ratio of these two parameters, the proportion of bound water relative to free water can be quantified, thus providing a data basis for judging the bound water content level.
[0105] The calculated ratio is compared with a preset grade threshold. The grade threshold is pre-set based on a large amount of experimental data, the characteristics of waste rubber types, and the requirements of the actual pyrolysis process, and is used to distinguish the level of bound water content in waste rubber. For example, the grade threshold can be calibrated and optimized according to the source of different waste rubbers, storage conditions, and specific parameters of the pyrolysis equipment.
[0106] Therefore, if the calculated ratio is greater than or equal to the preset grade threshold, the bound water content of the waste rubber can be determined to be high. This indicates that the relative content of bound water in the waste rubber is relatively high, and its impact on pressure fluctuations and energy consumption during the initial pyrolysis process may be more significant, requiring more refined control strategies. Conversely, if the calculated ratio is less than the preset grade threshold, the bound water content of the waste rubber is determined to be low. In this case, the impact of bound water on the initial pyrolysis process is relatively small, and a relatively mild initial pyrolysis treatment strategy can be adopted.
[0107] This application provides an objective and repeatable method to determine the bound water content level of waste rubber by quantifying the relative relationship between a first characteristic parameter and a second characteristic parameter. The first characteristic parameter represents the intensity of water vapor release in the lower temperature range (mainly due to free water evaporation), while the second characteristic parameter represents the cumulative amount of water vapor in the higher temperature range (mainly due to bound water release). By calculating the ratio of the two, the relative proportion of bound water to free water in waste rubber can be effectively reflected. This judgment mechanism based on the ratio of characteristic parameters can more accurately assess the actual water content characteristics of waste rubber, avoiding misjudgments that may be caused by relying on a single indicator, thus providing a reliable basis for the selection of subsequent pyrolysis treatment strategies.
[0108] In some embodiments of this application, the bound water content level includes high and low; the step of selecting the corresponding initial pyrolysis treatment strategy based on the effective water content and the bound water content level preferably includes:
[0109] If the effective moisture content is less than the preset moisture content threshold, the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is the standard pyrolysis mode.
[0110] If the effective moisture content is greater than or equal to the preset moisture content threshold and the bound water content level is low, then the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is the first high moisture content treatment mode, which is used to remove free water during the heating process.
[0111] If the effective moisture content is greater than or equal to the preset moisture content threshold and the bound water content level is high, then the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is the second high moisture content treatment mode, which is used to remove free water and bound water during the heating process.
[0112] The bound water content is categorized into "high" and "low" levels, allowing the system to more precisely identify the form in which moisture exists in waste rubber. "Effective moisture content" refers to the total amount of water in waste rubber that can be evaporated, while "bound water content level" reflects the tightness of the bond between moisture and the rubber matrix and its release characteristics at different temperatures. When the effective moisture content is below a preset moisture content threshold, it indicates that the overall moisture content of the waste rubber is low. In this case, the "standard pyrolysis mode" can be used for processing, aiming to provide a regular and stable pyrolysis environment.
[0113] When the effective moisture content reaches or exceeds the preset moisture content threshold, the system differentiates based on the bound water content level. If the bound water content level is "low," the "First High Moisture Content Treatment Mode" is selected. This mode primarily targets the removal of high levels of free water from waste rubber. Free water typically evaporates at relatively low temperatures, so this mode optimizes the heating process to remove this moisture smoothly. If the bound water content level is "high," the "Second High Moisture Content Treatment Mode" is selected. This mode not only focuses on the removal of free water but, more importantly, treats bound water that is more tightly bound to the rubber matrix. Bound water usually requires a higher temperature range or a longer residence time to be effectively released. Therefore, this mode is designed with specific heating curves and maintenance phases to ensure that the bound water is removed smoothly and completely, avoiding violent reactions caused by its concentrated release.
[0114] This application's solution addresses the pressure fluctuations and energy consumption spikes that can occur with traditional methods when treating high-moisture waste rubber by introducing a refined distinction based on bound water content levels and dynamically selecting different initial pyrolysis treatment strategies accordingly. Specifically, when the effective moisture content of the waste rubber is high, the system no longer simply adopts a single high-moisture treatment scheme, but further determines the appropriate treatment based on the bound water content level (high or low).
[0115] The following is a specific example to illustrate this.
[0116] Suppose that the waste rubber recycling equipment receives three different batches of waste rubber materials.
[0117] The first batch of materials, after being detected by the characteristic acquisition module, has an effective moisture content lower than the preset moisture content threshold (e.g., less than 5%) and a low bound water content level. At this point, the strategy selection module determines the initial pyrolysis treatment strategy for this batch of materials as the standard pyrolysis mode. The pyrolysis control module will heat the materials according to the preset first temperature rise curve and use a single pressure relief method to feed the materials at a normal rate, ensuring a stable pyrolysis process.
[0118] The second batch of material has an effective moisture content higher than or equal to a preset moisture content threshold (e.g., greater than or equal to 5%), but a low bound water content level. This indicates that the batch of material contains a significant amount of free water. The strategy selection module will choose the first high moisture content treatment mode. The pyrolysis control module will use a preset second heating curve, which will extend the residence time within the temperature range of 90°C to 110°C to slowly remove free water. Simultaneously, the pressure relief management threshold will be set to a lower second pressure threshold, and a continuous pulse pressure relief method will be used. The feed rate will also be reduced accordingly to cope with the pressure changes caused by the evaporation of free water.
[0119] The effective moisture content of the third batch of material is also higher than or equal to the preset moisture content threshold (e.g., greater than or equal to 5%), but its bound water content level is high. This indicates that this batch of material contains not only free water but also a large amount of bound water bound to the rubber matrix. The strategy selection module will select the second high moisture content treatment mode. The pyrolysis control module will use a preset third heating curve, which will not only further extend the residence time in the temperature range of 90°C to 110°C, but also maintain a constant temperature maintenance stage in the temperature range of 120°C to 180°C to ensure that the bound water can be released fully and smoothly. The pressure relief management threshold will be set to a lower third pressure threshold, and an intermittent pressure relief mode will be adopted. The feed rate will also be further reduced to minimize pressure fluctuations caused by the release of bound water and optimize energy consumption.
[0120] In some embodiments of this application, when the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is the standard pyrolysis mode, the step of adjusting the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feed management rate of the initial pyrolysis process according to the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy to achieve heating control, pressure control, and feed control of the initial pyrolysis process preferably includes:
[0121] The heating management curve of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a preset first heating curve, so that the residence time of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃ reaches the preset first residence time.
[0122] The pressure relief management threshold of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a preset first pressure threshold;
[0123] The pressure relief management method of the pyrolysis reactor is set to release pressure once when the pressure inside the reactor reaches a preset first pressure threshold.
[0124] The feeding rate of the waste rubber is set to a preset first feeding rate.
[0125] The first heating curve refers to the preset trajectory of temperature change over time inside the pyrolysis reactor under standard pyrolysis mode. This curve is designed to maintain the waste rubber within a preset residence time in the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃. This temperature range is the critical stage where free water in the waste rubber begins to evaporate in large quantities. By controlling the residence time, it can be ensured that free water is effectively removed without excessive and rapid evaporation, thereby avoiding pressure fluctuations caused by rapid water evaporation during the initial pyrolysis process. The first pressure threshold is the highest pressure value allowed inside the pyrolysis reactor. When the pressure inside the reactor reaches or exceeds this threshold, the pressure relief mechanism will be triggered. In practical applications, the single pressure relief mode means that when the pressure inside the reactor reaches the preset first pressure threshold, the pressure relief valve is opened once to quickly reduce the pressure inside the reactor to a safe level, and then closed. This method is suitable for standard pyrolysis with low moisture content and can effectively manage pressure increases caused by the evaporation of small amounts of water. Furthermore, the first feed rate refers to the preset speed at which waste rubber is fed into the pyrolysis reactor. In standard pyrolysis mode, this rate is set to a conventional feed rate that matches the low moisture content to ensure the stability and efficiency of the pyrolysis process.
[0126] The proposed solution sets the heating management curve of the pyrolysis reactor to a preset first heating curve and ensures that the waste rubber reaches a preset first residence time within a temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃. This ensures that the free water in the waste rubber gradually evaporates under controlled temperature and time conditions. This avoids a large amount of water vaporization in a short period of time, thus effectively suppressing the potential for a sharp increase in pressure during the initial pyrolysis process. Simultaneously, by setting the pressure relief management threshold to a preset first pressure threshold and adopting a single-release management method, pressure can be released promptly and effectively when the pressure inside the reactor reaches the preset value, further ensuring the safety and stability of the pyrolysis process. Furthermore, setting the waste rubber feed management rate to a preset first feed rate, matched with a low effective moisture content, ensures a stable supply of materials and avoids excessive heat load or abnormal pressure fluctuations caused by excessively rapid feeding. This achieves refined control of heating, pressure, and feeding during the initial pyrolysis process, effectively suppressing pressure fluctuations and energy consumption surges caused by rapid water evaporation.
[0127] In some embodiments of this application, when the effective moisture content of waste rubber is lower than a preset moisture content threshold, the pyrolysis reactor is set to standard pyrolysis mode for control. However, in practical applications, when the effective moisture content of waste rubber is high but the bound water content is low, if the standard pyrolysis mode is still used, the rapid evaporation of water during the initial pyrolysis process due to the high free water content in the waste rubber may cause drastic pressure fluctuations within the reactor, even leading to safety hazards, and also causing unnecessary energy consumption surges. If these problems are not addressed, the stability and economy of the waste rubber pyrolysis process will be severely affected. Therefore, this application further proposes an initial pyrolysis treatment strategy for waste rubber with high free water content, namely, a first high moisture content treatment mode. This mode, through refined control of the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feed management rate, more effectively addresses the initial pyrolysis process of waste rubber with high free water content.
[0128] In some embodiments of this application, when the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is a first high-moisture treatment mode, the steps of adjusting the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process according to the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy to achieve heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process preferably include:
[0129] The heating management curve of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a preset second heating curve, so that the residence time of waste rubber in the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃ reaches the preset second residence time, which is longer than the first residence time.
[0130] The pressure relief management threshold of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a second pressure threshold that is lower than the first pressure threshold;
[0131] The pressure relief management mode of the pyrolysis reactor is set to continuous pulse pressure relief triggered by the second pressure threshold.
[0132] The feed rate for waste rubber is set to a second feed rate, which is lower than the first feed rate.
[0133] The second heating curve refers to an optimized temperature rise path characterized by an extended residence time for waste rubber within the 90°C to 110°C temperature range. This second residence time is set longer than the first residence time under standard pyrolysis mode, aiming to provide sufficient evaporation time for free water in the waste rubber and prevent a sudden pressure surge caused by instantaneous vaporization of water due to rapid heating. The second pressure threshold is set lower than the first pressure threshold under standard pyrolysis mode. This is designed to trigger pressure relief earlier, intervening before the pressure inside the reactor reaches a high level, effectively preventing pressure overload that may occur due to large-scale water evaporation. In practical applications, the continuous pulse pressure relief is a dynamic pressure management mechanism. When the pressure inside the reactor reaches the second pressure threshold, the pressure relief valve is periodically opened and closed, releasing water vapor in small, multiple bursts, rather than a single large-scale pressure relief. This method can smoothly control the pressure inside the reactor, avoiding energy loss and system disturbance caused by a single large-scale pressure relief. In addition, the second feed rate is set lower than the first feed rate under standard pyrolysis mode. The purpose is to reduce the total amount of waste rubber entering the pyrolysis reactor per unit time, thereby reducing the instantaneous water load, providing the reactor with more time to process and discharge moisture, and further stabilizing the pyrolysis process.
[0134] The proposed solution extends the residence time of waste rubber in the 90°C to 110°C temperature range by setting the heating management curve to a second heating curve. This allows free water more time to evaporate slowly, preventing concentrated vaporization. Simultaneously, lowering the pressure relief management threshold to a second pressure threshold and employing a continuous pulse pressure relief method ensures smooth and continuous pressure release before the pressure accumulates to a dangerous level, effectively suppressing pressure fluctuations. Furthermore, reducing the waste rubber feed rate to a second feed rate reduces the water load per unit time, further alleviating the pressure management burden on the reactor. Due to these synergistic effects, the proposed solution effectively addresses the pressure fluctuations and energy consumption surges caused by the rapid evaporation of water during the initial pyrolysis of waste rubber with high free water content.
[0135] The following is a specific example to illustrate this.
[0136] When the system detects that the effective moisture content of the waste rubber is greater than or equal to a preset moisture content threshold (e.g., greater than 5%) and the bound water content level is low, it will automatically select the first high moisture content treatment mode. Specifically, the temperature rise management curve of the pyrolysis reactor will be adjusted to the second temperature rise curve. For example, within the temperature range of 90°C to 110°C, the residence time of the waste rubber is set to 30 minutes, which is longer than the 20-minute first residence time in the standard mode. At the same time, the pressure relief management threshold will be set to a second pressure threshold lower than the first pressure threshold of the standard mode (e.g., from 0.2 MPa to 0.15 MPa). When the pressure inside the reactor reaches 0.15 MPa, the system will trigger continuous pulse pressure relief, for example, opening the pressure relief valve for 0.5 seconds every 5 seconds to smoothly release water vapor. In addition, the feed management rate of the waste rubber will be adjusted to a second feed rate lower than the first feed rate of the standard mode (e.g., from 5 tons per hour to 3 tons per hour). Through these coordinated adjustments, even if the waste rubber contains a high amount of free water, the initial pyrolysis process can be ensured to proceed smoothly, effectively avoiding sudden pressure increases and energy waste.
[0137] In some embodiments of this application, when the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is the second high moisture content treatment mode, the steps of adjusting the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process according to the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy to achieve heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process preferably include:
[0138] The temperature control curve of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a preset third temperature control curve, so that the residence time of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃ reaches a preset third residence time, which is longer than the second residence time; and
[0139] The waste rubber is kept at a preset constant temperature within a temperature range of 120°C to 180°C.
[0140] The pressure relief management threshold of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a third pressure threshold that is lower than the second pressure threshold;
[0141] The pressure relief management mode of the pyrolysis reactor is set to an intermittent pressure relief mode triggered by the third pressure threshold.
[0142] The feed rate of the waste rubber is set to a third feed rate that is lower than the second feed rate.
[0143] The third heating curve refers to the preset trajectory of the internal temperature change of the pyrolysis reactor over time during the initial pyrolysis process. This curve is designed to allow the waste rubber to remain in the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃ for a longer period, reaching the third residence time, to ensure that free water can be fully evaporated and removed. In addition, the third heating curve includes a isothermal maintenance phase in the temperature range of 120℃ to 180℃, which aims to provide sufficient energy and time for the slow and stable release of bound water, avoiding pressure shocks caused by rapid evaporation of bound water. The third pressure threshold is the preset upper limit value at which the pressure inside the pyrolysis reactor needs to be triggered for pressure relief. This threshold is set below the second pressure threshold to allow for more frequent pressure management to address the risk of continuous pressure increases that may result from high bound water content. The intermittent pressure relief mode refers to the controlled release of internal pressure by periodically or intermittently opening and closing the pressure relief valve when the internal pressure of the pyrolysis reactor reaches the third pressure threshold. This mode effectively balances pressure control and heat retention, avoiding excessive heat loss due to excessive pressure relief, while ensuring pressure stability during the release of bound water. The third feed rate refers to the mass of waste rubber entering the pyrolysis reactor per unit time. This rate is set lower than the second feed rate to reduce the instantaneous material load entering the reactor, thereby reducing pressure and energy consumption fluctuations caused by the simultaneous evaporation of large amounts of moisture. It is particularly suitable for processing waste rubber with high bound water content.
[0144] This application's solution, by introducing a third heating curve and specifically setting a isothermal maintenance stage within the temperature range of 120℃ to 180℃, provides the necessary energy and time for the slow and stable release of bound water. Bound water is typically bound to the rubber matrix in the form of hydrogen bonds, etc., and its removal requires overcoming higher activation energies and must occur within a specific temperature range. This isothermal maintenance stage is precisely designed to control this process, preventing a large amount of bound water from evaporating in a short period, thereby effectively suppressing the resulting pressure fluctuations. Simultaneously, by setting the pressure relief management threshold to a lower third pressure threshold and employing an intermittent pressure relief mode, pressure management becomes more precise and timely, effectively addressing the pressure accumulation caused by the continuous release of bound water. Furthermore, reducing the feed management rate to a third feed rate further disperses the load of moisture entering the reactor, reducing the pressure and energy consumption impact during the initial pyrolysis process from the source.
[0145] Through the above technical solution, this application provides a more refined and effective initial pyrolysis control strategy for waste rubber with high effective moisture content and high bound water content. This strategy not only effectively removes free water, but more importantly, it safely and stably manages the release of bound water, significantly reducing the risks of pressure fluctuations and energy consumption surges caused by rapid water evaporation. This makes waste rubber recycling equipment more adaptable and stable when processing complex raw materials, thereby improving the overall level of automation control and economic benefits.
[0146] The following is a specific example to illustrate this.
[0147] When the system detects that the effective moisture content of the waste rubber is greater than or equal to the preset moisture content threshold, and the bound water content level is high, the control system will automatically switch to the second high moisture content treatment mode. At this time, the temperature rise management curve of the pyrolysis reactor is adjusted to the third temperature rise curve. For example, within the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃, the residence time of the waste rubber is extended to 30 minutes (third residence time) to ensure that the free water evaporates fully. Subsequently, the temperature continues to rise and is maintained at a constant temperature for 20 minutes within the temperature range of 150℃ to 170℃ to promote the stable release of bound water. At the same time, the pressure relief management threshold is set to 0.05 MPa (third pressure threshold), which is lower than the pressure threshold of the conventional mode, and an intermittent pressure relief mode is adopted. That is, when the pressure reaches 0.05 MPa, the pressure relief valve opens for 5 seconds and closes for 10 seconds, and this cycle continues until the pressure drops to a safe range. In addition, the feed management rate of waste rubber is reduced to 500 kg / h (third feed rate) to slow down the rate at which the material enters the reactor and further stabilize the pyrolysis process.
[0148] like Figure 2 As shown, this application also discloses an automated control system 200 for waste rubber recycling equipment, used to control the initial pyrolysis process of a pyrolysis reactor. The system includes:
[0149] The characteristic acquisition module 210 is used to acquire the effective moisture content and bound water content level of the waste rubber before it enters the pyrolysis reactor.
[0150] The strategy selection module 220 is used to select the corresponding initial pyrolysis treatment strategy according to the effective moisture content and the bound water content level, so as to suppress the pressure fluctuation and energy consumption surge caused by the rapid evaporation of water during the initial pyrolysis process.
[0151] The pyrolysis control module 230 is used to adjust the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process according to the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy, so as to realize the heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process.
[0152] The above embodiments have already described the relevant content of the automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment, and will not be repeated here. It should be emphasized that the automated control system for waste rubber recycling equipment proposed in this application, through its internal modular design, transforms the above method steps into executable hardware or software functional units.
[0153] The characteristic acquisition module 210 can be configured to acquire the effective moisture content and bound water content level of waste rubber through various methods. For example, the characteristic acquisition module 210 can integrate one or more sensors, such as an infrared spectroscopy sensor or a microwave moisture content sensor, for online or offline detection of waste rubber on the feed conveyor belt. In one implementation, the characteristic acquisition module 210 may include a sampling unit that periodically grabs waste rubber samples from the feed conveyor belt and sends them to a small analyzer for rapid moisture content and thermogravimetric analysis to obtain the effective moisture content and bound water content level. As another implementation, the characteristic acquisition module 210 can rely solely on manual input, with operators manually inputting the moisture content and bound water content level of the waste rubber based on experience or offline detection results.
[0154] The strategy selection module 220 can be configured to intelligently select an initial pyrolysis treatment strategy based on the effective moisture content and bound water content level provided by the characteristic acquisition module. For example, the strategy selection module 220 can have a built-in decision tree or rule engine to make judgments based on preset conditional logic. Specifically, the strategy selection module 220 can include a storage unit that stores multiple preset initial pyrolysis treatment strategies, each strategy corresponding to a specific combination of moisture content and bound water content level. When receiving output data from the characteristic acquisition module, the strategy selection module 220 queries these preset strategies and selects the best match. For example, the moisture content can be simply divided into several intervals and combined with the bound water content level (high or low) to form different combinations, each combination corresponding to a preset control strategy.
[0155] The pyrolysis control module 230 can be configured to regulate the operating parameters of the pyrolysis reactor according to the initial pyrolysis treatment strategy determined by the strategy selection module. The pyrolysis control module 230 may include multiple sub-controllers, such as a heating controller, a pressure controller, and a feed controller. The heating controller is responsible for adjusting the power output of the heating unit according to the selected temperature rise management curve to control the temperature inside the reactor. The pressure controller is responsible for controlling the opening and closing of the pressure relief valve according to the selected pressure relief management threshold and pressure relief management mode to maintain stable pressure inside the reactor. The feed controller is responsible for regulating the running speed of the feed conveyor according to the selected feed management rate to control the feed rate of waste rubber. These controllers can be implemented using PID algorithms, fuzzy control, or other control algorithms. In one implementation, the pyrolysis control module 230 can simply load and execute a preset parameter set corresponding to the selected strategy, such as preset temperature rise curve parameters, pressure relief threshold, pressure relief mode command, and feed rate setpoint.
[0156] It should be noted that the information interaction and execution process between the above modules are based on the same concept as the method embodiments of this application. For details on their specific functions and technical effects, please refer to the method embodiments section, which will not be repeated here.
[0157] The foregoing has provided a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this application. However, this application is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of this application. All such equivalent modifications or substitutions are included within the scope defined in this application.
Claims
1. An automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment, used to control the initial pyrolysis process of a pyrolysis reactor, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: Before the waste rubber enters the pyrolysis reactor, the effective moisture content and bound water content level of the waste rubber are obtained; Based on the effective moisture content and the bound water content level, a corresponding initial pyrolysis treatment strategy is selected to suppress pressure fluctuations and energy consumption surges caused by rapid evaporation of moisture during the initial pyrolysis process. Based on the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy, the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process are adjusted to achieve heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process.
2. The automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of obtaining the effective moisture content and bound water content grade of the waste rubber before it enters the pyrolysis reactor includes: The waste rubber on the feed conveyor belt of the pyrolysis reactor is sensed, and the material mass flow rate of the waste rubber per unit time and the spectral characteristic data related to the moisture content of the waste rubber are obtained in real time. The preliminary moisture content of the waste rubber was obtained by analyzing the spectral characteristic data. Based on the micro pyrolysis analysis unit set next to the feeding conveyor belt, the waste rubber on the feeding conveyor belt is periodically sampled. The micro pyrolysis analysis unit is used to heat the obtained waste rubber to a preset initial pyrolysis temperature range to monitor and record the change of water vapor concentration released during the heating process over time, and generate a curve of water vapor release rate over time. By analyzing the curves of the initial moisture content, the water vapor release rate over time, and the material mass flow rate, the effective moisture content and bound water content grade of the waste rubber are obtained.
3. The automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of analyzing the spectral characteristic data to obtain the preliminary moisture content of the waste rubber includes: Obtain a preset moisture content spectral database, which stores spectral characteristic data of historical waste rubber and corresponding moisture content calibration values; The spectral feature data is matched with the spectral feature data of historical waste rubber in the moisture content spectral database to obtain the preliminary moisture content of the waste rubber.
4. The automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The steps of analyzing the preliminary moisture content, the curve of the water vapor release rate changing over time, and the material mass flow rate to obtain the effective moisture content and bound water content grade of the waste rubber include: Based on the curve of water vapor release rate changing with time and the mass flow rate of the material, the total amount of water vapor released by the waste rubber is extracted, and the preliminary moisture content is corrected to obtain the effective moisture content of the waste rubber. Based on the curve of water vapor release rate changing with time, the maximum water vapor release rate of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃ is extracted as the first characteristic parameter, and the cumulative water vapor release of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 120℃ to 180℃ is extracted as the second characteristic parameter. The bound water content level is determined based on the relative relationship between the first characteristic parameter and the second characteristic parameter.
5. The automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of determining the bound water content level based on the relative relationship between the first characteristic parameter and the second characteristic parameter includes: Calculate the ratio of the second feature parameter to the first feature parameter; The ratio is compared with a preset level threshold; If the ratio is greater than or equal to the grade threshold, then the bound water content grade is determined to be high. If the ratio is less than the grade threshold, the bound water content grade is determined to be low.
6. The automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bound water content grades include high and low; The step of selecting the corresponding initial pyrolysis treatment strategy based on the effective moisture content and the bound water content level includes: If the effective moisture content is less than the preset moisture content threshold, the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is the standard pyrolysis mode. If the effective moisture content is greater than or equal to the preset moisture content threshold and the bound water content level is low, then the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is the first high moisture content treatment mode, which is used to remove free water during the heating process. If the effective moisture content is greater than or equal to the preset moisture content threshold and the bound water content level is high, then the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is the second high moisture content treatment mode, which is used to remove free water and bound water during the heating process.
7. The automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, When the control strategy of the pyrolysis reactor is the standard pyrolysis mode, the steps of adjusting the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process according to the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy to achieve heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process include: The heating management curve of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a preset first heating curve, so that the residence time of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃ reaches the preset first residence time. The pressure relief management threshold of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a preset first pressure threshold; The pressure relief management method of the pyrolysis reactor is set to release pressure once when the pressure inside the reactor reaches a preset first pressure threshold. The feeding rate of the waste rubber is set to a preset first feeding rate.
8. The automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that, When the first high moisture content treatment mode is selected, the steps of adjusting the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process according to the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy to achieve heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process include: The heating management curve of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a preset second heating curve, so that the residence time of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 90°C to 110°C reaches a preset second residence time, and the second residence time is longer than the first residence time. The pressure relief management threshold of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a second pressure threshold that is lower than the first pressure threshold; The pressure relief management mode of the pyrolysis reactor is set to continuous pulse pressure relief triggered by the second pressure threshold. The feed rate of the waste rubber is set to a second feed rate, which is lower than the first feed rate.
9. The automated control method for waste rubber recycling equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the second high moisture content treatment mode is selected, the steps of adjusting the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process according to the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy to achieve heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process include: The temperature control curve of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a preset third temperature control curve, so that the residence time of the waste rubber in the temperature range of 90℃ to 110℃ reaches a preset third residence time, which is longer than the second residence time; and The waste rubber is kept at a preset constant temperature within a temperature range of 120°C to 180°C. The pressure relief management threshold of the pyrolysis reactor is set to a third pressure threshold that is lower than the second pressure threshold; The pressure relief management mode of the pyrolysis reactor is set to an intermittent pressure relief mode triggered by the third pressure threshold. The feed rate of the waste rubber is set to a third feed rate that is lower than the second feed rate.
10. An automated control system for waste rubber recycling equipment, used to control the initial pyrolysis process of a pyrolysis reactor, characterized in that, The system includes: The characteristic acquisition module is used to acquire the effective moisture content and bound water content level of the waste rubber before it enters the pyrolysis reactor. The strategy selection module is used to select the corresponding initial pyrolysis treatment strategy based on the effective moisture content and the bound water content level, so as to suppress the pressure fluctuation and energy consumption surge caused by the rapid evaporation of water during the initial pyrolysis process. The pyrolysis control module is used to adjust the temperature rise management curve, pressure relief management threshold, pressure relief management method, and waste rubber feeding management rate of the initial pyrolysis process according to the selected initial pyrolysis treatment strategy, so as to realize the heating control, pressure control, and feeding control of the initial pyrolysis process.