Device for separating fractions from a material stream

Abstract

Device (1) for separating fractions from a material flow (3) which is guided on a conveyor device (4) into a housing (2), characterized by a surface (6) which, with the aid of the coander effect, directs the supply air flow within the housing (2) onto the material flow (3) on the conveyor (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for separating fractions from a material flow with at least two material fractions, in particular to a system in which, by applying the coander effect, the supply air quantities are guided along the walls of a housing in the direction of a material flow on a conveyor device and thereby lifts and swirls the material flow

[0002] Similar processes and systems are known in the prior art from DE 10 2012 010 030 A1. This document discloses a device and a method in which a heterogeneous material stream is introduced into a housing by means of a conveying device and is permeated by a gas flow, thereby separating at least one fraction from the material stream. A disadvantage of the devices and methods known in the prior art is the generally high technical complexity, which results in relatively high manufacturing costs.

[0003] Another device for separating recyclable waste can be found in the prior art document DE 299 19 773 U1. This document describes a device for separating recyclable waste in which a so-called air flow separator is arranged at the end of a conveyor belt. This essentially consists of a closed housing to which both an air injection nozzle and a suction line are connected. The air injection nozzle is aligned so that the air flow emerging from it blows onto the material lying on the conveyor belt, whereby the light, large-surface material particles are swirled up and picked up by the suction channel and fed into a housing with a so-called cell wheel for separating the light, flat particles.

[0004] Furthermore, DE 20 2008 001 933 U1 discloses a device in the prior art that essentially consists of a transport device, at the end of which a screening drum is arranged, the axis of rotation of which runs transversely to the transport direction. An air blower is arranged below the transport device, between the end of the transport device and the screening drum, which penetrates the falling material stream and thus entrains at least the light fractions of the material stream. The remaining fraction of the material stream is then divided into medium-heavy and heavy materials, with the medium-heavy materials landing on the surface of the screening drum and being transported away.As a result of the air flow flowing out of the air injection device, the light and medium-heavy material fractions are guided through a flow channel, at the end of which a collecting device is arranged, whereby the material flow is divided into heavy, medium-heavy and light material fractions.

[0005] It is generally considered a disadvantage of the devices and methods known in the prior art that, on the one hand, the separation capability of the plants between heavy, medium and light fractions of the material flow does not meet the requirements of the recycling industry and, on the other hand, the design and construction of such plants are technically relatively complex and therefore cost-intensive.

[0006] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device which is able to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to reduce the relatively high technical expenditure, wherein at least one partial fraction with a high degree of purity is separated from a heterogeneous material flow in a technically uncomplicated housing with relatively small geometric dimensions.

[0007] This problem is solved by the characterizing features of the main claims. Further features essential to the invention can be found in the description and the subclaims.

[0008] The device according to the invention for separating fractions of a material flow which is conveyed into a housing on a conveyor means is characterized in that the supply air flow in the housing is directed onto a surface and is fed to the material flow by means of the coander effect.

[0009] With this device it is particularly advantageous that the supply air blown into the housing hits a surface inside the housing along which the supply air is fed to the material flow on a conveyor. It is irrelevant whether the device for conveying the supply air is arranged on the top of the housing or on the side of the housing. It is important in this flow process that the supply air flow is fed to the material flow on the long side of the material flow at a predetermined angle α in order to lift the material flow and swirl it upwards. The air flow directed towards the material flow laterally to the long axis of the material flow causes the material flow to be lifted and, under the influence of an exhaust air flow, a separation zone is formed for separating at least one fraction from the material flow.

[0010] Furthermore, it is advantageous that the individual fractions in the material flow are not only lifted but also swirled and then the light fractions are captured and removed in a separation zone by the resulting air flow within the separation zone.

[0011] Furthermore, it is advantageous that the primary supply air flow is generated by at least one nozzle with an adjustable nozzle outlet surface, and this accelerated supply air flow is directed onto a wall within the housing, wherein this wall is preferably straight and flat.

[0012] It is advantageous that the at least one supply air device is arranged either on the top or on the side of the housing, whereby both the front sides and the side walls of the housing are understood to be laterally.

[0013] A further advantage is seen in the fact that the nozzle outlet opening generating the primary supply air is designed to be elongated and the longitudinal axis of the nozzle outlet opening is arranged parallel to the conveying direction of the material flow.

[0014] It is also advantageous that the nozzle outlet opening generating the primary supply air is arranged substantially above the material flow.

[0015] Furthermore, it is advantageous that the flow velocities of both the supply air and the exhaust air are adjusted in such a way that a non-laminar flow area forms as a separation zone between the conveying means and the exhaust air device, in which a separation between at least two fractions occurs.

[0016] The device according to the invention for separating fractions from a material flow which is introduced into a housing on a conveyor means, which is constructed for the method according to the invention, is characterized by at least one lateral supply air nozzle, the flow of which is directed towards a wall within the housing, at which the supply air flow is directed in the direction of the conveyor means by utilizing the coander effect and thereby lifts and swirls the material flow, wherein at least one exhaust air device captures the swirled, non-laminar supply air flow and discharges at least one light fraction.

[0017] It is considered advantageous that the supply air flow within the housing is generated by at least two nozzle outlet openings arranged above the conveying means.

[0018] A further advantage is seen in the fact that the exhaust air device is arranged in the upper area of ​​the housing above the conveyor between two supply air devices, which allows the geometric dimensions to be significantly reduced.

[0019] It is also advantageous that the longitudinal axis of the elongated nozzle outlet opening is arranged parallel to the conveying direction of the material flow.

[0020] A further advantage is that the position of the supply air nozzles and the exhaust air device to the conveying device can be variably adjusted, whereby the distance d between the conveying device and the lower edge of the nozzle outlet opening can be variably adjusted.

[0021] Furthermore, it is advantageous that the slot width b of the nozzle outlet opening and thus the cross-sectional area can be variably adjusted, whereby both the air quantities and the flow velocity v can be regulated.

[0022] It is also advantageous that the cross-section of the nozzle outlet openings can be more square, oval or round.

[0023] Another advantage is that the outlet opening of the supply air nozzle is directed onto a flat surface within the housing, which is an integral part of the housing. Thus, no additional walls or baffles are required within the housing to ensure proper functioning of the process. This advantage is particularly due to the fact that the housing is positioned directly above the conveyor, on which the material flow rests, and that both the supply air and exhaust air devices are located on top of the housing.

[0024] Further advantageous features and embodiments of the present invention can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0025] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a system with a device (1) for separating a material flow (3) with at least two fractions with a conveying means (4) and at least one supply air device (8) and at least one exhaust air device (9) on a housing (2); Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a device (1) according to the invention in a housing (2), in which two supply air nozzles (19) and an exhaust air device (9) are arranged and the material flow (3) is introduced into the housing (2) by means of a conveying means (4); Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a device (1)) according to the invention in a housing (2) in which two supply air nozzles (19) and an exhaust air device (9) are arranged and the air flows are symbolized by arrows; Fig. 4 a schematic plan view of the top of the housing (2) arranged above the conveyor (4). Fig. 5 a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the device (1') according to the invention, in which an exhaust air device (9') is arranged on the top of the housing (2) and the supply air is supplied by a supply air device (8') on an end face of the housing (2).

[0026] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a system with a device 1 according to the invention in a housing 2. The system consists of a conveyor 4, above which the housing 2 is arranged. The material flow 3 transported on the conveyor 4 during operation (not shown here) generally comprises at least two fractions of a material mixture, as is typically found in waste management. A primarily heterogeneous material flow 3 is fed to the housing 2 via the conveyor 4 through a housing opening 5. The cross-section of the housing opening 5 can be varied and depends essentially on the accumulation of the material flow 3 and the supply air requirement of the device 1.

[0027] The housing 2 is arranged above the conveyor 4 and, in the present schematic embodiment, essentially consists of two straight, flat walls 6 which are connected to one another on both sides by a connecting element 7. In the upper region of the housing 2, two supply air devices 8 are arranged in the immediate vicinity of the straight, flat side walls 6. In the present embodiment, the supply air devices 8 are elongated, the function of which will be explained in more detail below. Between the two supply air devices 8, there is an exhaust air device 9 which is also elongated. In the present embodiment, the conveyor 4 is a conveyor belt driven by a motor 10. The at least two supply air devices 8 arranged on the upper side of the housing 2 are able to supply the necessary adjustable air quantity to separate the individual fractions and to lift the individual fractions.The two supply air devices 8 extend over the entire length of the upper side of the housing 2.

[0028] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a device 1 according to the invention in a housing 2, in which two supply air devices 8 and one exhaust air device 9 are arranged in the upper region, wherein the material flow 3 is introduced into the housing 2 by means of a conveyor device 4. This illustration shows the basic cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing 1 through the center of the supply air and exhaust air devices 8, 9. The conveyor 4 is driven by the drive 10 and transports the material flow 3, which is not shown here, into the housing 2, which is arranged above the conveyor 4. The housing 2 consists of two side walls 6, which are straight and flat in the present embodiment for the sake of simplicity, but can also be curved or take on other shapes.In the upper area of ​​the housing 2, two supply air devices 8 are arranged laterally, which introduce the required air volumes into the interior of the housing 2. Between the two supply air devices 8, an exhaust air device 9 is arranged, which extracts the blown-in air volumes. The performance of this exhaust air device 9 is designed such that it is capable of extracting the introduced air volumes both through the supply air devices 8 and through the housing inlet opening 5 in order to ensure the fluidic functions within the housing. The connection nozzles 11, 12 of the supply air and exhaust air devices 8, 9 are funnel-shaped in order to increase or decrease the flow velocity of the supply air flow into the housing.

[0029] The exhaust air device 9, which extends the entire length of the housing, is arranged between the two supply air devices 8 in the upper area of ​​the housing 2. The exhaust air device 9 consists of a funnel-shaped exhaust air nozzle 12, from which, in this drawing, a nozzle 13 extends downwards into the interior of the housing 2. A matching nozzle 14, which is designed to be movable, is inserted into the end of the nozzle 13. The moveability of the inserted nozzle 14 serves to optimize the function and adjust the airflow within the housing, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0030] At the end of the movable nozzle 14, two adjustable flaps 16 are arranged on both sides at the lower end, articulated and positioned. Their position can be continuously adjusted using a locking mechanism 17. The walls 6 of the housing 2 and the walls of the exhaust air nozzle 13 and the movable part 14 of this nozzle, in conjunction with the adjustment flaps 16, form two supply air ducts 18 within the housing 2, through which the supply air volumes are introduced into the housing 2. The adjustable flaps 16 at the end of the movable nozzle 14 form a nozzle, the outlet openings 19 of which are variable due to their adjustability and are each adjusted to optimize the separation of the material flow 3. The nozzle outlet openings 19 of the supply air nozzles are elongated and arranged with their longitudinal axes parallel to the conveying direction of the conveying means 4.The supply air flow is directed towards the walls 6 of the housing 2, after which the flow extends along the walls 6 due to the Coander effect.

[0031] The Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the device 1 according to the invention in a housing 2 in which two supply air devices 8 and one exhaust air device 9 are arranged, wherein the directions of the air flows within the housing are symbolized by arrows. This illustration illustrates the operating principle, or rather the directions of the individual flows of the blown-in and extracted air quantities within the housing 2. In the present exemplary embodiment, the supply air is introduced into the housing 2 by means of two supply air devices 8. The air flows introduced by the supply air devices 8 arranged on both sides are accelerated as a result of the initially funnel-shaped design of the supply air devices 8 and the subsequent narrowing of the supply air ducts 15 and are introduced into the ducts 17 in the housing 2.

[0032] Due to the adjustable flap 16, whose opening angle can be mechanically / electronically controlled by means of an actuator not shown here, the elongated nozzle outlet opening 19 is adjusted so that the flow is accelerated or decelerated again as needed and directed towards a wall, which in the present embodiment is the inside of the housing wall 6, along which, due to the physical coander effect, the air flow extends and is guided to the end of the inner wall in the direction of the conveyor 4, where it encounters the material flow 3 and lifts it. As a result of the convergence of the two supply air flows above the surface of the conveyor 4, the material flow 3 is lifted, loosened, and swirled.By raising the heterogeneous material stream 3 and the suction effect of the exhaust air device 9, a separation zone 20 forms below the end of the control flaps 16, in which the light fractions, such as films, are sucked off by the exhaust air device 9 and separated from the other fractions and discharged. The discharged light fraction is thus almost 99% separated from the remaining heavier fractions, ensuring a high degree of purity of the separated light fractions as a result of this separation process. The heavier fractions of the material stream 3 with a higher density do not reach the separation zone 20 and, after a brief elevation, fall back onto the conveyor 4 due to gravity and are discharged there.

[0033] The walls 6 of the housing 2 do not necessarily have to be flat, but can also be curved or designed in another technically reasonable shape.

[0034] The Fig. 4 shows a schematic plan view of the top side of the housing 2, which is arranged above the conveyor 4. On the conveyor 4, the primary material stream 3 is introduced into the housing 2 through a housing opening 5 and there undergoes at least one separation process in which the light fractions of the material stream 3 are sorted out, as described above, so that the remaining heavier fractions are discharged with the material stream 3' downstream of the device 1 in the conveying direction. Both the supply air devices 8 and the exhaust air device 9 are arranged on the upper side of the housing 2 and thus contribute, among other things, to the compact design of the entire system. The exhaust air device 9 is arranged between the two lateral supply air devices 8.Overall, both devices, the supply air devices 8 as well as the exhaust air device 9, are elongated, with the longitudinal axes of both devices 8,9 being parallel to the conveying direction of the material flow 3.

[0035] The Fig.Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of another embodiment of the device 1' according to the invention, in which an exhaust air device 9 is arranged on the top side of the housing 2, and the supply air is supplied through a supply air device 8' on one end face of the housing 2. In this embodiment, the supply air flows within the housing 2 are formed by separating one supply air flow. After the separation of one supply air flow from the supply air device 8', the two newly formed supply air flows are fed to a connecting element 22 in channels not shown here, in which the two air flows meet and are then fed lengthwise to the material flow, thereby lifting and swirling the material flow. The subsequent separation process of the individual fractions within the housing 2 has already been described above. The conveying direction of the material flow 3 is indicated by the arrowhead.

[0036] In summary, it can be stated that the present invention presents, on the one hand, a fluidically sophisticated process and, on the other hand, a technically simple design of a device 1 which can be easily adapted to any type of conveying means, e.g. a sieve, a vibrating trough, a ballistic separator or a chute / slide, which transport a material stream whose individual fractions are to be separated with a high degree of purity from a heterogeneous material stream 3. For this purpose, a housing 2 is arranged above a conveying means 4 on which the material stream 3 to be separated lies. The required supply air is introduced into the interior of the housing 2 by means of adjustable nozzle outlet openings 19 and the air flow is directed to at least one lateral housing wall 6.As a result of the coander effect, the air flow along the housing wall 6 is fed to the material flow 3 on the conveyor 4, whereby the material flow 3 is lifted and subsequently swirled. Due to the swirling of the supply air flow and under the influence of an exhaust air flow, a separation zone 20 is formed in which light fractions are separated from the entire material flow 3 and discharged through the exhaust air device 9 with an optimal degree of separation between 95 and 100 percent. In both described embodiments of the present invention, a slight negative pressure prevails inside the housing. In other words, the output of the exhaust air device 9 is set slightly higher than the output(s) of the supply air device(s) 8, 8', whereby the pressure ratios pi < pa are established, where pi is the air pressure inside the housing and pa is the air pressure outside the housing 2. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2012 010 030 A1

[0002] DE 299 19 773 U1

[0003] DE 20 2008 001 933 U1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Device (1) for separating fractions from a material flow (3) which is guided on a conveyor device (4) into a housing (2), characterized by a surface (6) which, with the aid of the coander effect, directs the supply air flow within the housing (2) onto the material flow (3) on the conveying means (4). [2] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the supply air flow is directed by means of the nozzle outlet opening (19) to a wall (6) inside the housing (2) and the supply air flow is directed in the direction of the conveying means (4) on which the material flow (3) lies, and thereby the material flow (3) is lifted and swirled. [3] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one exhaust air device (9) sucks off the introduced swirling, non-laminar flow and thereby removes at least one fraction from the material flow (3). [4] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the supply air is introduced into the housing (2) above the conveying means (4) and is directed along the wall (6) in the direction of the conveying means (4). [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the supply air flow is formed by at least two nozzle outlet openings (19) which are arranged above the conveying means (4). [6] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the exhaust air device (9) is arranged in the upper area of ​​the housing (2) above the conveying device (4) between two supply air devices (8). [7] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the longitudinal axis of the elongated nozzle outlet opening (19) and the exhaust air inlet opening (21) are arranged parallel to the conveying direction of the material flow (3). [8] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the slot width (b) of the nozzle outlet opening (19) and thus the cross-sectional area is variably adjustable, whereby both the air quantities and the flow velocity (v) can be regulated. [9] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the distance (d) between the conveying means (4) and the lower edge of the nozzle outlet opening (19) is variably adjustable. [10] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cross-section of the nozzle outlet openings (19) can be polygonal, oval or round. [11] Device (1) for separating fractions from a material flow (3) which is guided on a conveyor device (4) into a housing (2), characterized bya nozzle, the outflow of which is directed towards a wall (6) which is arranged above the conveying means (4), on which a material flow (3) is introduced into the housing (2) and above the conveying means (4) at least one supply air device (8) and at least one exhaust air device (9) are arranged, which discharges the air quantities introduced into the housing (2). [12] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the air pressure inside the housing is lower than the air pressure outside the housing, pl < pa. [13] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by Introduction of supply air into the housing (2), which acts on the material flow (3) above the conveying means (4) in such a way that the material flow (3) is raised. [14] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byat least one air supply device (8,8') which is arranged either on the top or on the side of the housing (2). [15] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that under the influence of an exhaust air flow a separation zone (20) is formed for separating at least one fraction from the material flow (3). [16] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the individual fractions in the material flow (3) are swirled during the lifting and the light fractions are captured and discharged in a separation zone (20) by the resulting air flow within the separation zone (20). [17] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the supply air flow is generated by at least one nozzle with a nozzle outlet opening (19) which is directed towards a wall (6), preferably a flat wall. [18] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the nozzle outlet opening (19) generating the supply air is elongated and the longitudinal axes of the nozzle outlet opening (19) are arranged parallel to the conveying direction of the material flow (3). [19] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the nozzle outlet opening (19) generating supply air is arranged substantially above the material flow (3). [20] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the flow velocity of both the supply air and the exhaust air is adjusted so that a non-laminar flow area is formed as a separation zone (20) between the conveying means (4) and the extraction device (9), in which a separation between at least two fractions occurs.

Images