Data management system for recycled resin materials, data management method for recycled resin materials, program, method for selling recycled resin materials, method for providing data on recycled resin materials, device for identifying discarded resin materials, and method for identifying discarded resin materials

Abstract

To provide a data management system for a recycled resin material that utilizes a low-quality waste resin material as effectively as possible and ensures quality of the recycled resin material.SOLUTION: A data management system for a recycled resin material includes an input device, a processing device, and an output device. The input device acquires measurement data of a recycled resin material or a waste resin material that is a raw material for the recycled resin material. The processing device calculates, on the basis of the measurement data, a feature amount on at least one of composition and a physical property of the recycled resin material or the waste resin material, predicts a remaining life on the basis of the feature amount of the recycled resin material or the waste resin material and determines whether to apply mechanical recycling or chemical recycling to the waste resin material. The output device outputs at least one of the measurement data, the feature amount data, the remaining life data, and the determination result.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a data management system for recycled resin materials, a data management method for recycled resin materials, a program, a method for selling recycled resin materials, a method for providing data on recycled resin materials, a device for discriminating discarded resin materials, and a method for discriminating discarded resin materials. [Background technology]

[0002] Demand for plastics (synthetic resins) is expected to continue to increase. On the other hand, the increase in the production of new plastics derived from petroleum, a defunct resource, is expected to slow down, and the distribution volume of recycled plastics (recycled resin materials) is expected to increase significantly.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a resource utilization selection support system that selects whether to reuse or recycle packaging bags that have been delivered to users with products inside and then collected, where the packaging bags have a resealable opening and are provided with recycling information that serves as an index for determining whether to reuse or recycle the packaging bag, the recycling information including the number of times the packaging bag has been reused or information about the deterioration of the packaging bag, and the system selects whether to reuse or recycle the packaging bag based on the recycling information. Patent Document 1 also discloses that the deterioration information includes information about one or more of the packaging bag's mechanical strength, light transmittance, SEM images, and spectra obtained by infrared spectroscopy.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a certification method in which information on the inflow amount of recycled resin at a manufacturer of a resin product is obtained, information on the outflow amount of a resin product that uses recycled resin at the manufacturer or a different manufacturer is obtained, and if the certification conditions based on the information on the outflow amount and the inflow amount are met, certification is granted to the resin product. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-43818 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2022 / 092278 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] There are two types of recycled resin materials: mechanically recycled and chemically recycled. In terms of quality, chemically recycled materials, which are recycled back to their raw materials, are superior, but mechanically recycled materials are superior in terms of carbon dioxide emissions and production costs during the recycling process. For this reason, it is important to distinguish between mechanically recycled and chemically recycled materials in advanced resource circulation from the perspectives of quality, cost, stable procurement, and reduction of waste.

[0007] In order to suppress the amount of newly produced plastic (virgin resin material) and meet the demand for plastic, it is important to reduce the amount of waste resin material that is not recycled and to supply high-quality recycled material. In this case, the challenge is to determine whether to use mechanically recycled material or chemically recycled material.

[0008] The purpose of the present disclosure is to make the most effective use of low-quality waste resin materials and ensure the quality of recycled resin materials. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The data management system for resin recycled materials according to the present disclosure comprises an input device, a processing device, and an output device, wherein the input device acquires measurement data of the resin recycled material or the waste resin material that is the raw material for the resin recycled material, the processing device calculates characteristic quantities related to at least one of the composition and physical properties of the resin recycled material or the waste resin material based on the measurement data, predicts the remaining life based on the characteristic quantities of the resin recycled material or the waste resin material, and determines whether mechanical recycling or chemical recycling should be applied to the waste resin material, and the output device outputs at least one of the measurement data, characteristic quantity data, remaining life data, and the result of the determination. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, low-quality waste resin materials can be utilized as effectively as possible, and the quality of recycled resin materials can be ensured. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a data management system for resin recycled materials according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an overall picture of a business model including the sale of recycled resin materials and the provision of information about recycled resin materials according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a data management method for recycled resin materials in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a method for selling recycled resin material in Example 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a data management method for resin recycled materials according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present disclosure relates to a technology for calculating characteristic quantities related to at least one of the composition and physical properties of a resin recycled material or a waste resin material based on measurement data of the resin recycled material or the waste resin material, predicting the remaining lifespan of the resin recycled material or the waste resin material based on the characteristic quantities of the resin recycled material or the waste resin material, and determining whether mechanical recycling or chemical recycling should be applied to the waste resin material.

[0013] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to effectively utilize low-quality waste resin materials that have not previously been usable, and to stabilize the supply of high-quality recycled resin materials.

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The examples are illustrative for explaining the present disclosure, and for clarity of explanation, appropriate omissions and simplifications have been made. The present disclosure can also be implemented in various other forms. Unless otherwise specified, each component may be singular or plural.

[0015] To facilitate understanding of the invention, the position, size, shape, range, etc. of each component shown in the drawings may not represent the actual position, size, shape, range, etc. Therefore, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the position, size, shape, range, etc. disclosed in the drawings.

[0016] Examples of various types of information may be described using expressions such as "table," "list," and "queue," but the various types of information may also be expressed using data structures other than these. For example, various types of information such as "XX table," "XX list," and "XX queue" may also be expressed as "XX information." When describing identification information, expressions such as "identification information," "identifier," "name," "ID," and "number" are used, but these are interchangeable.

[0017] When there are multiple components with the same or similar functions, they may be described using the same reference numeral with different subscripts. When there is no need to distinguish between these multiple components, the subscripts may be omitted.

[0018] In the embodiments, processing performed by executing a program may be described. Here, a computer executes the program using a processor (e.g., a CPU or a GPU) and performs processing defined by the program using storage resources (e.g., a memory) and interface devices (e.g., a communication port). Therefore, the entity performing the processing by executing the program may be the processor. Similarly, the entity performing the processing by executing the program may be a controller, device, system, computer, or node having a processor. The entity performing the processing by executing the program may be any computing unit, and may include a dedicated circuit that performs specific processing. Here, the dedicated circuit may be, for example, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device).

[0019] A program may be installed on a computer from a program source. The program source may be, for example, a program distribution server or a computer-readable storage medium. When the program source is a program distribution server, the program distribution server may include a processor and a storage resource for storing the program to be distributed, and the processor of the program distribution server may distribute the program to be distributed to other computers. In addition, in an embodiment, two or more programs may be realized as one program, or one program may be realized as two or more programs.

[0020] As the terminal, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or tablet, or a personal computer that can be connected via a telecommunications line such as the Internet, is used.

[0021] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a data management system for recycled resin materials according to the present disclosure. Although the configuration shown in this figure may be used in its entirety, it is not necessary to use all of it, and some of it may be used.

[0022] The data management system for resin recycled materials shown in this figure comprises an input device, a processing device, and an output device. These devices are components that perform the input step S10, processing step S20, and output step S30, respectively, in the data management method for resin recycled materials. The processing device may be a single processor (arithmetic device), or may be configured with two or more processors arranged in a distributed manner. In other words, the processing step S20 may be performed by two or more processors in a divided labor manner. It is also desirable that the data management system for resin recycled materials further comprises a memory device.

[0023] In the input step S10, analytical data, physical property data, material specification data (specification data), etc. of the waste resin material or recycled resin material are acquired. Here, the waste resin material refers to so-called waste plastic (waste plastic), including resin parts or components that make up products discarded after use, and plastic waste generated during the manufacturing process of products, parts, etc. Furthermore, the recycled resin material refers to a resin material obtained from waste resin material through a mechanical recycling or chemical recycling process.

[0024] Analytical data includes data such as spectroscopic analysis (FTIR: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), thermal analysis (DSC: Differential Scanning Calorimetry), and color tone (color difference meter) of waste resin materials or recycled resin materials. Physical property data includes data such as the elastic modulus, tensile and flexural strength, impact strength, compressibility, creep characteristics, and viscoelastic properties of waste resin materials or recycled resin materials. Specification data includes data related to the long-term reliability of waste resin materials or recycled resin materials, such as the warranty period, warranty environment, and guaranteed physical property values. Note that analytical data and physical property data are components of measurement data. Specification data may also be included as a component of measurement data.

[0025] In the processing step S20, feature quantities and the like are acquired or calculated from the analysis data of the waste resin material or recycled resin material, and for example, correlations between feature quantities and physical property data are generated or acquired. In the processing step S20, lifespan evaluation data and the like are generated from changes over time in physical property data such as strength, and a recycling method (circulation method) is selected. Recycling methods include mechanical recycling and chemical recycling, as well as reuse. It is desirable to accumulate and store the analysis data, physical property data, feature quantities, and the like as a database in a storage device.

[0026] Mechanical recycling is a method in which collected used resin products are sorted, crushed, washed, etc., and then molded again. Chemical recycling is a method in which collected used resin products are sorted, crushed, washed, etc., and then depolymerized to break them down and refine them into raw or intermediate resin materials, which are then polymerized to create new resin materials.

[0027] For example, if the physical property data such as strength falls below the guaranteed value, or if the guarantee period has expired, then chemical recycling is applied instead of mechanical recycling.

[0028] In the output step S30, the results of the lifespan assessment, the results of the selection of the recycling method, the correlation between the feature amount and the physical property data, etc. may be output in a format that displays them on a display unit such as a screen.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an overall picture of a business model including the sale of recycled resin materials and the provision of information related to recycled resin materials according to the present disclosure.

[0030] This diagram shows a structure in which a manufacturing organization, a materials and supplier organization, a recycling organization that performs mechanical recycling, a chemical recycling manufacturer, and a collection organization trade waste resin materials or recycled resin materials, which are goods, and related data. The solid arrows represent the flow of data, and the dashed arrows represent the flow of goods.

[0031] The manufacturing organization is an automobile manufacturer, a home appliance manufacturer, a parts manufacturer, or the like, and performs a planning process S110, a design process S120, a procurement process S130, a manufacturing process S140, and a distribution process S150.

[0032] The material and supplier organization performs an informatics process S210, a quality analysis process S220, and a trade process S230.

[0033] The recycling organization performs a quality measurement process S310, a discrimination process S320, a blending design process S330, a mixing, manufacturing and evaluation process S340, and a distribution process S350.

[0034] If the recycling organization determines in the determination step S320 that the waste resin material or recycled resin material cannot be mechanically recycled based on its physical property data, etc., it transfers the waste resin material or recycled resin material to a chemical recycling manufacturer. The chemical recycling manufacturer performs a chemical recycling step S360 to produce chemical recycled material.

[0035] The recovery organization carries out a recovery step S240 in which the waste resin material is recovered from the manufacturing organization and sent to the recycling organization.

[0036] In the informatics process (S210) of the materials and supplier organization, based on the specifications determined in the design process (S120), the required amount of resin, and other data, the recipe for the resin material to be provided to the manufacturing organization is determined using materials informatics (MI) and manufacturing process informatics (PI), and also taking into account design. Here, the resin material in question includes virgin resin, mechanically recycled material, and chemically recycled material.

[0037] In the quality analysis process S220 of the material and supplier organization, information such as the history of the waste resin material, i.e., the content ratio of virgin resin material, mechanically recycled material, and chemically recycled material, and the number of times it has been recycled, can be obtained from the distribution process S150 of the manufacturing organization, and measurement results of the waste resin material can be obtained from the quality measurement process S310 of the recycling organization. The results obtained in the quality analysis process S220 are then sent to the informatics process S210.

[0038] The waste resin material is sent from the manufacturing organization to the collection organization, and then from the collection organization to the recycling organization. After that, measurement data of the waste resin material is measured in the quality measurement process S310, and the application of mechanical recycling or chemical recycling is determined in the determination process S320. If chemical recycling is applied, the waste resin material is sent to a chemical recycling manufacturer.

[0039] In the trade process S230, the material and supplier organization purchases recycled resin materials from a recycling organization or a chemical recycling manufacturer and sells them to a manufacturing organization, etc. In this case, the material and supplier organization can send trust data such as quality and lifespan acquired in the informatics process S210 to the manufacturing organization, etc. together with the recycled resin materials (products).

[0040] The recipe, desired production volume, remaining life, etc. generated in the informatics step S210 may be sent to the mix design step S330 and used in the production of mechanically recycled materials.

[0041] Next, an example will be described. [Example]

[0042] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a data management method for recycled resin materials in the first embodiment.

[0043] In this diagram, measurement data of the collected waste resin material is acquired (step S510). Next, feature quantities related to the composition, physical properties, etc. of the waste resin material are generated based on the measurement data (step S520). Next, a remaining life prediction model is generated based on the life test data and feature quantities of the waste resin material (step S530). Then, it is determined whether chemical recycling is necessary (step S540). [Example]

[0044] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a method for selling recycled resin materials in Example 2.

[0045] In this diagram, the specifications and required amount of resin material required for a product are obtained (step S610). Next, feature quantities related to the composition, physical properties, etc. of the resin material used in the product are generated (step S620). Next, the quality, remaining life, etc. of the recycled material are obtained (step S630). Then, the recycled material is sold with data on quality, remaining life, etc. added (step S640).

[0046] Hereinafter, the data management method for recycled resin materials according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0047] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing a data management method for recycled resin materials according to the present disclosure.

[0048] In this diagram, an input device acquires measurement data of recycled resin material or waste resin material (step S710). Next, a processing device calculates feature quantities related to at least one of the composition and physical properties of the recycled resin material or waste resin material based on the measurement data (step S720). Next, the processing device predicts the remaining lifespan of the recycled resin material or waste resin material based on the feature quantities (step S730). Next, the processing device determines whether mechanical recycling or chemical recycling should be applied to the waste resin material (step S740). Then, an output device outputs at least one of the measurement data, feature quantity data, remaining lifespan data, and determination results (step S750).

[0049] The process shown in this figure can also be applied to a method for selling recycled resin materials and a method for providing data on recycled resin materials.

[0050] Furthermore, the method for managing data on recycled resin materials, the method for selling recycled resin materials, and the method for providing data on recycled resin materials can be executed by a computer using a program.

[0051] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be summarized below.

[0052] The data management system for recycled resin materials further includes a storage device, and the storage device stores the measurement data, the characteristic amount data, the remaining life data, and the discrimination result data.

[0053] The processing device generates a remaining life prediction model based on the characteristic quantities of the recycled resin material or the discarded resin material.

[0054] The processing device determines whether the remaining life required for the specifications of a product using recycled resin material is met based on a remaining life prediction model.

[0055] The processing device applies chemical recycling to the waste resin material derived from the product if the waste resin material does not meet the required remaining life.

[0056] The processing device generates information on products that can use recycled resin materials obtained by applying mechanical recycling to waste resin materials.

[0057] The input device acquires usage information including at least one of the usage environment and usage period of the product before the recycled resin material constituting the product becomes waste resin material.

[0058] The processing device generates recipe information based on a remaining life prediction model, the recipe information including at least one of the type and amount of additives to be used when manufacturing recycled resin material from waste resin material when mechanical recycling is applied.

[0059] A manufacturing process for a product is generated based on the variation in features in a shipping lot of recycled resin materials.

[0060] Furthermore, the following devices and methods are available for determining the recycling route of waste resin materials.

[0061] The discarded resin material discrimination device calculates characteristic quantities related to at least one of the composition and physical properties of the recycled resin material or discarded resin material based on measurement data of the recycled resin material or discarded resin material, predicts the remaining lifespan of the recycled resin material or discarded resin material based on the characteristic quantities, and determines whether mechanical recycling or chemical recycling should be applied to the discarded resin material.

[0062] The method for discriminating waste resin materials is a method for discriminating recycling routes for waste resin materials using one or more computing devices, which calculates characteristic quantities related to at least one of the composition and physical properties of the resin recycled material or waste resin material based on measurement data of the resin recycled material or waste resin material, predicts the remaining lifespan based on the characteristic quantities of the resin recycled material or waste resin material, and discriminates whether mechanical recycling or chemical recycling should be applied to the waste resin material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] S10: input process, S20: processing process, S30: output process.

Claims

1. An input device, a processing device, and an output device, The input device acquires measurement data of the recycled resin material or the waste resin material that is a raw material of the recycled resin material, The processing device includes: Calculating a characteristic quantity relating to at least one of the composition and physical properties of the recycled resin material or the discarded resin material based on the measurement data; generating a remaining life prediction model based on the feature amount of the recycled resin material or the discarded resin material, and predicting a remaining life; Based on the remaining life prediction model, it is determined whether the remaining life required for the specifications of a product using the recycled resin material is met, and whether mechanical recycling or chemical recycling should be applied to the waste resin material; If the waste resin material derived from the product does not meet the required remaining life, the chemical recycling is applied to the waste resin material; The output device outputs at least one of the measurement data, the feature data, the remaining life data, and the determination result.

2. Further comprising a storage device; The data management system according to claim 1 , wherein the storage device stores the measurement data, the feature amount data, the remaining life data, and the result data of the determination.

3. The data management system according to claim 1 , wherein the processing device generates information about the products that can use the recycled resin material obtained by applying the mechanical recycling to the waste resin material.

4. The data management system according to claim 1 , wherein the input device acquires usage information including at least one of a usage environment and a usage period of the product before the recycled resin material constituting the product becomes the discarded resin material.

5. The data management system of claim 1, wherein the processing device generates recipe information based on the remaining life prediction model, the recipe information including at least one of the type and amount of additives to be used when manufacturing the recycled resin material using the waste resin material when the mechanical recycling is applied.

6. The data management system according to claim 1 , wherein the manufacturing process of the product is generated based on the variation in the feature amount in a shipping lot of the recycled resin material.

7. The input device acquires measurement data of the recycled resin material or the waste resin material that is the raw material of the recycled resin material, The processing device Calculating a characteristic quantity relating to at least one of the composition and physical properties of the recycled resin material or the discarded resin material based on the measurement data; generating a remaining life prediction model based on the feature amount of the recycled resin material or the discarded resin material, and predicting a remaining life; Based on the remaining life prediction model, it is determined whether the remaining life required for the specifications of a product using the recycled resin material is met, and whether mechanical recycling or chemical recycling should be applied to the waste resin material; If the waste resin material derived from the product does not meet the required remaining life, the chemical recycling is applied to the waste resin material; an output device outputs at least one of the measurement data, the feature amount data, the remaining life data, and the determination result;

8. A program that causes a computer to execute the data management method according to claim 7.

9. An input device of the manufacturing organization or the material and supplier organization acquires measurement data of the recycled resin material or the waste resin material that is the raw material of the recycled resin material, said material and supplier organization's processing equipment; Calculating a characteristic quantity relating to at least one of the composition and physical properties of the recycled resin material or the discarded resin material based on the measurement data; generating a remaining life prediction model based on the feature amount of the recycled resin material or the discarded resin material, and predicting a remaining life; Based on the remaining life prediction model, it is determined whether the remaining life required for the specifications of a product using the recycled resin material is met, and whether mechanical recycling or chemical recycling should be applied to the waste resin material; If the waste resin material derived from the product does not meet the required remaining life, the chemical recycling is applied to the waste resin material; a sales method for a resin recycled material, wherein an output device of the manufacturing organization outputs at least one of the measurement data, the feature amount data, the remaining life data, and the determination result when the resin recycled material is sold by the manufacturing organization, the recycling organization, or a chemical recycling manufacturer.

10. An input device of the recycling organization, the manufacturing organization, or the material and supplier organization acquires measurement data of the recycled resin material or the waste resin material that is the raw material of the recycled resin material; said material and supplier organization's processing equipment; Calculating a characteristic quantity relating to at least one of the composition and physical properties of the recycled resin material or the discarded resin material based on the measurement data; generating a remaining life prediction model based on the feature amount of the recycled resin material or the discarded resin material, and predicting a remaining life; Based on the remaining life prediction model, it is determined whether the remaining life required for the specifications of a product using the recycled resin material is met, and whether mechanical recycling or chemical recycling should be applied to the waste resin material; If the waste resin material derived from the product does not meet the required remaining life, the chemical recycling is applied to the waste resin material; A method for providing data on recycled resin materials, in which an output device of the recycling organization outputs at least one of the measurement data, the feature data, the remaining life data, and the results of the judgment when the recycling organization takes over the discarded resin materials.

11. Calculating a feature amount relating to at least one of the composition and physical properties of the resin recycled material or the waste resin material based on measurement data of the resin recycled material or the waste resin material that is a raw material of the resin recycled material; generating a remaining life prediction model based on the feature amount of the recycled resin material or the discarded resin material, and predicting a remaining life; Based on the remaining life prediction model, it is determined whether the remaining life required for the specifications of a product using the recycled resin material is met, and whether mechanical recycling or chemical recycling should be applied to the waste resin material; The waste resin material discriminating device applies the chemical recycling to the waste resin material derived from the product if the waste resin material does not satisfy the required remaining life.

12. A method for determining a recycling route for waste resin materials by one or more computing devices, comprising: Calculating a feature amount relating to at least one of the composition and physical properties of the resin recycled material or the waste resin material based on measurement data of the resin recycled material or the waste resin material that is a raw material of the resin recycled material; generating a remaining life prediction model based on the feature amount of the recycled resin material or the discarded resin material, and predicting a remaining life; Based on the remaining life prediction model, it is determined whether the remaining life required for the specifications of a product using the recycled resin material is met, and whether mechanical recycling or chemical recycling should be applied to the waste resin material; The method for discriminating waste resin materials includes applying the chemical recycling to the waste resin materials derived from the products if the waste resin materials do not satisfy the required remaining life.

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