Cooling and Mechanical Shock for Bitumen Binder Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating binders from waste containers, particularly those containing radioactive waste, are risky and inefficient, as they often involve heating or large solvent use, which are not suitable for all types of waste and are environmentally harmful.
Innovation Solution
A process that cools the waste container to make the binder brittle, followed by mechanical shocks to separate the binder, and subsequent chemical separation using a mild reactant like methyl ester to remove residual binder, reducing the need for heating and solvent use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If heating is used to soften or liquefy the binder for separation, then the binder separation is facilitated, but the process becomes risky and incompatible with certain types of waste
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter from elevated (heating) to reduced (cooling/freezing) to alter the binder's physical state. By cooling the binder to its glass transition temperature or below, the binder becomes brittle and can be mechanically removed without the safety risks associated with heating, while still achieving effective separation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of heating the binder to make it soft and removable (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by cooling the binder to make it brittle and removable. This reverse thermal approach achieves the same separation goal but eliminates the safety risks of heating.
2Ease of operation
If solvents are used to liquefy the binder for separation, then the binder separation is achieved, but the process becomes expensive and polluting due to large solvent consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the chemical mechanism (solvent dissolution) with a physical mechanism (temperature-induced brittleness followed by mechanical removal). By cooling the binder and then applying mechanical force, separation is achieved without consuming large amounts of chemical solvents, thereby eliminating the associated environmental pollution and cost issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the binder through temperature reduction rather than chemical dissolution. By lowering the temperature to make the binder brittle, the process eliminates the need for large quantities of solvents, thereby reducing environmental pollution and operational costs.
3Manufacturing precision
If heating or solvents are used for binder separation, then complete binder removal can be achieved, but the process complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary cooling to the binder before mechanical removal to ensure the binder is in the optimal brittle state for complete separation. This preliminary temperature reduction ensures that subsequent mechanical actions achieve complete binder removal without requiring complex multi-step heating or solvent application processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively separates the binder from the waste and container surfaces without the risks associated with heating and minimizes chemical product usage, making it safer and more environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling step during which at least a part of the waste container is cooled to bring at least a part of the binder to a temperature at which the binder is brittle
Implementation Method 2
a primary mechanical separation step implemented when the binder at least said part is brittle, during which mechanical shocks are applied to break the binder of at least said part to separate at least the binder from said part of said container
Implementation Method 3
a chemical separation step subsequent to the secondary mechanical separation step and during which all or part of the binder residues in contact with the container of said container are separated by application to residues of a product suitable for reacting with the binder
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method for treating a waste container, the waste container initially comprising a bitumen-containing binder (8) and contents (6) that are in contact with the binder and include waste (14). The disclosed method involves: - a cooling step during which at least one section of the waste container (2) is cooled so as to bring at least one portion of the binder (8) to a temperature at which the binder is brittle; and - a main mechanical separation step which is carried out when the binder in at least said section is brittle and during which mechanical impacts are applied to break off the binder in at least said section in order to separate at least the binder from said section of the container.