Bitumen Granules Coated with Viscosifying Agents

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for transporting and storing bitumen at room temperature face challenges such as creep, adhesion, and agglomeration issues, and current solutions like bitumen granules coated with powdery or polymeric materials either fail to prevent creep or alter the bitumen's properties, making them unsuitable for industrial-scale production.

Innovation Solution

A fluidized air bed process is used to create granules with a core of bitumen, pitch, or clear binder, coated with a homogeneous layer of viscosifying compounds and anti-caking agents, ensuring the granules remain resistant to creep and handling issues under extreme conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If bitumen is transported and stored at high temperatures (120°C to 160°C) in liquid form, then it flows easily and can be transported in bulk, but it becomes hazardous to transport, consumes energy to maintain temperature, and is subject to strict regulations

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetransportabilityVSAvoidhazard

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transforms bitumen from liquid to solid granular form by cooling and solidifying it, eliminating the need for high-temperature transport while maintaining transportability through the granular structure that prevents creep and adhesion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the temperature parameter from high (120°C to 160°C) to ambient temperature, and changes the physical state from liquid to solid granules, fundamentally altering the transport and storage conditions to eliminate hazards while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If bitumen is packaged in metal drums at ambient temperature, then it can be transported without heating, but the drums constitute waste after use and bitumen losses occur due to adhesion to drum walls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidbitumen loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces durable metal drums with disposable flexible bags for packaging solid bitumen granules, eliminating drum waste issues while the flexible packaging minimizes bitumen adhesion losses compared to rigid drum surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a flexible bag packaging solution that copies the functional benefits of drum packaging (protection, containment) while eliminating the drawbacks (waste, adhesion losses) through the use of flexible, disposable materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If bitumen granules are coated with powdery material like limestone powder, then handling is improved, but creep is not prevented at high ambient temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehandlingVSAvoidcreep resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses composite granules with a solid bitumen core and a polymeric coating shell, combining the handling benefits of coated granules with the creep resistance of solid bitumen, creating a material that maintains both ease of operation and reliability at high temperatures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of operation

If bitumen granules are coated with polymeric anti-caking agent like polyethylene, then handling and storage are improved, but the coating alters the properties of the bitumen during road application

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestorageVSAvoidbitumen properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by creating a thin polymeric coating only on the surface of the granules for anti-caking and handling benefits, while the bulk bitumen core remains unchanged and maintains its original properties for road application, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and composition stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

The process produces granules with a uniform, thin coating that prevents creep and adhesion, maintaining the bitumen's properties and allowing for efficient handling and storage, even under high ambient temperatures and pressure, thus overcoming the limitations of previous methods.

Implementation Method 1

a fluidized air bed process is used to create granules with a core of bitumen, pitch, or clear binder, coated with a homogeneous layer of viscosifying compounds and anti-caking agents

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluidization: Fluidisation

Data Source

PatentEP3612598B1Process for preparing solide bitume at room temperature in fluidized bed

Publication Date: 2021.06.09 TOTAL MARKETING SERVICES SA

Figure 1

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing granules of material usable as a road binder or as a sealing binder, comprising a core and a coating layer in a fluidized air bed facility, said core consisting of a first composition comprising at least one material selected from: a bitumen base, a pitch, a clear binder, and the coating layer consisting of a second composition comprising at least one viscosifying compound and at least one anticaking agent.