Ready-Mix Concrete Recycling via Aggregate Conversion Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concrete waste is difficult to recycle due to its high pH and short usable time, leading to environmental harm and significant carbon dioxide emissions, with existing recycling methods needing improvement.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for recycling ready-mix concrete (RMC) surplus by converting it into aggregate using an aggregating additive, and optimizing delivery routes to aggregate sites, utilizing user devices and a server to manage surplus location, amount, and site capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If concrete is recycled using existing methods, then some waste concrete can be reused, but the high pH of concrete makes it harmful to the environment and difficult to recycle effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful high-pH concrete waste into a beneficial resource by chemically treating it to neutralize the alkalinity. The treated concrete is then transformed into construction aggregates that can be safely reused, turning an environmental hazard into a valuable building material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of concrete waste by adjusting its pH level through chemical treatment. This parameter transformation makes the concrete suitable for recycling by eliminating the harmful alkaline properties while preserving its structural characteristics for aggregate production.
2Ease of manufacture
If concrete is not recycled, then it can be discarded as waste, but this leads to significant carbon dioxide emissions and environmental harm
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply discarding concrete waste, the patent implements a recovery process that extracts valuable materials from the waste. The system identifies, collects, and processes concrete waste into reusable aggregates, preventing its disposal while recovering useful construction materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the physical and chemical parameters of concrete waste through processing and treatment, converting it from an unusable waste product into viable construction aggregates with appropriate strength, size, and compositional characteristics.
3Loss of substance
If concrete is recycled without optimization, then recycling can occur, but transportation emissions and inefficiency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying and pre-processing concrete waste at its source before transportation. The system prepares the waste material in advance, reducing the need for complex post-transport processing and minimizing transportation-related energy consumption and emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the concrete waste to serve itself by processing and transforming it into usable aggregates at or near the original construction site. This self-service approach eliminates the need for extensive external processing facilities and reduces transportation requirements.
4Productivity
If the pouring time of concrete is extended beyond 120 minutes, then more work can be completed, but the concrete becomes unusable and must be discarded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a recovery system for concrete that would otherwise be discarded after the pouring time expires. By capturing and processing this expired concrete into aggregates, the system recovers valuable materials that would normally become waste, enabling continued productivity without increasing waste.
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
Reduces environmental impact and carbon emissions by enabling efficient recycling of RMC surplus, minimizing transportation emissions, and improving construction site flexibility and concrete quality.
Implementation Method 1
converting it into aggregate using an aggregating additive
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, apparatuses, computer program products, and a system for concrete recycling are disclosed. A method for concrete recycling comprises: obtaining (200) information on a recyclable ready-mix concrete, RMC, surplus, the information including a location of the RMC surplus and an amount of the RMC surplus; transmitting (202) a RMC recycling request comprising the information of the recyclable RMC surplus to a server; receiving (204), from the server, information on one or more aggregate delivery sites capable of receiving the RMC surplus converted into aggregate, the information including one or more locations of the one or more aggregate delivery sites; and outputting (206) at least one of the one or more locations.