Construction Aggregate Production With Virgin-Recycled Material Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing construction aggregates are not cost-effective or environmentally friendly due to the separation and landfilling of fine aggregates < 2 mm or < 4 mm from recycled materials, which necessitate the use of expensive virgin sand in their production.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the mixing and washing of virgin and recycled materials in a predefined ratio using a washer, followed by sizing and conveying to produce a homogeneous construction aggregate, thereby eliminating the need to landfill fine aggregates and reducing the reliance on virgin sand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fine aggregates < 2 mm or < 4 mm are separated and landfilled from recycled materials, then the quality of construction aggregate is maintained, but the environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness deteriorate due to landfilling and increased reliance on virgin sand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines fine aggregates < 2 mm or < 4 mm with coarse aggregates > 4 mm or > 2 mm from recycled materials to produce construction aggregate. This merging eliminates the need to landfill fine aggregates and reduces dependency on virgin sand, thereby improving environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness while maintaining quality through controlled mixing ratios
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the grain size classification parameters by redefining acceptable ranges for construction aggregate. By adjusting the permissible fine aggregate content through controlled mixing ratios and modifying sizing parameters, the patent transforms previously rejected fine material into a valuable component, resolving the contradiction between quality maintenance and environmental sustainability
2Reliability
If virgin sand is used to replace landfilled fine aggregates, then the quality of construction aggregate is maintained, but the cost and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding fine aggregates < 2 mm or < 4 mm as waste to landfills, the patent recovers and reintegrates them into the construction aggregate product. This recovery process eliminates the need to consume virgin sand while maintaining aggregate quality, directly addressing the contradiction between quality assurance and reduction of virgin material consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes recycled materials serve multiple functions by combining both fine and coarse fractions into a single construction aggregate product suitable for concrete production. This multi-functional use of recycled materials eliminates the need for separate virgin sand sources, reducing both cost and environmental impact while maintaining quality standards
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 approach results in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly production of construction aggregates by integrating recycled materials, enhancing material homogeneity and reducing waste, while maintaining the quality and durability of the final product.
Implementation Method 1
The first material is washed together with the second material in at least one washer
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A Method and a device for producing a construction aggregate including the steps: feeding a first material and a second material to a processing plant, wherein the first material is a virgin material, and the second material is a recycled material, and washing the first material together with the second material in at least one washer of the processing plant.