Continuous Depolymerization Reaction Monitoring by Material Sampling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for monitoring the progress of depolymerization reactions in chemical recycling of PET bottles are inefficient and require special collection devices, often necessitating the interruption of the chemical reaction.

Innovation Solution

A depolymerization reaction monitoring device that includes a depolymerization reaction tank, a characteristic measuring unit, and a progress monitoring unit to measure and track the progress of the reaction based on the characteristics of the depolymerization material, allowing continuous monitoring without interrupting the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If special collection devices are used to monitor depolymerization reaction progress, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity increases and continuous operation is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereaction progress monitoring capabilityVSAvoidcollection device requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the measurement function from the reaction system by using a sampling pump to take small samples of the depolymerization material and transfer them to a measurement chamber. This allows the main reaction to continue uninterrupted while enabling continuous monitoring of reaction progress through the measured characteristics of the sampled material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a sampling pump and measurement chamber as intermediary components between the reaction tank and the measurement system. These intermediaries enable the transfer and measurement of depolymerization material characteristics without directly interfering with or stopping the main depolymerization reaction process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the chemical reaction is interrupted for monitoring, then measurement accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereaction progress measurement accuracyVSAvoidcontinuous operation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous monitoring by using a sampling pump to continuously or periodically take samples of the depolymerization material. The measurement chamber continuously measures characteristics such as refractive index or viscosity, allowing the reaction progress to be tracked in real-time without interrupting the depolymerization reaction, thus maintaining both measurement accuracy and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback loop where the measurement chamber continuously measures the characteristics of the depolymerization material and provides this information back to the control system. This feedback enables real-time monitoring and adjustment of the depolymerization process without requiring interruption of the reaction itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If collection devices are used to monitor reaction progress, then information about reaction state is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereaction state information availabilityVSAvoidprocess interruption time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary sampling of the depolymerization material using a sampling pump before the measurement is needed. By continuously maintaining samples in the measurement chamber, the system is ready to provide immediate information about reaction progress without requiring time-consuming collection operations or process interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables efficient identification of the depolymerization reaction progress, enhancing the operating efficiency and stability of the chemical recycling process by allowing continuous operation and reducing the need for special collection devices.

Implementation Method 1

a characteristic measuring unit that measures a characteristic of the depolymerization material in which the depolymerized product is dissolved at the depolymerization reaction tank

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical property detection: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentUS20250277097A1Depolymerization reaction monitoring device, depolymerization reaction monitoring method, and depolymerization reaction monitoring program

Publication Date: 2025.09.04 SUMITOMO HEAVY IND LTD

AI summary

A depolymerization reaction monitoring device includes: a depolymerization reaction tank that causes a depolymerization reaction in which a polyester is decomposed into a depolymerized product by using a depolymerization material; a characteristic measuring unit that measures a characteristic of the depolymerization material in which the depolymerized product is dissolved at the depolymerization reaction tank; and a progress monitoring unit that monitors progress of the depolymerization reaction based on the characteristic of the depolymerization material measured by the characteristic measuring unit.