Cooled Conveyor for Combustion-Prone Dust in Decoating Systems

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

During metal recycling, the dust produced from decoating systems is susceptible to combustion due to high temperatures and organic content, making it difficult to extinguish and costly to dispose of, with traditional methods posing safety and environmental risks.

Innovation Solution

A decoating system incorporating a cooled conveyor with internally or externally cooled screws and troughs to reduce the dust temperature from the cyclone temperature to a processing temperature below the ignition point, minimizing the risk of fires and environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If dust is discharged from the dust cyclone at elevated temperature, then the decoating process efficiency is maintained, but the dust is susceptible to combustion and dust fires occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoating process efficiencyVSAvoidcombustion susceptibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A cooled conveyor acts as an intermediary device between the dust cyclone and the dust collection system. The conveyor receives hot dust from the cyclone, transports it while cooling, and delivers it to the collection system at a safe temperature, preventing combustion while maintaining process efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the temperature parameter of the dust by introducing a cooled conveyor that reduces dust temperature from cyclone discharge temperature to below the ignition point, transforming the dust from a combustion-prone state to a safe processing state

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If water is used to wet the dust to prevent combustion, then fire risk is reduced, but disposal costs increase and environmental issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire riskVSAvoiddisposal costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the chemical/wet method (water application) with a thermal/mechanical method (cooling conveyor). The cooled conveyor uses mechanical cooling to reduce dust temperature below ignition point without adding water, eliminating the need for costly slurry disposal while maintaining fire prevention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using water that creates costly disposable slurry, the system uses a reusable cooled conveyor that continuously cools dust. The cooling system is an enduring infrastructure that eliminates recurring disposal costs associated with water-based fire suppression

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a cooled conveyor is introduced to cool the dust, then combustion is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion preventionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooled conveyor is designed to be self-sufficient, using its own integrated cooling system to cool the dust as it transports. The conveyor serves dual functions of transportation and cooling, eliminating the need for separate cooling equipment and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 cooled conveyor effectively reduces the dust temperature to a safe processing range, preventing combustion and reducing disposal costs by minimizing water usage, thus enhancing safety and environmental sustainability.

Implementation Method 1

The cooled conveyor is configured to receive the dust from the dust cyclone and cool the dust to a dust processing temperature that is less than the cyclone temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3635313B1Decoating system comprising a cooled conveyor
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 NOVELIS INC(US)
  • EP3635313B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3635313B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3635313B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A decoating system includes a dust cyclone and cooled conveyor. The dust cyclone is configured to receive an exhaust gas from a decoating kiln, filter organic particulate matter from the exhaust gas as dust, and discharge the dust at a discharge temperature. The cooled conveyor is configured to receive the dust from the dust cyclone and cool the dust to a dust processing temperature that is less than the spontaneous reaction temperature.