Thermal Conversion of Desert Sand Into Angular Crushed Sand
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction industry faces a shortage of suitable sand for concrete production due to the unsuitability of desert sand and the environmental and economic challenges of extracting coastal sand, with existing methods being either inefficient or environmentally harmful.
Innovation Solution
A thermal treatment process that converts fine or round desert sand into angular medium sand by melting and then breaking it into fragments, creating new grain boundaries and increasing surface roughness, suitable for use as a concrete aggregate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If desert sand is used as starting material, then the process is environmentally friendly and avoids coastal pollution, but the sand grains have unfavorable rounded geometry and smooth surface that make them unsuitable for concrete production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies thermal treatment to change the physical parameters of desert sand grains. By heating the sand to high temperatures (melting point range), the smooth rounded grains undergo phase change and subsequent cooling creates angular shapes with rough surfaces, transforming the grain geometry to be suitable for concrete while maintaining the environmental benefit of using desert sand
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of sand grains through melting and solidification. The desert sand is heated to melt the grains, then cooled to form angular crushed sand with rough surfaces. This phase transition process fundamentally changes the grain morphology from smooth and rounded to angular and rough, making it suitable for concrete aggregate while using environmentally friendly desert sand as feedstock
2Shape
If coastal sand is extracted to meet sand demand, then suitable angular sand for concrete is obtained, but vegetation is damaged and natural disasters risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful factor of desert sand's unfavorable grain shape into a benefit through thermal treatment. The initially smooth rounded desert sand grains are melted and cooled to create angular shapes with rough surfaces, transforming what was previously a disadvantage into the desired property for concrete aggregate, thereby eliminating the need for harmful coastal sand extraction
3Shape
If gravel and cobbles are crushed to produce artificial crushed sand, then angular sand for concrete is obtained, but desertification accelerates and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phase transitions (melting and solidification) to transform desert sand grains into angular shapes, replacing the mechanical crushing process. This thermal approach consumes less energy than operating large crushing machines and does not require extracting additional rock materials that would accelerate desertification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical crushing system with a thermal treatment system. Instead of using powerful crushers to mechanically break down gravel and cobbles, the invention uses heating to melt and cooling to solidify desert sand grains, achieving angular grain geometry through phase transition rather than mechanical force, thereby reducing energy consumption
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 process provides an environmentally friendly and economically viable alternative to natural sand, reducing desert expansion and coastal pollution, while ensuring sufficient sand supply for construction and land reclamation.
Implementation Method 1
The starting material is heated at least to a melting temperature to form an intermediate product in the form of a molten body
Implementation Method 2
The melting temperature is generated by concentrating solar rays using at least one optical element
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing artificial crushed sand by means of a thermal treatment using sand in the form of fine sand (FS/FSa) and/or round sand as the starting material (1). The starting material (1) in variant A is heated to a melting temperature by bundling sun rays (13), and/or the starting material in variant B is heated to a melting temperature by using a conventional melting device which achieves its energy supply using converted or stored solar power, whereby each of a plurality of sand grains are melted together into a three-dimensional intermediate product (2). The intermediate product (2) produced in this manner is cooled and finally comminuted to a particle size of less than 2 mm in a comminuting process. An end product (3) is produced which differs from the starting material (1) with respect to the shape and surface roughness. The method offers a long-term solution for meeting the demand for crushed sand and provides sand for the construction industry.