Incoherent Plastic Odour Analysis Using Dehumidified Process Gas
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to efficiently and rapidly analyze incoherent solid materials, particularly plastics from post-consumer recycling, for the presence of odorous and contaminating substances, which can degrade at higher temperatures, necessitating advanced preparation and personnel, and are not suitable for large sample sizes.
Innovation Solution
An analysis apparatus and method using a containing volume with a process gas dehumidification and expansion system, combined with filtration and heating, to detect odorous features and characterize plastics without altering them, enabling rapid analysis of larger samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional analysis methods are used for incoherent plastics, then measurement precision can be maintained, but analysis speed is slow and sample size is limited to small quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs dehumidification and filtration of the process gas before it contacts the plastic material. By preparing the gas environment in advance, the analysis can proceed rapidly without requiring complex preparatory steps for the material itself, thus improving analysis speed while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a process gas as an intermediary medium that carries volatile compounds from the plastic material to the detection system. This intermediary approach allows for rapid analysis of larger sample sizes without direct contact between the detector and the material, eliminating the need for specialized personnel and complex preparation
2Measurement precision
If higher temperatures are applied to detect odorous substances, then detection sensitivity improves, but the plastics may degrade or alter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the process gas through dehumidification and controlled heating at moderate temperatures. By optimizing the gas temperature and humidity parameters before it interacts with the material, the system achieves enhanced detection sensitivity for odorous substances without applying excessive heat that would cause plastic degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of volatile compounds from solid/liquid state in the plastic to gas state, which are then carried by the dehumidified process gas to the detector. This phase transition approach enables sensitive detection of odorous substances at lower temperatures, avoiding direct thermal degradation of the plastic material
3Measurement precision
If complex preparation procedures are implemented, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automatic dehumidification and filtration of the process gas through integrated components. The gas processing system serves itself by automatically removing moisture and particulates without requiring manual intervention or complex preparatory procedures, thereby maintaining measurement precision while simplifying operation to the point where specialized personnel are not needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical preparation procedures with a gas-phase analysis approach. Instead of mechanically preparing the plastic samples through cutting, mounting, or other physical manipulations, the system uses a dehumidified process gas to extract and transport volatile compounds directly to the detector, simplifying both the device and operational procedures
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 rapid, efficient, and versatile analysis of incoherent plastics for contaminating and odorous substances, allowing for suitable treatment methods to be determined in advance, ensuring high-quality end products without complex preparation or specialized personnel.
Implementation Method 1
a dehumidifier (6) arranged in said gas path (5) to dehumidify said process gas
Implementation Method 2
a heater (9) arranged in said gas path (5) to heat said process gas to a desired temperature
Implementation Method 3
at least one filter arranged in said gas path (5) to remove particles and/or volatile organic compounds from said process gas
Implementation Method 4
an odour sensor (14) to detect odorous features of said process gas
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An analysis apparatus and method are disclosed for incoherent plastics obtained from post-consumer recycling, in which the material is introduced into a containing volume, a flow of a process gas flows along a gas path as far as a diffuser arranged in the containing volume, the process gas is dehumidified along a gas path to a dewpoint below +15 °C with a dehumidifier that operates by compression and subsequent expansion of the gas, the odorous features of the process gas present in the containing volume and/or of the process gas extracted from the containing volume are detected by one odour sensor and compared with stored data to characterize the incoherent material.