LIBS Aero Aluminum Scrap Sorting System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sorting and recovery technologies for waste aluminum alloys, such as wind separation, magnetic separation, and eddy current separation, cannot accurately determine the elemental composition or grades of aluminum alloys, leading to reduced value of recovered materials due to mixing of different series, resulting in lower market prices.
Innovation Solution
A fully automatic online aero aluminum sorting and recovery system utilizing Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technology, which includes a sample feeding unit, surface treatment unit, material positioning unit, LIBS analysis and detection unit, transfer unit, and sorting and recovery unit, enabling accurate identification and sorting of aluminum alloys based on their composition and grades without direct contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional separation methods (wind separation, magnetic separation, flotation separation, gravity separation, eddy current separation) are used for waste aluminum alloy sorting, then the sorting process can be performed, but the elemental composition and grades of aluminum alloys cannot be accurately determined, leading to mixing of different series and reduced value of recovered materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical separation methods (wind separation, magnetic separation, flotation separation, gravity separation, eddy current separation) with Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technology. The LIBS system uses a laser to ablate the aluminum alloy surface, generating plasma that emits characteristic spectral lines. By analyzing these spectra, the system accurately determines the elemental composition and grades of aluminum alloys, transforming the sorting process from mechanical separation based on physical properties to optical spectroscopy-based chemical composition analysis, thereby eliminating the information loss inherent in traditional methods.
2Ease of manufacture
If all different series of aluminum alloy are mixed together to make aluminum ingots, then the recovery process is simple, but the market price is greatly reduced to only about 20,000 yuan/ton
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an automated LIBS detection and sorting system that replaces manual sorting and mixing processes. The system uses laser-induced plasma spectroscopy to rapidly analyze the elemental composition of aluminum alloys, automatically identifies different series and grades, and directs them to appropriate collection containers. This automated optical-mechanical system maintains process simplicity while eliminating the need for mixing different series, thereby preserving the high market value of sorted aluminum alloys (ranging from 20,000 to 70,000 yuan/ton depending on grade).
Solution Approach 2:
The LIBS detection system provides self-service by automatically determining the grades and series of aluminum alloys through spectral analysis without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously processes each sample, identifies its composition, and directs it to the appropriate collection point, enabling the recovery process to maintain simplicity while achieving accurate sorting for maximum economic value.
3Productivity
If LIBS detection technology is used for online testing and large-scale sorting, then detection efficiency is high, but the system complexity increases with multiple units including sample feeding, surface treatment, material positioning, LIBS analysis, transfer, and sorting units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the LIBS-based sorting system into six functional modules: (1) sample feeding unit, (2) surface treatment unit, (3) material positioning unit, (4) LIBS analysis and detection unit, (5) transfer unit, and (6) sorting and recovery unit. Each module performs a specific function, allowing the system to handle large-scale sorting with high detection efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through functional decomposition. The segmentation enables parallel processing and specialized optimization of each subsystem.
Solution Approach 2:
The LIBS detection system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it identifies elemental composition, determines alloy grades, classifies different series, and provides data for sorting decisions. This multi-functionality allows a single core technology (LIBS spectroscopy) to handle various detection requirements across different aluminum alloy types, reducing the need for multiple specialized detection systems and thereby managing overall system complexity while maintaining high productivity.
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 system achieves high accuracy and fast detection of aluminum alloy grades, allowing for precise sorting and recovery of different series, significantly increasing the value of recovered materials by accurately distinguishing between various grades of aluminum alloys.
Implementation Method 1
The Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technology mainly uses a pulse laser to excite a metal surface, so that the electrons in the atom are subjected to transition, resulting in the plasma cloud and releasing a spectrum
Implementation Method 2
the electrons in the atom are subjected to transition, resulting in the plasma cloud and releasing a spectrum
Data Source
AI summary
A fully automatic online aero aluminum sorting and recovery system based on LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) technology, which belongs to the field of aero aluminum sorting and recovery technology, and is suitable for online sorting, detection and recovery of large batch of aero aluminum. The fully automatic online aero aluminum sorting system based on LIBS technology provided in the present invention consists of six portions: a sample feeding unit (1), a surface treatment unit (2), a material positioning unit (3), a LIBS analysis and detection unit (4), a transfer unit (5) and a sorting and recovery unit (6). The system according to the invention can be used to realize the automatic online detection, sorting and recovery of aero aluminum, and the system does not have requirements on the surface condition of the recovered aero aluminum samples. The sorting accuracy rate is greater than 90% and the sorting rate is not less than 1 block per second.