Method and device for producing artificial broken sand or 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
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction industry faces a significant shortage of suitable sand for concrete production and land reclamation 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 method involving the thermal treatment of fine or round desert sand to melt and reform it into a three-dimensional structure, which is then comminuted into sharp medium sand, utilizing high temperatures and solar energy to create new grain boundaries and increase surface roughness, thereby producing an environmentally friendly and economically viable substitute for natural sand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If desert sand is used as fine-grained aggregate in concrete production, then the availability of sand increases, but the concrete strength decreases due to rounded grain geometry and smooth surface
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of desert sand through thermal treatment at temperatures between 1000°C and 1700°C, transforming the rounded grains with smooth surfaces into angular grains with rough surfaces, thereby improving concrete strength while maintaining sand availability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure by fusing sand grains together through thermal treatment to form sintered bodies, which are then comminuted to produce artificial broken sand with improved grain geometry and surface characteristics for enhanced concrete strength
2Quantity of substance
If coastal sand is extracted to meet sand demand, then the supply of suitable sand increases, but environmental damage occurs to coastal ecosystems
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of desert sand's rounded geometry and smooth surface into a benefit by using thermal treatment to transform these very characteristics into angular geometry and rough surfaces, making desert sand suitable for concrete while avoiding coastal extraction
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses abundant solar energy available in desert regions to process desert sand in situ, eliminating the need for sand extraction from coastal areas and creating a self-sufficient local solution that benefits both the environment and construction industry
3Use of energy by moving object
If solar energy is used for thermal treatment of sand, then the process becomes environmentally friendly and cost-effective, but high temperatures up to 1700°C must be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces conventional mechanical or chemical sand processing methods with solar thermal processing, using concentrated solar energy to achieve the necessary temperatures for transforming sand grain characteristics in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transitions of sand during thermal treatment, heating the sand to temperatures between 1000°C and 1700°C to induce sintering and structural changes that transform rounded grains into angular grains with rough surfaces, suitable for concrete production
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 method provides a sustainable and cost-effective solution for producing crushed sand suitable for concrete and land reclamation, reducing the environmental impact of coastal sand extraction and slowing desert expansion, while ensuring the quality and quantity needed for construction.
Implementation Method 1
the starting material is heated at least to a melting temperature so that new grain boundaries are formed
Implementation Method 2
thermal treatment with the use of sand in the form of fine sand (fS/FSa) and/or round sand as the starting material
Implementation Method 3
the melting temperature is generated through the concentration of solar rays by means of at least one optical element
Implementation Method 4
utilizing high temperatures and solar energy to create new grain boundaries
Implementation Method 5
The resulting three-dimensional structure is cooled and broken down in a comminution machine into fragments
Data Source
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.