Paper Waste Processing via Counter-Rotating Cranks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current paper recycling processes are inefficient in separating paper fibers from plastic sheet materials, leading to high water usage and significant waste generation, with many processes resulting in the burning of paper waste due to ineffective material retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of counter-rotating rotary cranks to pulverize and separate paper waste into paper fibers and plastic components, utilizing thermal turbulence to differentiate between materials of low and high specific weight, allowing for efficient separation without excessive water usage and reducing waste output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If water and chemicals are added to paper waste for recycling, then paper fibers can be separated from contaminants, but water consumption increases and additional waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes plastic coating materials from paper waste before the fiber separation process. By taking out the plastic component first through mechanical means (teethed rollers and screens), the subsequent fiber processing requires less water and chemical treatment, directly addressing both the fiber recovery efficiency and water consumption contradiction
Solution Approach 2:
The recycling process is segmented into distinct stages: plastic removal through mechanical screening, followed by fiber separation. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently, with the plastic removal stage handling the coating material and the fiber stage focusing on cellulose recovery with minimal water usage
2Loss of substance
If conventional separation methods are used, then some paper fibers are recovered, but significant paper waste is generated and burned
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary action by removing plastic coatings and contaminants before the main fiber recovery process. This preliminary cleaning and separation prevents contamination of the fiber stream, ensuring higher quality recovered paper and maximizing the amount of material that can be successfully recycled rather than burned as waste
Solution Approach 2:
The system selectively discards only the non-recyclable plastic coating components while recovering the paper fibers for reuse. By using mechanical screening and separation methods, the invention maximizes fiber recovery and minimizes the volume of material that must be discarded or burned, thereby improving overall material utilization
3Loss of substance
If plastic-coated paper is processed with water, then fibers are separated, but plastic and fiber separation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to separate plastic from fiber in the conventional wet process, the invention inverts the approach by mechanically removing the plastic coating first through teethed rollers and screening. This reversal makes the separation easier because the plastic and fiber are physically divided before any water processing occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the chemical/water-based separation system with a mechanical separation system using teethed rollers and screens. This mechanical approach physically tears away the plastic coating and separates it from the fiber layer, making the separation process easier and more effective than conventional wet methods
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 effectively recovers paper fibers from waste streams with minimal water usage and reduced waste, enabling the recycling of paper waste that would otherwise be incinerated, while maintaining a controlled humidity level and preventing fires through temperature monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
separating the further components into a stream of components of low specific weight and a stream of components of high specific weight by dispersing the portion by thermal turbulence generated by the at least two rotary cranks
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method of processing paper waste for obtaining paper fibers. In an aspect, there is provided, a method of processing paper waste for obtaining paper fibers from a stream of paper waste, comprising the steps of obtaining a pulverized portion of the stream of paper waste, the portion comprising the paper fibers and a further component, the portion having a humidity of at most 40 wt%, ripping apart the pulverized portion of paper waste by subjecting the portion in between at least two rotary cranks positioned adjacent to each other and arranged for counter-rotating in a mutual rotational plane, separating the ripped portion of paper waste into a stream of the paper fibers, and a stream of the further components by slinging the portion with the at least two rotary cranks against a sieve positioned in the circumference of the rotary cranks, separating the further components into a stream of components of low specific weight and a stream of components of high specific weight by dispersing the portion by thermal turbulence generated by the at least two rotary cranks.