Waste Plastic Flake Friction Cleaning With Mist Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing physical methods for removing foreign substances from waste plastic surfaces generate excessive frictional heat, necessitating repeated cooling and are inefficient due to open structures that allow external air intake and dust discharge.

Innovation Solution

A closed apparatus design with a rotating shaft and moisture injection system to supply mist-like moisture, controlling frictional heat and enhancing cooling through latent heat of evaporation, while minimizing air pressure and optimizing friction performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If friction processing is performed repeatedly to remove foreign substances from waste plastic surfaces, then foreign substance removal efficiency is improved, but frictional heat accumulates and raw materials must be cooled between cycles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforeign substance removal efficiencyVSAvoidfrictional heat
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful frictional heat into a beneficial cooling mechanism by introducing moisture that evaporates and absorbs heat. The moisture injection system transforms the thermal problem into a controlled phase change process where evaporation cools the waste plastic surface, enabling continuous friction processing without temperature accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of moisture from liquid to vapor through evaporation. This phase change absorbs latent heat from the friction zone, effectively cooling the waste plastic surface and allowing repeated friction processing cycles without material degradation or excessive heat accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

2Device complexity

If an open structure is used for friction processing, then device complexity is reduced, but external air intake and dust discharge reduce processing efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces moisture as an intermediary substance that serves multiple functions: it cools the friction zone through evaporation, suppresses dust generation by maintaining surface humidity, and enables continuous processing. This intermediary mediates between the mechanical friction process and the thermal/dust control requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Temperature

If moisture is injected to control frictional heat, then temperature control is improved, but foreign substance removal efficiency may be reduced due to reduced friction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrictional heat controlVSAvoidforeign substance removal efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies moisture in controlled amounts that are sufficient for cooling and dust suppression but not excessive to prevent friction. The moisture injection is optimized to maintain just enough surface humidity to enable continuous processing without significantly reducing the frictional force needed for foreign substance removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Enhances foreign substance removal efficiency by cooling frictional heat and swelling foreign substances for easy removal, maintaining the waste plastic below its glass transition temperature, thus preventing material fusion and maximizing resin recovery.

Implementation Method 1

supply mist-like moisture, controlling frictional heat and enhancing cooling through latent heat of evaporation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

enhancing cooling through latent heat of evaporation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLatent heat: Latent Heat

Implementation Method 3

peels off the foreign substances attached to the waste plastic flake by rubbing the waste plastic flake in a rotational manner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4691725A1Apparatus for removing foreign substances from waste plastic
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP4691725A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4691725A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4691725A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for removing a foreign substance from waste plastic, and more particularly, to an apparatus for removing a foreign substance from waste plastic that removes a foreign substance attached to a surface of waste plastic by enhancing frictional performance of a surface of a waste plastic flake, and improves cooling performance by supplying moisture in the form of mist to frictional heat generated at that time.