Plastic Recycling Plant Preheating Screw Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processing devices for thermoplastic material recycling face challenges in achieving uniform transfer of comminuted plastic material to the extrusion device, leading to potential clogging and limited output capacity due to material degradation and motor power constraints.
Innovation Solution
A processing plant design that includes a hollow-cylindrically designed housing with a comminuting device and a conveying device with a screw flight, where the plastic material is heated to a transfer temperature along the conveying section, allowing for efficient preheating and direct transfer to the extruder screw, reducing the need for high drive power and preventing clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotational frequency of the plasticizing device is increased to increase output capacity, then the amount of plastic discharged and melted per time unit increases, but material degradation due to excessive shearing occurs and motor power limits are reached
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary heating action to the comminuted plastic material in the conveying device before it enters the extruder. The conveying device is designed to heat the material along the conveying section, raising it to a transfer temperature that facilitates easier melting in the extruder. This preliminary action reduces the mechanical work and shearing required in the extruder, thereby preventing material degradation while maintaining high output capacity.
2Productivity
If the rotational frequency of the plasticizing device is increased to increase output capacity, then the amount of plastic discharged and melted per time unit increases, but motor power constraints are reached
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying device performs preliminary heating of the plastic material before it reaches the extruder. This preheating reduces the energy demand of the extruder motor, allowing high output capacity to be achieved without exceeding motor power constraints. The heating is accomplished through the design of the conveying device that enables thermal energy transfer along the conveying section.
3Device complexity
If a conventional transfer region design is used between conveying device and extruder, then the structure is simple, but small plastic pieces collect in the transfer region causing clogging of openings
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the plastic material in the transfer region by heating it to a transfer temperature in the conveying device. This temperature change prevents the material from solidifying and clogging the transfer region, ensuring uniform and reliable transfer from the conveying device to the extruder without compromising structural simplicity.
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 approach ensures a uniform and constant transfer of plastic material, increases output capacity, and reduces energy requirements by using redundant drive energy for heating, while maintaining efficient heat exchange and preventing material degradation.
Implementation Method 1
the comminuted plastic material is heated to a transfer temperature with a mean temperature value, in particular in a range of the softening temperature of the plastic material, during its conveying movement along the first conveying section at least by means of the conveying device
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a processing plant (1) for plastic material, for the recycling thereof. To this end, the processing plant (1) comprises a feed device (4), a processing unit (2) having a comminuting device (5) and a conveying device (6) adjoining the comminuting device (5), and an extrusion device (3) having an extruder screw (21). During its conveying movement along a first conveying section (9) toward a transfer region (8) by means of the conveying device (6), the comminuted plastic material is heated to a transfer temperature with a mean temperature value, which falls into the range of the softening temperature of the plastic material. In the transfer region (8), the comminuted plastic material is transferred to the extrusion device (3).