Recycling Process Planning Engine for Electronic Device Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current recycling processes for electronic waste rely on empirical methods and manual planning by experts, resulting in low recycling rates due to the lack of integration with manufacturing design, which could improve if recycling plans were generated automatically and optimized during the design phase.

Innovation Solution

A system and method to automatically generate and evaluate recycling process plans based on manufacturing design data, using a recycling process planning engine that simulates and optimizes recycling processes to maximize material recovery and minimize waste, integrating with manufacturing design software to alter product design for improved recyclability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If recycling processes are determined empirically by experts through manual testing, then recycling processes can be established, but recycling rates remain low and the process is inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecycling rateVSAvoidtime for determining recycling process

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by generating the recycling process plan during the manufacturing design phase, before the product reaches end-of-life. The RPP generation engine creates optimized recycling plans upfront based on manufacturing data, eliminating the need for time-consuming empirical determination later when recycling rates are critically low.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical/empirical system of expert testing and manual process determination with an automated computational system. The RPP generation engine uses algorithms to automatically create optimized recycling plans, substituting human expert manual work with automated software that can process manufacturing data and generate plans rapidly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If recycling processes are determined manually by experts, then some recycling capability is achieved, but the process lacks integration with manufacturing design

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration with manufacturing designVSAvoidcomplexity of recycling process determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the recycling process planning function with the manufacturing design process. The RPP generation engine integrates with manufacturing data systems, combining design information, bill of materials, and process data to automatically generate recycling plans. This integration ensures recyclability is considered during design rather than as a separate subsequent step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The RPP generation engine serves multiple functions: it analyzes manufacturing design data, determines appropriate recycling processes, optimizes material recovery, and generates comprehensive recycling plans. This multi-functional system replaces multiple separate activities (expert analysis, process selection, plan development) with a single automated platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of substance

If empirical methods are used for recycling, then some material recovery is achieved, but material recovery fraction is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial recovery fractionVSAvoidease of implementing recycling process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by using manufacturing design data as input to the RPP generation engine, which then produces optimized recycling plans that account for the specific product composition and assembly. This feedback loop ensures the recycling process is tailored to maximize material recovery for each specific product design, rather than using generic empirical approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by automatically adjusting recycling process parameters based on the specific product being recycled. The RPP generation engine analyzes product characteristics and modifies process parameters (temperature, pressure, chemical composition, processing sequence) to optimize material recovery for each unique product, moving away from fixed empirical parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20230367928A1System and method to automatically generate and optimize recycling process plans for integration into a manufacturing design process

Publication Date: 2023.11.16 SIEMENS CORP

AI summary

System and method optimize recyclability of an electronic device during manufacturing design A manufacturing design software produces engineering bill of materials, manufacturing bill of materials, and bill of process for the manufacturing design. Recycling process plan engine constructs a recycling process plan for the electronic device according to the manufacturing design. A virtual model of recycling processes is constructed by mapping needed skills to corresponding recycling equipment using a library of recycling equipment information. Recycling process plan engine uses the virtual model to simulate the recycling plan and optimizes each recycling process, and the overall sequence of recycling processes, according to an objective function. Evaluator module receives key performance indicator values from a virtual model simulation and calculates the value of the objective function based on key performance indicators. Recycling plan is optimized by iteration of simulating the process and varying parameters to most improve the objective function.