Shredder Dust Processing Method Separating Fibrous and Particulate Fractions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for treating shredder dust from waste automobiles, home appliances, and office furniture are inefficient, leading to high disposal costs and environmental issues, as most shredder dust is incinerated without being reused, and existing techniques struggle to stabilize the quality of the final product for use as fuel or reducing agents.

Innovation Solution

A shredder dust treatment method that separates metal scraps and organic residues into 'fibrous dust' and 'particulate dust', using a series of crushing, sorting, and processing steps to collect and process these materials into high-quality fuels and reducing agents, including the addition of chlorine neutralizers, briquetting, and carbonization, to enhance their usability and reduce transportation costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If shredder dust is incinerated without separation, then disposal is simplified, but valuable materials are lost and environmental pollution increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisposal simplicityVSAvoidvaluable material loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments shredder dust into multiple fractions through sequential processing: metal separation, fibrous dust collection, and particulate dust collection. This segmentation allows valuable materials to be recovered while simplifying the disposal of remaining residues, resolving the contradiction between disposal simplicity and material conservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts valuable components (metals, fibrous dust, particulate dust) from the mixed shredder dust stream using specific separation techniques. By taking out these valuable materials, the process prevents their loss while the remaining residue becomes easier and cheaper to dispose of, addressing both aspects of the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Loss of substance

If multiple separation steps are added to recover valuable materials, then material loss is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevaluable material recoveryVSAvoidprocessing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a multi-functional processing system where a single integrated apparatus performs multiple separation functions (metal detection, magnetic separation, dust collection) in sequence. This universal approach reduces the need for multiple separate devices, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining effective material recovery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges multiple separation operations into a unified processing flow within one apparatus. By combining metal separation, fibrous dust collection, and particulate dust collection into a single integrated system, the invention achieves comprehensive material recovery without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If shredder dust is transported to distant treatment facilities, then treatment capacity is sufficient, but transportation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment capacityVSAvoidtransportation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary separation and concentration of valuable materials at or near the source of shredder dust generation. By pre-processing the material to extract metals, fibrous dust, and particulate dust, the system reduces the volume and weight of material requiring long-distance transport, thereby reducing transportation costs while maintaining adequate treatment capacity for the concentrated valuable fractions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary 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

The method significantly increases the treatment capacity of shredder dust, allowing it to be used as fuel or reducing agents in thermal power plants and steelmaking processes, reducing CO2 emissions and lowering dioxin generation, while also providing a cost-effective alternative to coal and reducing the need for additional treatment facilities.

Implementation Method 1

an iron component separation and collection step (S3) of separating and collecting a magnetic material containing an iron component in a shredded material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic separation: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

a non-ferrous component separation and collection step (S4) of using a homopolar magnet to separate and collect a non-ferrous component which is not picked up by a magnetic force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

a step (S5) of separating and collecting stainless steel which is not separated by the non-ferrous component separation and collection step (S4) and is discharged while being contained in non-metal by the combination of a metal detector and an air jet nozzle of ejecting jet air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAerodynamic separation: Jet

Implementation Method 4

a wind power sorting step (S6) of sorting the shredded material separated by the metal component separation and collection step (S5) into lightly floating 'fibrous dust' and a settled shredded material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity separation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3766594B1Shredder dust processing method and processing device for same
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 ENVITECH ENG CO LTD
  • EP3766594B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3766594B1 patent drawingFigure 2~2(d)
  • EP3766594B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3(f)

AI summary

[Object] To use "fibrous dust" or "particulate dust" which were simple wastes in the past as resources. To improve treatment capacity dramatically. [Solving Means] Non-metal dust which is further pulverized into a small particle size in a pulverizing step S10 through a crushing step S1 of crushing wastes such as waste automobiles, waste home appliances, and waste office furniture into a predetermined size, an iron component separation and collection step S3 of separating and collecting an iron component, a non-ferrous component separation and collection step S4 of separating and collecting a non-ferrous component, a metal component separation and collection step S5 of sorting a metal component, wind power sorting steps S2, S6, S8, and S9 of sorting floating "fibrous dust" and a settled crushed material by wind power, and a shredding step S7 of shredding the settled crushed material into a predetermined size is separated into metal scraps such as copper, aluminum, and iron, "fibrous dust", and "particulate dust" in a separating step S11. "Fibrous dust" and "particulate dust" are separately collected and are used as various fuel resources for household, business, and industry.