Vertical Activated Carbon Filter for Shredder Dust

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current filter systems in shredder systems are inadequate in capturing fine dust and gaseous pollutants, leading to exceedance of air pollution control regulations, particularly for organic substances, due to their inability to handle high air volumes and humidity, and the use of activated carbon filters is unsuitable due to flow rate limitations.

Innovation Solution

A vertical activated charcoal filter is integrated into a cuboid housing, forming a flow-permeable partition within the shredder system, with dust injection and air extraction funnels to control air flow rates and ensure sufficient dwell time for pollutant capture, utilizing a passive system with minimal energy requirements and adjustable design for maintenance and scalability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If activated carbon filters are used to capture fine dust and gaseous pollutants, then the capture efficiency of pollutants is improved, but the flow rate of air must be reduced which limits the throughput of shredded material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant capture efficiencyVSAvoidthroughput of shredded material
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a horizontal filter wall configuration to a vertical activated carbon filter arrangement. This dimensional change allows the filter to be integrated into the existing vertical exhaust air flow path of the shredder system, enabling the air to flow downward through the activated carbon without requiring horizontal space expansion or flow rate reduction, thus resolving the contradiction between pollutant capture efficiency and material throughput

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The vertical activated carbon filter is nested within the existing exhaust air flow path of the shredder system, specifically positioned in the exhaust air duct before the exhaust chimney. This nesting allows the filter to utilize the existing air flow without creating additional resistance that would limit throughput, while still achieving effective pollutant capture through the activated carbon medium

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If high-pressure venturi systems are used to handle large air volumes, then the air flow rate is maintained, but the smallest particles and gaseous pollutants are not captured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow rateVSAvoidparticle and pollutant capture
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the high-pressure venturi system's air flow capability with the vertical activated carbon filter's pollutant capture efficiency. The activated carbon filter is positioned downstream in the exhaust path, allowing it to treat the already-high-velocity air flow from the venturi system, thus combining the strengths of both systems to achieve high flow rate maintenance while capturing fine particles and gaseous pollutants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the flow rate of air is reduced to ensure sufficient dwell time in activated carbon filter, then the pollutant capture is improved, but the throughput of the system is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant captureVSAvoidsystem throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By changing from horizontal to vertical filter configuration, the patent enables the air flow to move downward through the activated carbon in the same direction as the natural exhaust flow, maintaining higher flow rates while achieving sufficient contact time through the vertical depth of the carbon bed rather than horizontal distance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution effectively captures fine dust and pollutants, meeting and exceeding air pollution control standards, particularly for total carbon, while maintaining high throughput and operating efficiently in high-humidity conditions with low energy consumption and ensuring safe and accessible maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

Activated carbons have a very large inner surface through which both dissolved particles can be bound or removed through adsorption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

gaseous substances through reduction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReduction: Reduction

Implementation Method 3

The fan can be used in particular to control a uniform flow rate. The flow rate of the raw gas is reduced to a level of approx. 0.3 - 0.4 m/sec, which ensures a suitable reaction time when flowing through the activated carbon filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow control:

Data Source

PatentEP2687280B1Fine dust and pollutant filter for shredder systems
Publication Date: 2016.03.16 IMR INNOVATIVE METAL RECYCLING
  • EP2687280B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2687280B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2687280B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The particulate and pollutant filter consists of a parallelepiped-shaped housing (1) and several perpendicular carbon filters (8) arranged in the longitudinal direction of the housing. A raw gas chamber (11) and a clean gas chamber (12) are arranged in the housing. The opening (4) formed in the raw gas chamber is associated with the dust blast channel (6) formed in the longitudinal side (2) of the housing. The opening (5) formed in the clean gas chamber is associated with an air suction channel (7) formed in the longitudinal side (3) of the housing.