Vibratory Conveyor Decoating Medium Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reprocessing of coated metal scrap materials, such as tin-coated copper alloys, is hindered by the inability to efficiently remove coatings, leading to metal value loss and increased smelting costs due to contamination, as existing methods fail to effectively separate and recycle partial coatings or platings.
Innovation Solution
A vibratory conveyor apparatus with a trough-like conveyor channel and a treatment bath using a decoating medium, where the decoating medium is introduced and discharged below the surface to create a flow that aids in rapid layer removal, ensuring efficient and all-sided wetting of the bulk material, and allowing for concentration gradients and controlled flow direction for effective coating removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional coating removal methods are used, then coating removal is achieved, but metal value loss occurs and smelting costs increase due to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment bath is divided into multiple zones with different liquid levels and flow characteristics. The conveyor channel is segmented into sections where material experiences different wetting conditions, allowing selective and controlled coating removal while preserving base metal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic liquid level control and variable flow rates to adapt the treatment process to different material types and coating thicknesses. The liquid decoating medium flow is continuously adjusted to optimize removal effectiveness while minimizing metal loss.
2Productivity
If liquid decoating medium is introduced above the surface, then coating removal occurs, but wetting efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of introducing the liquid decoating medium only from above the surface, the system introduces liquid both above and below the surface level. The sub-surface introduction point allows liquid to rise through the material bed, ensuring thorough wetting from both top and bottom, significantly improving wetting efficiency and coating removal rate.
3Productivity
If vibratory conveyor is used, then material is transported, but reaction time control is insufficient for precise coating removal
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates monitoring of reaction times during the vibratory conveying process. Based on feedback from the coating removal effectiveness, the liquid flow rates and conveyor vibration parameters are adjusted to maintain optimal reaction times, ensuring precise control while maintaining high throughput.
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 enables efficient removal of coatings from bulk materials, reducing metal value loss and smelting costs by ensuring thorough wetting and controlled layer removal, independent of material quantity and throughput, facilitating recycling of coated scrap materials.
Implementation Method 1
Vibratory conveyors of this type are mechanical conveyor units for bulk materials of different types, in the case of which the medium to be transported is moved by means of vibrations
Implementation Method 2
ensuring efficient and all-sided wetting of the bulk material
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a treatment device and a method for removing coatings, comprising a vibratory conveyor with a conveying channel, which is designed in the manner of a trough, in order to form a treatment bath with a liquid decoating medium, comprising an inlet end and an outlet end for bulk material, wherein the conveying direction of the conveying channel runs from the inlet end to the outlet end. The conveying channel has below the surface of the treatment bath at least one feeding device and at least one discharging device for the decoating medium.