U.S. patent application number 15/404581 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-11 for apparatus and method for recycling bituminous material bodies by melting.
The applicant listed for this patent is Daniel Appels, Jan-Niels Pochert. Invention is credited to Daniel Appels, Jan-Niels Pochert.
Application Number | 20170130133 15/404581 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51259784 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170130133 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pochert; Jan-Niels ; et
al. |
May 11, 2017 |
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECYCLING BITUMINOUS MATERIAL BODIES BY
MELTING
Abstract
The invention shows an apparatus for recycling bituminous
material bodies by melting, in particular for recycling bituminous
composite material bodies comprising a composite material and a
bituminous material, in particular roofing materials, in particular
in the form of bituminous covering layers of roofing sheets, the
apparatus including: a vessel having a vessel wall surrounding an
interior space of the vessel extending along a vertical axis of the
vessel for receiving the bituminous material bodies, a bottom plate
and a compression plate extending transverse to the vertical axis
wherein at least the compression plate has a number of through flow
orifices adapted to allow a through flow of molten bituminous
material, wherein the plates are movable along the vertical axis
such that in a first operating state the compression plate is in a
middle position for forming a melting space of larger size between
the compression plate and the bottom plate for melting bituminous
material in the melting space wherein the bottom plate is in a
melting position, in a second operating state the compression plate
is in a lower position for forming a compression space of minor
size between the compression plate and the bottom plate for
compressing solid residues and/or solid composite material in the
compression space, and wherein molten bituminous material is
retained in a storing space above the compression plate for storing
and/or discharging bituminous material, wherein the bottom plate is
in a compression position, wherein the compression plate is movable
from the middle position to the lower position.
Inventors: |
Pochert; Jan-Niels; (Berlin,
DE) ; Appels; Daniel; (Saas Fee, CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pochert; Jan-Niels
Appels; Daniel |
Berlin
Saas Fee |
|
DE
CH |
|
|
Family ID: |
51259784 |
Appl. No.: |
15/404581 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14172084 |
Feb 4, 2014 |
9574137 |
|
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15404581 |
|
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61760306 |
Feb 4, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B30B 15/062 20130101;
B30B 9/047 20130101; B30B 9/262 20130101; B29B 17/02 20130101; B01D
25/215 20130101; B30B 15/165 20130101; B29B 2017/0224 20130101;
B30B 15/32 20130101; B01D 25/12 20130101; B01D 2201/202 20130101;
C10C 3/12 20130101; B29B 2017/0217 20130101; B30B 7/023 20130101;
C10C 3/10 20130101; C10C 3/18 20130101; C10G 1/02 20130101; B29K
2095/00 20130101; C10G 1/008 20130101; B01D 25/302 20130101 |
International
Class: |
C10C 3/12 20060101
C10C003/12; C10C 3/18 20060101 C10C003/18; B30B 15/16 20060101
B30B015/16; B01D 25/30 20060101 B01D025/30; B29B 17/02 20060101
B29B017/02; B30B 15/06 20060101 B30B015/06; C10C 3/10 20060101
C10C003/10; B01D 25/21 20060101 B01D025/21 |
Claims
1. Apparatus for recycling bituminous material bodies by melting
the apparatus comprising: a vessel having a vessel bottom (15) and
a vessel wall surrounding an interior space of the vessel extending
along a vertical axis of the vessel for receiving the bituminous
material bodies, a bottom plate (61) and a compression plate (62)
extending transverse to the vertical axis wherein at least the
compression plate has a number of through flow orifices adapted to
allow a through flow of molten bituminous material wherein the
plates are movable along the vertical axis such that in a first
operating state the compression plate is in a middle position for
forming a melting space of larger size between the compression
plate and the bottom plate for melting bituminous material in the
melting space wherein the bottom plate is in a melting position, in
a second operating state the compression plate is in a lower
position for forming a compression space of minor size between the
compression plate and the bottom plate for compressing solid
residues and/or solid composite material in the compression space,
and wherein molten bituminous material is retained in a storing
space above the compression plate for storing and/or discharging
bituminous material, wherein the bottom plate is in a compression
position, wherein the compression plate is movable from the middle
position to the lower position, in a third operating state the
compression plate is in an upper position for forming a discharge
space between the compression plate and the bottom plate for
discharging bituminous materials from the discharge space, wherein
the bottom plate is in a discharge position, and the discharge
position of the bottom plate is adapted such that the bottom plate
surface aligns with a slider element of a slide and/or a discharge
receipt tray, wherein the slide is adapted to move the slider
element along the surface of the bottom plate to move the
compressed solid residues and/or composite material to the
discharge receipt tray.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the compression plate is
movable from the middle position to the lower position with a
downward velocity below an upper limit, wherein the upper limit of
the downward velocity and the through flow orifices are in a form
adapted to retain the composite material and/or other solid
residues below the compression plate in a state of operation when
moving the compression plate from the middle position to the lower
position with the downward velocity, such that a passive filter
means below the compression plate is provided by means of the
composite material and/or other solid residues.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper limit of the
downward velocity is between 10 cm/min and 15 cm/min and the
downward velocity is above 0 cm/min.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the through flow
orifices are in the form of slits having a lower slit width and an
upper slit length, and/or--the orifices have parallel boundary
surfaces.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the through flow
orifices lower cross-sectional dimension or lower width or slit
width is below 10 mm.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of a sum of
open cross-sections of orifices to the total closed area of the
compression plate is below 10%.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a hydraulic and/or
pneumatic drive is adapted to move at least the compression plate
along the vertical axis from the middle position to the lower
position with the downward velocity and wherein the drive is
adapted to move at least the compression plate along the vertical
axis by exerting pressure at least to a first number of drive rods
adapted to move the compression plate between said positions.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second number of
guidance rods are adapted to establish a guidance link at least of
the bottom plate to the compression plate wherein a lower distance
between the bottom plate and the compression plate is variable
dependent on the position of the compression plate, and an upper
distance between the bottom plate and the compression plate is
limited by a stop collar of the drive and/or guidance rods.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a drive rod extends to a
first line of openings in said plates and a guidance rod extends to
a second line of openings in said plates, wherein a first line of
openings in said plates is located on an outer circumference line
on a respective plate and a second line of openings in said plates
is located on an inner circumference line on a respective
plate.
10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of drive
rods and the number of guidance rods and respective openings are
the same wherein each rod is arranged along a first and second
inner circumferential cylindrical shape.
11. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cover
plate wherein the compression plate is arranged between the bottom
plate and the cover plate, and wherein when the bottom plate is in
the melting position, the bottom plate in a lowermost region of the
vessel wall along the vertical axis and the vessel is closed by the
cover plate and the compression plate is in an upper region of the
vessel wall along the vertical axis, and/or when the bottom plate
is in the compression position, the bottom plate in a lowermost
region of the vessel wall along the vertical axis and the vessel is
closed by the cover plate and the compression plate is in a lower
region of the vessel wall along the vertical axis, and/or when the
bottom plate is in the discharge position, the vessel is open and
the compression plate and the cover plate are in a region above the
vessel wall along the vertical axis, the bottom plate is in the
region above the vessel wall along the vertical axis.
12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interior space is
adapted for receiving the bituminous materials, wherein the vessel
wall has an inner wall defining the interior space and adapted for
contacting the bituminous materials, and an outer wall defining an
annular space between the inner wall and the outer wall, which
annular space is adapted to receive a heating liquid for heating
the interior space and/or the vessel comprising a microwave heating
arrangement adapted to heat the interior space.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the inner wall and the
outer wall are connected at a plurality of hubs wherein each hub is
formed as a pillow plated hub or a weld hub.
14. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sealable
venting means or a pressurizable valve, wherein the interior space
is adapted to be open to the surrounding, and an overflow channel
is connectable in a flow connection to the interior space, and/or
the interior space is adapted to be pressurized with a pressure
below atmospheric pressure.
15. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first and
second flow pipe (51, 52) connected to the vessel in a flow
connection to the interior space of the vessel wherein a propeller
is adapted to circulate molten bituminous materials in the first
and second flow pipe and the interior space of the vessel.
16. (canceled)
17. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge receipt
tray is heatable and/or pivotable from a horizontal surface
position to a vertical surface position to release the compressed
solid residues and/or composite material.
18. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a head frame is adapted
for supporting the vessel and/or a slide and/or a tray wherein a
vessel part of the a head frame comprises a number of columns
extending a along an outer circumferential cylindrical shape
wherein a column is aligned in a radial extending vertical tier
with a guidance rod and a drive rod.
19. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a stirring unit is
provided, wherein the stirring unit has a shaft and an elongated
stirring member rotatable arranged between the bottom plate and a
vessel bottom.
20. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft of the
stirring unit is adapted to rotate the elongated stirring member in
a stirring space between the bottom plate and the vessel bottom,
wherein the shaft of the stirring unit is hollow with an upper
outlet adapted to feed through the molten bituminous fluid.
21. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the shaft has an
opening out into the space between the bottom plate and the
compression plate for forming a jet stream of bituminous fluid into
a bituminous material to be recycled in the melting space and/or
into a composite material in the compression space between the
bottom plate and the compression plate.
22. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the shaft has an
opening out into the stirring space between the bottom plate and
the vessel bottom for forming a cushion stream of bituminous fluid
into a bituminous material to be recycled in the melting space
and/or into a composite material in the compression space between
the bottom plate and the compression plate, wherein the bottom
plate has a number of further through flow orifices adapted to
allow a through flow of molten bituminous material.
23. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the bottom plate on a
bottom side has a cup cladding formed by a circumferential
arrangement of a number of fins.
24. Method for recycling bituminous material bodies by melting
using an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of:
receiving the bituminous materials in the interior space of the
vessel, containing the bituminous materials above the bottom plate
and allowing the through flow of molten bituminous materials
through the compression plate, moving the plates along the vertical
axis such that in a first operating state the compression plate is
in a middle position for forming a melting space of larger size
between the compression plate and the bottom plate for melting
bituminous materials in the melting space wherein the bottom plate
is in a melting position, in a second operating state the
compression plate is in a lower position for forming a compression
space of minor size between the compression plate and the bottom
plate for compressing solid residues and/or composite material in
the compression space, and wherein melted bituminous material is
retained in a storing space above the compression plate for storing
and/or discharging melted bituminous material, wherein the bottom
plate is in a compression position, wherein the compression plate
is moved from the middle position to the lower position, in a third
operating state the compression plate is in an upper position for
forming a discharge space between the compression plate and the
bottom plate for discharging bituminous materials from the
discharge space, wherein the bottom plate is in a discharge
position, and the discharge position of the bottom plate is adapted
such that the bottom plate surface aligns with a slider element of
a slide and/or a discharge receipt tray, wherein the slide is
adapted to move the slider element along the surface of the bottom
plate to move the compressed solid residues and/or composite
material to the discharge receipt tray.
25. Method according to claim 24, wherein the compression plate is
moved from the middle position to the lower position with a
downward velocity below an upper limit, wherein the upper limit of
the downward velocity and the through flow orifices are in a form
adapted to retain composite material in a state of operation below
the compression plate when moving the compression plate from the
middle position to the lower position with the downward velocity
such that a passive filter means below the compression plate is
provided by means of the composite material and/or other solid
residues.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method
for recycling bituminous material bodies by melting. In particular,
the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for
recycling bituminous composite material bodies comprising a
composite material and a bituminous material. In particular, the
apparatus and method are adapted for recycling roofing materials,
in particular in the form of bituminous covering layers of roofing
sheets.
[0002] The bituminous material bodies mentioned above for recycling
usually have additional to a bituminous layer also possibly
non-bituminous layers like a mineral covering layer or a bitumen
reinforcement layer. Such bituminous material bodies, in particular
roofing sheets or the like, are known from the prior art and are
used in particular to cover and seal flat roofs e.g. For instance a
bituminous layer can be provided as a conventional bitumen layer or
as a polymer modified bitumen layer. The bitumen can in principle
be oxidized or can be distilled bitumen. The reinforcement layer or
other composite material can be a polyester fleece, fiberglass mat,
fiberglass fabric or felt core.
[0003] After reaching the end of their service life, the roof
sheets or other bituminous material bodies are usually processed
for energy recovery, i.e. they are burnt as a substitute fuel in
coal fire power stations. This kind of recycling causes
considerable CO.sub.2 emissions and does not constitute full
recycling of the roof sheets in the real sense aiming to a full
material recycling.
[0004] Varieties of distillation bitumen and oxidized bitumen are
basically in primary use nowadays to provide a bituminous layer in
a bituminous material body. Bitumen as such is obtained by
distilling crude oil. It consists of a mixture of different
hydrocarbons and on account of its properties as one of the most
used sealants in the construction industry. Distillation bitumen or
refined bitumen usually refers to residual oil that remains after
fractional distillation at reduced pressure and a temperature of
approximately 350.degree. C. These soft to medium-hard bitumen
varieties are primarily used in road construction. Distillation
bitumen may also refer to a high vacuum bitumen, which is obtained
by further processing or further distillation of distillation
bitumen under a vacuum. High vacuum bitumens, i.e. a special form
of distillation bitumen, are mostly used for asphalt, floors,
streets and rubber goods, due to their hardness and can also be
used as distillation bitumens for a bituminous layer in a
bituminous material body. Oxidized or blown bitumens are obtained
by blowing air into distillation bitumen air at a temperature of
approximately 250.degree. C. Depending on this specific process
used, it is possible to give the bitumen in roof specific
properties in respect of resistance, to heat or cold.
[0005] On the other hand it has been found that hot processing
and/or recycling of bituminous material bodies in principle can be
achieved by melting the bituminous material bodies. However, a
problem arises due to different melting or softening or transition
points of temperature of the bituminous material in the bituminous
material bodies on the one hand and the composite material in the
material bodies or other residues on the other hand; usually the
composite material and other residues can also comprise e.g. solid
dirt, slate chippings and the like and these kind of composite
material and other residues may remain solid when the bituminous
material is already in a melted state.
[0006] In the prior art several attempts and suggestions have been
made to handle bituminous material bodies for recycling by melting
in an apparatus and a method; one of which is described for
instance in WO 98/31519-A. As described therein the bituminous
material bodies are heated such that the bituminous material melts.
After that the bitumen and the other components forming the roofing
materials are separated from each other. After sorting, reducing
and melting, the material is sieved and sorted. This requires a
comparable high amount of energy and is rather cumbrous.
[0007] Further in EP 11 44 171 B1 a method and apparatus has been
described wherein the bitumen component of the bituminous material
bodies--herein also referred to as the bituminous material--is
melted in a vessel and separated from other non-melting
components--herein also referred to as a composite material--of the
bituminous material bodies. This is established by means of
pressing or pushing together those non-melting components of
composite material and all other residues in the vessel. The
disclosure of the aforementioned patent EP 11 44 171 B1 herewith is
incorporated in its entirety by reference into this
application.
[0008] The basic principal of separating a bituminous material in
the melted state from a composite material of a bituminous material
body to be recycled as such has been found to be a good approach;
however, still it remains to simplified and the apparatus and the
method approach advantageously should be more efficiently to be
handled. In particular the amount of energy and the separation
process as such needs to be further improved.
[0009] EP 11 44 171 B1 provides a press means formed by a plate
which is movable in the vessel over the bottom in the direction of
a wall of the vessel which plate fits in cross section vertically
in the vessel.
[0010] Further NL 1031868 describes an alternative approach wherein
such plate is movable in the vessel in the vertical direction of a
wall of the vessel wherein the plate fits in a cross section
horizontal in the vessel. To prevent clogging of through flow
orifices in the plate, the through flow orifices of the plate need
to have a conical shape.
[0011] WO 02/28610 A1 describes a method and apparatus for the
recycling of bituminous or tar containing materials, wherein these
materials are separated from each other in a container by means of
the application of a force onto the bituminous or tar containing
materials such as a pressure force or a centrifugal force, which is
brought to bear on the materials. In an embodiment, in the
container, a base plate is formed and above the base plate, at a
distance there from, a pressure plate is provided, which is movable
along guiding elements in a direction towards and away from the
base plate by means of a drive means. The base plate and the press
plate can be provided with perforations or openings with varying
diameter. The container is lowered down into a vessel, and the
vessel is filled with a melting medium, which is liquid hot bitumen
or hot fuel oil or another hot melting medium. The container with
in it the rest materials that are pressed together in the form of a
block is finally raised and lifted out of the vessel and the block
can thereafter be handled as waste, for instance burnt.
[0012] Also these designs can be improved insignificantly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] These and other aspects are addressed by the invention, the
object of which is to specify a method and apparatus for recycling
bituminous bodies by melting, which are further improved in view of
the above mentioned problems. At least one of the aspects addressed
above shall be addressed by the invention. At least the object of
the invention is to provide a method and apparatus with an
alternative approach.
[0014] In the particular preferred aspect the object of the
invention is to improve a separation of the composite material and
the bituminous material of a recyclable bituminous material body.
In particular the separation process shall be achievable in a more
efficient way. In particular it is an object to improve the quality
of the recycled bituminous material at the end of recycling the
bituminous material bodies by melting. In particular retaining of
composite material and other solid residues during the separation
process shall be more effective and/or provided with higher
reliability. In particular an apparatus for recycling still should
be construed in a less complicated but nevertheless efficient way;
in particular the production of the apparatus shall be more
simplified as compared to the prior art.
[0015] The object with regard to the apparatus is achieved by the
invention with the subject-matter of claim 1.
[0016] The object with regard to the method is achieved by the
invention with the subject-matter of method claim 24.
[0017] Further developments of the invention are outlined in the
dependent claims. Thereby the mentioned advantages of the proposed
concept are even more improved.
[0018] The invention starts in a first particular preferred
developed variant from the consideration, that active filter means
as described with a method and apparatus for recycling bituminous
material bodies of the prior art have some disadvantages with
regard to efficiency and quality of the recycling process, but also
with regard to handling of the method and apparatus itself. A
significant advantage of the passive filter means provided by means
of the composite material and/or solid residues below the
compression plate is that further effort for maintenance or
handling of the passive filter means is omitted. Even more the
passive filter means turns out to be very efficient and effective
for filtering the melted bituminous material. Indeed, it has been
shown that the passive filter means is adapted to provide a high
quality primary bituminous material from the recycling process. The
reason is, that the solid composite material and/or other solid
residues of the bituminous material bodies to be recycled as a
matter of fact form a specifically advantageous filter process for
the bituminous material; it turns out, that by gathering and
pressing of the bituminous material bodies to be recycled and the
composite material provided therein a passive filter means is
formed once the composite material and/or other solid residues are
dissolved in the melted bituminous material; i.e. basically upon
heating the bituminous material bodies above the
softening-temperature and/or melting temperature during the
movement of the compression plate from the middle position to the
lower position.
[0019] The concept of the first particular preferred developed
variant recognized, that on the one hand the through flow orifices
in the compression plate can be designed in form and size such that
on the one hand a composite material and/other solid residues are
retained effectively below the compression plate to form a passive
filter means. In particular this leads to a particular preferred
upper limit of the width of orifice. This is because as once the
width of orifice exceeds such upper limit the composite material
and/or other solid residues will not be restrained below the
compression plate once the majority thereof tends to pass through
an oversized through flow orifice with the melted bituminous
material. On the other hand it turns out that a lower limit of the
widths of through flow orifices in a compression plate is provided
advantageously. The reason is, as once a through flow orifice width
becomes too small the orifice will be clogged by means of
non-melting material like composite material and/or other solid
residues. In such case melted bituminous material will not be
restricted to flow through the through flow orifices and thus the
separation process is slowed down or even has to be stopped when
moving the compression plate form the middle position to the lower
position.
[0020] In particular it turns out, that the downward velocity for
moving the compression plate from the middle position to the lower
position is to provide it with an upper limit in combination with
the margin of through flow orifices between a lower limit and an
upper limit as described above to provide for the advantageous
passive filter means. Namely in case of a downward velocity below
an upper limit and a through flow orifice between the margins of a
lower limit width and an upper limit width of through flow orifices
an optimized passive filter means is provided below the compression
plate whereas still filtering and separation process of the melted
bituminous material is efficiently executed upon movement of the
compression plate from the middle position to the lower
position.
[0021] Still also it turns out, that making the through flow
orifices of sufficiently width, advantages are provided upon
melting the bituminous material; namely once the through flow
orifices are sufficiently wide a circulation of melting bituminous
material in the first operating state of the apparatus is
affordable in an advantageous region; this supports efficient
heating of the bituminous material bodies and lowers energy supply
for heating.
[0022] In particular it turned out that the concept of the first
particular preferred developed variant will recognize the filter
functionality of the press cake built up upon movement of the
compression plate from the middle position to the lower position.
In particular the first particular preferred developed variant
astonishingly found that polyester fleece, glass fleece or other
composite material or composite residue behave during the recycling
process as described like a filter material when the apparatus and
method approaches from the first operating state to the second
operating state as claimed. Several experiments and expertise have
shown that once the downward velocity is sufficiently low--in
particular below an upper limit--filler materials or the like
composite material or solid residue, in particular also large
molecular weight fractions of the bitumen like SBS and ABB
(polyester, polymer and caout-chouc and alike modified bitumen),
can tend in the press cake to built up a passive filter means which
functions on large molecular scale.
[0023] It has been found that a particular pure primary bituminous
material is separated above the compression plate during the
recycling process and in the recycling apparatus claimed; namely a
primary bitumen basically free--in the prescribed margins and
quality definitions--from filler material or the like composite
material or other residues and in particular advantageously also
free of polymer additions or the like (in particular due to
gathering of SBS and ABB in the filter cake).
[0024] It turns out that once the margins of the process and
apparatus are adapted as described, the press cake dynamically
evolves to provide micro channels of sufficiently small size and
these are adapted to retain filler material of large molecular
scale and polymer addition like SBS and ABB. Thus, whereas polymer
and other large molecular weight additions are retained in the
micro channels still the bituminous material finds other channels
in the filter cake and through the through flow orifices in the
compression plate and thus is efficiently separated above the
compression plate as a particular pure primary bitumen.
[0025] In a particular preferred further development the invention
provides for an upper limit of the downward velocity of below 15
cm/min, in particular of below 10 cm/min and the downward velocity
is above 0 cm/min. In a further preferred development the concept
of the invention leads to the through flow orifices in form of
slits. In particular the slits have a lower slit width and an upper
slit length. Astonishingly it turns out that the concept of the
invention works well already once the through flow orifices have a
lower width to retain composite or other filler material and/or
solid residues according to the concept.
[0026] In a particular preferred still further development the
through flow orifices lower cross section or dimension, in
particular lower width thereof like lower slit width or the like,
is below 10 mm, in particular below 4 mm, in particular below 2
mm.
[0027] Independently, in particular alternatively are additionally,
a another further development provided for a ratio of a sum of open
cross sections of through flow orifices to the total closed area of
the compression plate; the ratio turns out to be advantageously
below 10%, in particular below 5%. In a particular preferred
embodiment the ratio is below 2%, in particular below 1%, in
particular above 0.001% or above 0.01%, in particular above
0.1%.
[0028] In a still further another particular preferred development
the orifices in the compression plate have plan-parallel boundary
surfaces. This has advantages in the through flow dynamics of the
molten bituminous material and also in the processing of the
compression plate.
[0029] In essence the concept of the first particular preferred
developed variant provides for an apparatus and a method adapted
for recycling bituminous material bodies by melting, wherein a
lowering velocity of the compression plate is sufficiently small,
in particular in combination with the size of the through flow
orifices in the compression plate, such that a inventive passive
filter means is provided below the compression plate for filtering
the recyclable bituminous material in a melted state to provide a
particular high quality primary bitumen, even without polyester or
other polymer material residues.
[0030] It turns out, that the concept of the first particular
preferred developed variant is particular effective in a
development wherein the vessel has an interior volume of between 5
m.sup.3 to 12 m.sup.3, in particular wherein a cross section of
compression plate is between 2 m and 4 m. A particular preferred
height of vessel can be between 1 m and 5 m.
[0031] Advantageously it turns out that the apparatus and method
claimed is adapted to the use for separation of tar and bitumen.
Due to the vertical axis arrangement of the vessel due to the
different density of tar and bitumen (1.2 g/cm.sup.3 and 1.0
g/cm.sup.3 respectively), a hot mixture of tar and bitumen will
separate once the mixture is at rest. Heavy tar fractions gather at
the bottom of the vessel whereas lighter bitumen fractions gather
above the tar fractions. Thus the fractions (the bitumen) can be
drawn off from the vessel, in particular after having lowered the
compression plate. In particular, additionally or alternatively,
the fractions (the tar fractions from below regions of the vessel)
can be drawn off from the vessel before the lowering of the
compression plate.
[0032] Further preferred developments are of particular advantage
for improving apparatus construction and handling of the apparatus
and energy efficiency of the heating process can also be derived
from the further dependent claims and the drawing.
[0033] Preferably a hydraulic and/or pneumatic drive is adapted to
move at least the compression plate along the vertical axis from
the middle position to the lower position with the downward
velocity.
[0034] Preferably a drive is adapted to move at least the
compression plate along the vertical axis by exerting pressure at
least to a first number of drive rods adapted to move the
compression plate between said positions.
[0035] Preferably a second number of guidance rods are adapted to
establish a guidance link at least of the bottom plate to the
compression plate wherein [0036] a lower distance between the
bottom plate and the compression plate is variable dependent on the
position of the compression plate, and [0037] an upper distance
between the bottom plate and the compression plate is limited by a
stop collar.
[0038] Preferably a drive rod extends to a first line of openings
in said plates and a guidance rod extends to a second line of
openings in said plates.
[0039] Preferably a first line of openings in said plates is
located on an outer circumference line on a respective plate and a
second line of openings in said plates is located on an inner
circumference line on a respective plate.
[0040] Preferably the number of drive rods and the number of
guidance rods and respective openings are the same, in particular
the number amounts to three, in particular each rod is arranged
along a first and second inner circumferential cylindrical
shape.
[0041] Preferably further comprising a cover plate wherein the
compression plate is arranged between the bottom plate and the
cover plate.
[0042] Preferably when the bottom plate is in a melting position,
the bottom plate in a lowermost region of the vessel wall along the
vertical axis and the vessel is closed by the cover plate and the
compression plate is in an upper region of the vessel wall along
the vertical axis.
[0043] Preferably when the bottom plate is in a compression
position, the bottom plate in a lowermost region of the vessel wall
along the vertical axis and the vessel is closed by the cover plate
and the compression plate is in a lower region of the vessel wall
along the vertical axis.
[0044] Preferably when the bottom plate is in a discharge position,
the vessel is open and the compression plate and the cover plate
are in a region above the vessel wall along the vertical axis, in
particular the bottom plate in the region above the vessel wall
along the vertical axis.
[0045] Preferably the interior space is adapted for receiving the
bituminous materials, wherein the vessel wall has an inner wall
defining the interior space and adapted for contacting the
bituminous materials, and an outer wall defining an annular space
between the inner wall and the outer wall, which annular space is
adapted to receive a heating liquid for heating the interior space,
in particular the bituminous materials.
[0046] Preferably the inner wall and the out wall are connected at
a plurality of hubs, in particular each hub is formed as pillow
plated hub, in particular of a weld hub.
[0047] Preferably the interior space is adapted to be open to the
surrounding, in particular an overflow channel is connectable in a
flow connection to the interior space.
[0048] Preferably the interior space is adapted to be pressurized
with a pressure below atmospheric pressure, in particular with a
vacuum pressure.
[0049] Preferably further comprising a microwave heating
arrangement is adapted to heat the interior space, in particular
the bituminous materials.
[0050] Preferably the apparatus further comprises: a first and
second flow pipe connected to the vessel in a flow connection to
the interior space of the vessel wherein a propeller is adapted to
circulate molten bituminous materials in the first and second flow
pipe and the interior space of the vessel.
[0051] Preferably in a third operating state the compression plate
is in an upper position for forming a discharge space between the
compression plate and the bottom plate for discharging bituminous
materials from the discharge space, wherein the bottom plate is in
a discharge position.
[0052] Preferably the discharge position of the bottom plate is
adapted such that the bottom plate surface aligns with a slider
element of a slide and/or a discharge receipt tray, wherein the
slide is adapted to move the slider element along the surface of
the bottom plate to move the compressed solid residues and/or
composite material to the discharge receipt tray.
[0053] Preferably the discharge receipt tray is heatable and/or
pivotable; in particular pivotable from a horizontal surface
position to a vertical surface position to release the compressed
solid residues and/or composite material.
[0054] Preferably a head frame is adapted for supporting the vessel
and/or a slide and/or a tray wherein a vessel part of the a head
frame comprises a number of columns extending a along an outer
circumferential cylindrical shape, in particular wherein a column
is basically aligned in a radial extending vertical tier with a
guidance rod and a drive rod.
[0055] In a second particular preferred developed variant of the
invention, energy transmission to the bituminous material, in
particular also tar containing material, can be improved and/or an
efficiency of the heating process can be improved.
[0056] Preferably, a stirring unit is provided, wherein the
stirring unit has a shaft and an elongated stirring member
rotatable arranged between the bottom plate and a vessel bottom.
Preferably the shaft is adapted to rotate the elongated stirring
member in a stirring space between the bottom plate and the vessel
bottom. These developments recognized that a stirring unit is of
particular advantage for improving efficiency of a heating process
of the bituminous material to be recycled, stirring the bituminous
material to be recycled allows transferring heat throughout the
vessel in a very efficient way. Thereby, a preferred agitation or
turbulence in the fluid bitumen in the vessel can be achieved. It
turns out that the melting process is more efficient and heat
transfer to the bituminous material to be recycled is more
efficient.
[0057] Additionally or alternatively the shaft is hollow with and
upper outlet adapted to feed through a bituminous fluid, in
particular a bituminous melting fluid. With synergetic effect, the
development further recognized that the shaft can be formed as a
hollow shaft and thus is adapted to feed through a bituminous fluid
into the vessel. Preferably, thereby bituminous material and/or
bituminous melting fluid can be injected into the vessel in a
heated state. For instance, bituminous fluid from the circulation
pipe can be provided as a stream to the feed through arrangement of
the hollow shaft and/or bituminous melting fluid from an external
tank can be provided additionally to the feed through arrangement
of the hollow shaft. Thereby, an even more improved preferred
agitation or turbulence in the fluid bitumen in the vessel can be
achieved. It turns out that the melting process is even more
efficient and heat transfer to the bituminous material to be
recycled is more efficient.
[0058] Preferably, the hollow shaft is connected to the vessel by
means of an access opening in the vessel bottom connecting the
shaft to the vessel. Preferably, the connection is along a central
axis of the vessel to the vessel bottom.
[0059] Further, in a first modification, the shaft has an opening
out into the space between the bottom plate and the compression
plate. In thereby a jet stream of bituminous fluid into a
bituminous material to be recycled in the melting space and/or into
a composite material in the compression space between the bottom
plate and the compression plate can be formed.
[0060] Said first modification recognized that this is particularly
advantageous for forming a jet stream of bituminous fluid into a
bituminous material to be recycled in the melting space and/or into
a composite material in the compression space, in particular for
forming a jet stream along a central axis into the space between
the bottom plate and the compression plate. The pressed composite
material thereby can be broken up or the packing thereof can be
slackened; thus, an even more improved preferred agitation or
turbulence in the fluid bitumen in the vessel can be achieved
and/or residual bituminous material is forced away from the
composite material in heated form.
[0061] In a further preferred modification, additionally or
alternatively, the shaft has an opening out into the stirring space
between the bottom plate and the vessel bottom. The further
modification recognized that this arrangement is of particular
advantage for forming a cushion stream of bituminous fluid into a
bituminous material to be recycled in the melting space and/or into
a composite material in the compression space between the bottom
plate and the compression plate. Thereby, lifting of residues in
the melted bituminous material in the melting space and/or lifting
of the composite material in the compression space can be achieved.
Thus again, a circulation of bituminous material through and around
the composite material is upheld and enforced.
[0062] In the first and second modification, bituminous fluid from
a fluid guiding connected to the aforementioned flow pipes for
circulation of fluid bituminous material can be used for feed
through at the hollow shaft and/or a fluid guiding connected to an
external tank can be used to add heated bituminous melting fluid to
the bituminous material to be recycled.
[0063] Preferably, the bottom plate on a bottom side thereof has a
cup cladding, in particular formed by a circumferential
arrangement, in particular of a number of fins; like for instance
in the form a fence, to limit the bottom plate at its
circumference. Thereby, leakage of bituminous fluid from the
stirring space between the vessel bottom and the bottom plate is
limited. In particular, for the second modification, it has been
recognized to be advantageous that the hydraulic pressure of
bituminous fluid is upheld or increased to a number of further
through-flow orifices in the bottom plate. Thereby, sufficient
hydraulic pressure is charged to the number of further through-flow
orifices in the bottom plate to allow a through-flow of fluid
bituminous material; the sufficient hydraulic pressure is
sufficient to increase heat transfer, in particular to support a
circulating flow in the vessel, in particular to increase a
turbulent flow. In particular the sufficient hydraulic pressure is
sufficient to lift solid residue of bituminous material to be
recycled in the melting space and/or to lift the pressed composite
material in the compression space. For instance, the cup cladding
can be formed by a circumferential arrangement of a number of fins
or other fence means.
[0064] For a more complete understanding of the invention, the
invention will now be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawing. The detailed description will illustrate and
describe what is considered as a preferred embodiment of the
invention. It should of course be understood that various
modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made
without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore
intended that the invention may not be limited to the exact form
and detail shown and described herein, nor to anything less than
the whole of the invention disclosed herein and as claimed
hereinafter. Further the features described in the description, the
drawing and the claims disclosing the invention may be essential
for the invention considered alone or in combination. In
particular, any reference signs in the claims shall not be
construed as limiting the scope of the invention. The wording
"comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps. The wording
"a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0065] The drawing shows in:
[0066] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an
apparatus for recycling bituminous material bodies by melting;
[0067] FIG. 2 a perspective view of a vessel of the apparatus of
FIG. 1;
[0068] FIG. 3 a sketch of different preferred operating states of a
plate arrangement of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0069] FIG. 4 a perspective view of a compression plate of the
plate arrangement of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0070] FIG. 5 a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of a method
for recycling bituminous material bodies by melting;
[0071] FIG. 6 a side cross-sectional view of a bottom plate of the
plate arrangement with a vessel bottom and a stirring unit with a
hollow shaft, wherein according to a first preferred variation an
outlet of the hollow shaft opens out into a space between the
bottom plate and a compression plate;
[0072] FIG. 7 a side cross-sectional view of a bottom plate of the
plate arrangement with a vessel bottom and a stirring unit with a
hollow shaft, wherein according to a second preferred variation an
outlet of the hollow shaft opens out into a bottom space between
the bottom plate and a vessel bottom and the bottom plate has a
number of through flow orifices to a space between the bottom plate
and a compression plate and further the bottom plate has a cup
cladding formed on a bottom side formed by an arrangement of a
number of fins;
[0073] FIG. 8 in (A) a bottom view of the bottom plate, in (B) a
sectional plan view of the cup cladding formed by an arrangement of
a number of fins under the bottom plate, in (C) a sectional side
view of a fin in a bended state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0074] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus 100 for
recycling bituminous material bodies (not shown) by melting. Such
bituminous material bodies in particular can be in the form of
bituminous composite material bodies comprising a composite
material and a bituminous material. For instance roofing materials,
in particular in the form of bituminous covering layers of roofing
sheets as described in the introduction are suitable for recycling
by melting with considerable advantages as compared to prior art
practice of burning the bituminous material bodies. The recycling
apparatus 100 is construed with a head frame 101 having a vessel
part frame 110, a drive part frame 120, a slide part frame 130 and
a tray part frame 140 to support respective parts of the recycling
apparatus 100. Therein said parts basically comprise but are not
limited to a vessel 10, a slider element 30 and a tray 40 and a
drive with a plate arrangement 20 wherein the drive 21 and the
plate arrangement 22 and a drive-plate linkage 23 are referenced
separately.
[0075] The vessel 10 as such is described in detail with regard to
FIG. 2. As already visible in FIG. 1 the vessel 10 has a vessel
wall surrounding an interior space (not shown) wherein the vessel
itself extends along a vertical axis Z adapted to receive the
bituminous bodies from the top along the direction of the vertical
axis Z.
[0076] At least some of the plates of the plate arrangement 22
described below from a vessel lid 12. A first pipe nozzle 13 in the
vessel lid 12 is adapted but not limited to draw off an upper
and/or light fraction of melt from the interior space of the vessel
10. On the side of the vessel a side pipe nozzle 14 in the vessel
wall 11 is adapted but not limited to draw off a lower, heavier
weight fraction of melt from the interior space of the vessel 10.
The upper pipe nozzle 13 thus for instance can be used to draw off
a bitumen fraction of melt and the side pipe nozzle 14 can be used
to draw off a tar fraction of the melt in the vessel.
[0077] The linkage 23 comprises a number of three drive rods 24 and
a number of three guidance rods 25 where in each of the rods 24, 25
extend along the vertical axis Z partly to and partly through a
first line of openings 26 and a second line of openings 25 in the
vessel lid 12 as explained further in detail in the following. The
first line of openings 26 is located on an inner circumference line
on the vessel lid 12 and the second line of opening 27 is located
on an outer circumference line in the vessel lid 12. The inner
circumference line 28 and the outer circumference line 29
respectively is shown in FIG. 2 on the vessel lid. Further the
vessel part 110 of the head frame 101 comprises a number of columns
111 extending along a very outer circumference cylindrical shape.
Each of the columns 111 is basically aligned in a vertical tier
along a radial extension R together with the guidance rod 25 and
the drive rod 24. Assigned to the drive rods 24 is a drive cylinder
124 and to each of the guidance rods is assigned a further drive
cylinder 125. As such the drive cylinders 124, 125 form a hydraulic
drive 21 which is situated and supported by the drive part frame
120 as shown in FIG. 1. Upon movement of the drive 21 the linkage
makes the vessel lid 12 to move up or down and as described further
in detail in particular with reference to the specific plates of
the vessel lid 12 and/or the bottom plate in the vessel 10.
[0078] Further as shown in FIG. 1 the slider element 30 is adapted
to be movable on or by rail bars 131 supported by the frame slide
part 130. Thus a slide element 30 can be moved from the one side I
of the recycling apparatus 100 to and further approaching on the
opening cross section of the vessel 10, i.e. right above the vessel
wall 11 in the horizontal plane P which also aligns with the plane
of a tray 40 at the tray part frame 140. Thus the slide element 30
by support of the frame slide part 130 is adapted to move elevated
compressed material in the plane P from a vessel's opening to the
tray 40. The tray 40 itself is heated and thus keeps the compressed
material (not shown) in a soft state. Once the compressed material
is ready for discharging into a container or the like, the tray 40
is fold down by pivoting the tray 40 along a hinge 41 such that the
discharge mass of compressed materials falls of the tray 40 into a
container beneath the tray (not shown). Also a tar fraction or
other residual fraction in the lower region of the vessel can be
drawn off from the pipe nozzle 14 by discharging into a container
or a reservoir or discharge piping or the like.
[0079] In an alternative slightly varied embodiment the upper pipe
nozzle 13 can be used to exert a vacuum pressure to the vessel
which as such is useful to decrease a melting point of materials;
thus this reduces the amount of heat input from melting bituminous
material bodies in the interior space of the vessel 10. Thus
recycling of the bituminous material bodies can be proceeded at
considerably lower temperatures than at atmospheric pressure. Also
in a varied embodiment the upper pipe nozzle 13 can be used as an
overflow discharge opening which allows to discharge overflowed
mass of bituminous material or other melted material which may
occur when erroneously the vessel 10 is overloaded or otherwise an
exert of pressure on melted material arises in the vessel 10. Thus
unless for saving energy the vessel system 10 shown in FIG. 1 as
part of the recycling apparatus 100 is construed as an open system
which as such lowers the danger of over pressure or detonation,
even at high temperatures and development of flammable gases upon
heating of the bituminous material. Of course, also in a varied
embodiment the upper pipe nozzle 13 can be used to discharge toxic
gases or other gases and/or steam or the like from the interior
space of the vessel 10 when heating the bituminous material
bodies.
[0080] The tray frame 140 is located on the other side II of the
recycling apparatus 100. The drive frame 120 is located on the
upper part III of the recycling apparatus 100. The vessel frame
part 110 is located at the lower side IV of the recycling apparatus
100.
[0081] In the following for identical or similar features of
identical or similar function the same reference marks are used for
simplicity. Thus as regards the description of the vessel in FIG. 2
it is partly already hinted at the description with regard to FIG.
1.
[0082] Further in FIG. 2 an overflow piping 53 is shown which is
adapted additionally or alternative to the upper pipe nozzle 13 to
discharge gaseous components or overflow melted components from the
interior space of the vessel 10. Connected to the wall 11 and in
through flow connection 54.1, 54.2 to the interior of the vessel is
a first and second flow pipe 51, 52 as a part of a circulation
piping 50 wherein the circulation piping 50 is adapted to circulate
molten bituminous materials in the first and second flow pipe 51,
52 and the interior space of the vessel 10, once the bituminous
material bodies are melted in the interior space of vessel 10.
Thereby the amount of heat energy transferred to the interior space
of the vessel 10 and thus to the bituminous material bodies is
effectively circulated and distributed which considerably lowers
the amount of time for melting the bituminous material bodies.
[0083] Heat is transferred to the interior space of the vessel 10
alone or in addition, in particular auxiliary, by a microwave unit
which is not shown in detail in FIG. 2.
[0084] The biggest amount of heat energy, however in general, is
transferred to the interior space of the vessel 10 as provided by
construing the vessel's wall 11 as a double wall namely with an
inner wall 11.2 and an outer wall 11.1. The construction is such
that the annular space defined between the inner and outer wall
11.2, 11.1 is adapted to receive a heated liquid, in particular
heat oil or thermal oil or the like liquid medium such that the
heat energy of the liquid heat medium is transferred by contact of
heat through the inner wall 11.2 to the bituminous material bodies
in the interior space of the vessel. As can be seen from the
graphics of the outer wall 11.1 at the wall 11 of the vessel 10 the
connection of the inner and outer wall 11.2, 11.1 is provided by
means of pillow plated laser welding; this results in the pillow
form of a hub kind of surface of the outer wall 11.1. Thereby a
radial distance of perhaps 3 cm or the like are in particular
useful to lower spacing of the inner and outer wall, in particular
down to 5 or 3 mm or in a range between 2 mm and 5 cm for instance
can be provided. The inner and outer wall 11.2, 11.1 are connected
at the margins of a pillow by weld connection whereas beyond the
weld connection points a through flow of heating liquid is possible
throughout the annular space between the inner and outer wall 11.2,
11.1. Thus a homogenous heating of the interior space around the
circumference and along the cylindrical shape in vertical axis Z
extension is provided. This allows for a continuous and smooth and
even heating of the bituminous material bodies in the interior
space of the vessel 10.
[0085] The bituminous melted material in the vessel and the
circulation piping arrangement 50 is directed into the interior
space at a lower pipe connection 54.1 of the circulation piping
arrangement 50 and out of the interior space at an upper pipe
connection 54.2 of the circulation piping arrangement 50. Further
circulation piping nozzles 54.3 can be used to draw off part of the
melted material and/or to degas, ventilate or depressurize the
interior space of the vessel 10.
[0086] FIG. 2 shows the vessel 10 with the lid 12 in an arrangement
of plates as further described and symbolized in FIG. 4.
[0087] The plate arrangement 60 assigned to the vessel 10 and the
linkage 23 of the drive 21 is shown in FIG. 3 in a first operating
state O1, a second operating state O2 and a third operating state
O3. The plate arrangement comprises a bottom plate 61, a
compression plate 62, and a cover plate 63. The schematic view of
FIG. 3 shows the operating states O1, O2, O3 of the recycling
apparatus 100 with the vessel 10 and the drive part frame 120
providing the number of columns 111 and a drive 20 platform plate
64. As indicated in FIG. 1 the lid 11 is construed as a
plan-parallel connection of the cover plate 63 and the compression
plate 62 wherein the compression plate 62 is inserted into a cavity
of the cover plate 63. Thus basically the plates 61, 62, 63, 64 are
part of a coaxial aligned plate arrangement 60 wherein the bottom,
compression and cover plates 61, 62, 63 are movable along the
vertical axis Z and the platform plate 64 as part of the frame 120
is adapted to stabilize the linkage 23 and drive 21. All of the
plates comprise the above mentioned openings 26, 27 to throughput
the linkage and/or drive 23, 21, in particular the rods 24, 25 as
guidance and drive rods for moving the plates 61, 62, 63.
[0088] Further as it is clear from FIG. 3 the cover plate 63 and
the compression plate 62 are movable by the drive 21 independently
from each other. However, the bottom plate 61 is linked to the
compressing plate 62 such that the bottom plate 61 is pulled in a
fixed connection distance D of large size in the third operation
state O3 at least; here also in the first operation state O1.
Therefore, in an upper state the distance D between the bottom
plate 61 and the compression plate 62 is limited by a stop collar
at the linkage beneath the bottom plate. Thus, once the compression
plate has moved up to a certain distance D (upper distance) the
bottom plate 61 has to follow the movement of the compression
plates 62 due to a fixed linking rod of the linkage 23 between
compression plate 62 and bottom plate 61. In FIG. 3 operation state
O3 the linkage 23 with drive and guidance rod 24, 25 is symbolized
as the linkage extension 65 with collar 66.
[0089] In the first operating state O1 the compression plate 62 is
in the middle position for forming a melting space of larger size D
between the compression plate 62 and the bottom plate 61 for
melting bituminous material in the melting space wherein the bottom
plate 61 is in the melting position.
[0090] In the second operation state O2 the compression plate 62 is
in a lower position for forming a compression space of minor size d
between the compression plate 62 and the bottom plate 61 for
compressing solid residuals and/or composite material and other
filler material in the compressing space.
[0091] The melted bituminous material is retained in a storing
space S above the compression plate 62 for storing and/or
discharging melting bituminous material, wherein the bottom plate
61 is in a compression position for providing the compression space
C between the bottom plate 61 and the compression plate 62. The
cover plate 63 in both operating states O1, O2 closes the vessel 10
and thus toxic or other gases or the like outgas is vented
regularly to one or more of the options of a pipe nozzle 13 or
circulating pipe arrangement 50 as described above.
[0092] In a third operating state O3 the compression plate is in an
upper position for forming a discharge space between the
compression plate 62 and the bottom plate 61 for discharging
bituminous materials from the discharge space A as shown in FIG. 3
for operating state O3. The bottom plate then is in the so called
discharge position in plane P as shown in FIG. 1.
[0093] The compression plate in a particular preferred construction
is shown in FIG. 4. The compression plate 62 has a border frame
62.2 surrounding the plate 62.1 itself along the full diameter. The
plate 62.1 itself is stabilized by a three axis bar arrangement
62.3 and connection elements 62.4 define a preferred distance to
the cover plate 63. Further in the surrounding border 62.2 a
through hole 62.5 is implemented to form openings for the guidance
rods 25 as indicated by reference sign 27 in FIG. 1. Further on the
three axis bar arrangement 62.3 of the plate 62 a joint tap 62.6 is
provided with a hole such that the hole on the tap 62.6 can be
reached through the piping nozzle 13 of the lid 12 as shown in FIG.
1.
[0094] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a method for recycling
bituminous material bodies by melting in principle. The method can
be executed by means of the recycling apparatus 100 as described in
detail in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4.
[0095] In the method 200 in step S201 the recycling apparatus 100
provides the plate arrangement 60 in a third operating state O3
wherein a large space of large size D is provided to introduce
bituminous material bodies like bituminous composite material
bodies comprising a composite material and a bituminous material in
solid form for recycling on the bottom plate 61. In the method step
S202, the plate arrangement 60 is moved to operating state O1; thus
the vessel 10 is closed by the lid 12 and the bituminous material
bodies can be heated and once in the melted state can be circulated
in the vessel and the circulation tube arrangement 50.
[0096] In step S203 the plate arrangement 60 is moved to the
operating state O2 wherein the composite material is separated from
the bituminous material by means of the compression plate 62 moving
from the middle position of operating state O1 to the lower
position of operating state O2. Thereby the solid non-melted
material is compressed in the compression space C between the
bottom plate 61 and the compression plate 62. Further upon
accumulation of filler material below the compression plate 62
melted bituminous material before being forced through the orifices
of the compression plate 62 is filtered in a partly built up press
cake below the compression plate 62. Thereby a very effective
passive filter means is provided such that in the storing space S
above the compression plate 62 high quality and pure primary
bitumen is retained apart from the compression cake in the
compression space C. In a further step S204 the melted and purified
primary bitumen in storage space S is drawn off from the storage
space between compression plate 62 and cover plate 63. This can be
achieved by means of the upper pipe nozzle 13 or additionally or
alternatively by means of the side pipe nozzle 14 as described with
FIG. 2.
[0097] The perforated plate 62.1 as shown in FIG. 4 of the
compression plate 62 in this embodiment has through flow orifices
62.7 in the form of slits having a slower slit width and an upper
slit length. The lower slit width 62.7 W is below 2 mm. The ratio
of some of open cross sections of orifices in form of the slits
62.7 to the total closed area of the plate 62.1 of the compression
plate 62 is in this embodiment well below 2% but above 0.001%. The
side walls of the slits 62.7 in this embodiment are plan-parallel.
It has been shown that perforations of plan-parallel side walls are
easier to manufacture and well function within the filter function
of the passive filter means as described above.
[0098] However, in a varied embodiment, the side walls can also be
provided in a conus-like form as has been described in NL 1031868,
which herewith is incorporated by reference in its entirety into
this application.
[0099] According to the concept of the invention it has been shown
that the passive filter means is provided in a particular preferred
form when the downward velocity of the compression plate from
moving between the middle position of operating state O1 to the
lower position of the operating state O2 is well below 15 cm/min.,
in particular well below 10 cm/min. In this embodiment a downward
velocity is variable in the range between 1 cm/min and 10 cm/min
wherein the slit width 62.7w is below 2 mm and the ratio of open to
closed cross sections is well below 2%.
[0100] Preferably a vacuum vent, valve or the like compensation
opening is applied to the vessel. Thus a vacuum due to movement of
the plates in the vessel can be balanced in the vessel by opening
the compensation opening.
[0101] In a first embodiment the recycling vessel 10 has an
interior volume of between 6 to 7 m.sup.3 and a height of the
vessel 10 in the direction of the vertical axis Z is 2 m. The
diameter of the vessel 10 and the plate 62.1 of the compression
plate 62 is in between 2 m to 2.50 m.
[0102] In a varied embodiment the interior volume of the vessel 10
can be in between 10 to 12 m.sup.3 at a height of the vessel 10 of
in between 3.5 m to 4.5 m, in particular at around 4.00 m. A
diameter of the vessel 10 is preferably in between 2.5 m and 3.5 m,
in particular at around 3.00 m.
[0103] Thus generally, the vessel is provided with an interior
volume of in between 5 m.sup.3 to 15 m.sup.3 at a height of in
between 1 m to 6 m at a diameter of in between 2 m to 4 m. In
particular for the above assigned general dimensions of the vessel
10 the downward velocity and through flow orifices with a
particular preferred combination for achieving a functioning
passive filter means.
[0104] In step S205 the plate arrangement 60 is provided in the
operating state O3 and the lid 12 thus opens, preferably automated,
the vessel 10 wherein the compressed cake of compressed solid
material is served in the plane P--and thus on height of the tray
40 and the slide element 30 as has been described with FIG. 1--. In
step S206 the compressed cake can be moved to the tray 40 by means
of the slide element 30 and the tray thereafter is activated thus
to discharge the pressed cake into a container or the like
volume.
[0105] Tar and/or bituminous fluid can be discharged in fluid form,
preferably in fractions. The pressed cake can be used for further
purposes e.g. in a clutched form or can be discharged as waste or
shred or burnt. The method 200 described can be cycled
continuously. Thus after finishing step S206 the vessel again can
be charged with bituminous material bodies for melting as has been
described with step S201. A charging can be done by means of a
charging conveyor belt or the like charging means. Once the process
of heating is started, a pressing means, like a cage or mesh, can
be used to press solid bituminous material bodies into the melt
below the fluid level. After a certain time, the lid can be
closed.
[0106] The slide element 30 is formed as a kind of pusher and moves
in the plane P parallel to the frame slide part 130 and the tray
part frame 140; the pusher can be connected to a guide bar. Also a
number of more than one pusher can be used to form the slide
element 130, wherein the number of more than one pusher preferably
move synchronously, i.e. move with the same velocity in the plane
P. The rail bars 131 are adapted to provide a suitable advance
force to the pusher. The rail bars 131 can be formed from profiled
bars or piston bars; also hollow piston bars can be used to form a
telescope drive to the rail bars 131.
[0107] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a further developed
embodiment of the recycling apparatus 100 in a lower area of the
vessel part frame 110. The view of FIG. 6 depicts the vessel bottom
15 of the vessel 10 and the bottom plate 61, as has been described
hereinbefore. Further, connected to the vessel 10 is a feed line
and stirring arrangement 200 for feeding in and stirring fluid
bituminous material BM into the vessel 10. FIG. 6 shows a stirring
unit 210 with a shaft 211 and an elongated stirring member 212,
which is rotatable arranged between the bottom plate 61 and the
vessel bottom 15. The shaft 211 is adapted to rotate the elongated
stirring member 212 in the stirring space SS between the bottom
plate 61 and the vessel bottom 15. The elongated stirring member
212 in this embodiment is formed with scraper means, which allows
to scrap solid composite material from the vessel bottom 15 by
means of a scraper means 213. A rotating scraper keeping the vessel
bottom clean is preferred for preventing piling up of bitumen on
the bottom of the tank, causing impossible heat transfer from the
pillow plate on the bottom of the vessel through the vessel bottom
into the liquid bitumen. Not shown but also preferred, is a disc
underneath the compression plate with a diameter smaller than the
diameter of the plates is preferred. In this way the cake of solid
composite material never reaches the wall of the vessel and can not
block the flow of the regained bitumen out of the cake into the
space underneath the bottom plate.
[0108] Further, an inlet unit 220 is formed in that the shaft 211
is formed as a hollow shaft connected to a hollow fluid guide with
an upper outlet 222 into a space between the bottom plate 61 and
the compression plate 62, in particular to a bituminous material to
be recycled in the melting space and/or into a composite material
in the compression space CS; in FIG. 6, the compression plate 62 is
depicted only symbolically and would be arranged far above the
opening out 22 of the fluid guide 221 in case a melting space MS is
formed.
[0109] The fluid guide 221 comprising and connected to the hollow
shaft 211 is in turn connected to a ring pipe 234 for pumping fluid
bituminous material, which in turn is achieved by a pump of
suitable size. As outlined before, a first and second flow pipe 51,
52 or other or more flow pipes like the first and second flow pipe,
can be connected to the vessel in a flow connection to the interior
space of the vessel by means of the fluid guide 221 in the hollow
shaft 211.
[0110] The system of bitumen pump, bitumen ring pipe 234, hollow
shaft 211, outlet 222 and the like fluid guide members is adapted
to achieve a throughput volume of fluid bituminous material of more
than 100 m.sup.3/h. The hollow shaft 211 is guided through the
vessel bottom and the bottom plate. The bottom plate 61 therefore
has a central access connection for the hollow shaft 211. The
access connection may have a diameter of more than 50 mm, in
particular more than 100 mm. By this arrangement of a feeding and
stirring arrangement 200, a jet stream of bituminous material BM
into the space between the bottom plate and the compression plate
allows to provide turbulent fluid flow and thus efficient transfer
of heat to the center of the bituminous material to be
recycled.
[0111] Thus, in a first operating state, when the compression plate
is in a middle position for forming a melting space MS of larger
size between the compression plate 62 and the bottom plate 61, the
melting of bituminous material in the melting space MS is with high
efficiency and the time for melting the bituminous material to be
recycled is decreased. Further solid residues are lifted.
[0112] In a second operating state, when the compression plate is
in a lower position for forming a compression space CS of minor
size between the compression plate 62 and the bottom plate 61 for
compressing solid residues and other solid composite material in
the compression space CS, still nevertheless a jet stream of
bituminous material BM into the composite material can be used to
break up the composite material. Still this can allow to detract
fluid bituminous material from the composite material and further
upheld the circulation of a heat transferring stream of fluid
bituminous material through and around the composite material.
[0113] As further shown in FIG. 6, the hollow shaft 211 is
connected to the vessel bottom by means of a coupling flange
connection 230 providing a flange 231, a hollow box connector 232
with a bushing, and a connection plate 233 to the vessel bottom 15.
The flow pipe connection of ring pipe 234 between the first and
second flow pipes 51, 52 or further flow pipes is connected to the
hollow shaft in fluid-tight manner, for instance using a first
gasket 235. The hollow shaft is rotatable connected into the vessel
interior of the vessel 10 in fluid-tight manner, for instance by
means of a further dynamic gasket 236 and/or still another dynamic
gasket 237 between hollow shaft 211 and vessel bottom 15 and/or
bottom plate 61 respectively.
[0114] A gearing and/or motor arrangement 240 is connected to an
annular gear 241, like for instance a crown gear, of the hollow
shaft 211 in the flange connection 231. Thus, actuating rotating
force to the hollow shaft is transmitted to the annular gear 241 by
suitable force transmission means 242, like for instance a gear
ring arrangement or the like.
[0115] FIG. 7 and details thereof in FIG. 8 show a further
modification of the feeding and stirring arrangement 200, wherein,
for simplicity, the same reference marks have been used for
identical or similar elements or elements of identical or similar
function. Thus, in the following, the main differences of the
feeding and stirring arrangement 200 are described for FIG. 7 and
FIG. 8 as compared to FIG. 6.
[0116] In the modification of the stirring and feeding arrangement
200 of FIG. 7, the hollow shaft 211 has an outlet 222 in the
stirring space SS; more particular in this embodiment ends in the
stirring space SS. Thus the bituminous material is let out into the
stirring space between the vessel bottom 15 and the bottom plate
61. Thus, the hollow shaft 211 has an outlet 222 into the stirring
space SS between the bottom plate 61 and the vessel bottom for
forming a cushion stream of bituminous fluid BM into the space
between the bottom plate 61 and the compression plate 62; i.e. in a
second operating state into a composite material in the compression
space CS or in a bituminous material to be recycled in a melting
space MS. The space between the bottom plate 61 and the compression
plate 62 is a compression space CS of minor size in a second
operating state when the compression plate 62 is in a lower
position for compressing solid residues and/or is a melting space
MS of larger size in a first operating state when the compression
plate 62 is in a middle position for melting solid bituminous
bodies to be recycled in the melting space. Thus, a composite
material pressed in the compression space CS can be lifted by means
of the cushion stream of the bituminous material BM. Further, in
the first operating state, when the compression plate 62 is in a
middle position for forming a melting space of larger size between
the compression plate 62 and the bottom plate 61 for melting
bituminous material in the melting space, heat transfer to the
fluid bituminous material is increased and time for heating is
decreased by injecting fluid heated bituminous material BM through
the further through-flow orifices 61.5 in the bottom plate 61. The
further through-flow orifices 61.5 are adapted to allow a
through-flow of molten bituminous material BM into the compression
space CS.
[0117] It should be mentioned explicitly that, as outlined before,
the compression space CS depicted in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 is meant to
be a melting space MS when enlarged to a larger size between the
compression plate 62 and the bottom plate 61, and thus the jet
stream of bituminous material BM in FIG. 6 and, respectively, the
cushion of bituminous material BM is led into bituminous material
to be recycled when in a non-pressed state for being melted.
[0118] In the embodiment of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 the bottom plate 61
on a bottom side 61.1 has a cup cladding 260, which is shown in
more detail in FIG. 8. The cup cladding in this embodiment forms a
circumferential fence with a circumferential arrangement of a
number of fins 262 for forming the circumferential fence 261, as
shown in view (A) of FIG. 8. The fins 262 are adapted to bent from
an unbent state (solid line in FIG. 8, view (C)) to a bended state
(dashed line in view (C) of FIG. 8). Thus the cup cladding can have
the form of a hat and hinders the fluid bituminous material to
escape to the side beyond the circumference of the stirring space.
Bituminous material is pumped to a kind of box below the bottom
plate in the stirring space SS. A pressure in the stirring space
may be in the range of 1.5 bar which necessitates a respective
enhancement of the vessel bottom 15. Further through flow orifices
in the bottom plate, if any, are floated from below and solid
bituminous material bodies thereby can be lifted. A distance of the
lower edge of the circumferential fence to the vessel bottom 15 may
be below 10 mm, in particular below 5 mm to the vessel bottom; this
limits hydraulic forces to the vessel bottom. The distance of
elements of the circumferential fence to each other can be below 5
mm, preferably approximately 2 mm. An element preferably has a
thickness of below 5 mm, preferably approximately 2 mm or less, to
allow bending of the element.
[0119] When lowering the bottom plate 61 to the vessel bottom 15, a
damage of the vessel bottom 15 is avoided even at heavy load. Thus,
the fins 262 shown in view (B) of FIG. 8 are made of a construction
and/or material, which allows elastic deformation (elasticity) in a
sufficient manner. The elements of the circumferential fence can be
screwed or welded to the bottom plate preferably. Also this
provision can allow to damp high load forces to prevent damage of
the vessel bottom 15.
[0120] Further, as depicted in FIG. 7, a damping ring element 250
is adapted to receive the bottom plate 61 when in a lower position.
The ring element 250 is adapted to receive pressing forces when the
compression plate 62 is also in a lower position for pressing the
composite material to the bottom plate 61. The ring element 250
thus forms a stop block to the bottom plate 61 and can further be
supplemented with a damping element, like for instance a silicon
layer or the like damping material. The ring element at the vessel
bottom 15 is adapted to receive hydraulic forces and carries a
bearing layer of silicon, whose thickness is less than 10 mm,
preferably, in particular less than 5 mm. Thereby a sealing of the
stirring space SS is achieved and thus fluid bituminous material is
forced to the further number of through flow orifices in the bottom
plate 61 as outlined to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.
[0121] Preferably the solid composite material and/or the solid
bituminous bodies are lifted. While lifted, a rotary movement
thereof is achieved. The rotary movement of lifted bituminous
bodies is achieved preferably as the flow pipes 51, 52 can guide
bituminous fluid material in an angle, preferably of 15.degree. or
the like, to the vessel in a tangential outer direction. From
external heat medium in the form of melt bituminous material is
preferably provided at a temperature of between 200.degree. C. to
260.degree. C. or the like.
[0122] A fluid guide for guiding the bituminous material through
the interior of the vessel 10, the flow pipes, 51, 52 and the
hollow shaft 211 can be formed with a ring pipe connection of the
flow pipes, 51, 52 and the hollow shaft 211. A pump for pumping the
bituminous material preferably is adapted to provide a throughput
of between 100 to 150 m.sup.3/h of fluid bituminous material,
preferably 120 m.sup.3/h of fluid bituminous material. Said pipe is
connected on one side by way of the flow pipes to a rather large
opening in the vessel and on the other side to the hollow shaft
211, which is part of the stirring and feeding arrangement 200 at
the central axis point at the bottom of the vessel 10.
[0123] An opening, in particular central opening, in the vessel
bottom 15 and/or a bottom plate 61 may have a diameter of between
100 to 150 mm, preferably approximately 120 mm. The hollow shaft
preferably has a diameter of between 80 to 130 mm, preferably
approximately 100 mm. In particular using the above mentioned
dimensions a throughput is achievable to allow a strong turbulence
for improving a heat transfer between the fed in bituminous
material and the bituminous material to be melted and recycled. The
time for melting the solid bituminous bodies thereby is decreased.
A stream of fluid bituminous material preferably has a rather high
velocity; in particular a stream of fed in melting medium of hot
bituminous material is preferred. To make the solid bitumen melting
in the hot liquid medium, enough speed of the melting medium in the
vessel is preferably larger than 0 m/s, preferable between 1-100
m/s, more preferable between 0.10-10 m/s, more specific between 1-7
m/s. A particular increase of speed is achieved with propellers or
the like accelerator means in a ring pipe to the hollow shaft, in
particular in the flow pipes 51, 52. In the flow pipes 51, 52, flow
sensors can be provided to allow a flow measurement. Measurement
values can be used to make conclusions about the state of the flow
pipes; e. g. clogging thereof can be estimated.
[0124] Because of the partly floating solid bitumen in the vessel,
propellers cannot be placed inside the recycling vessel 10.
However, propellers can be placed outside the vessel into two or
more external jet stream circulation guides, namely in this
embodiment into the flow pipes 51, 51. Propellers are preferred to
create the advantageous high velocity of the melting medium in the
vessel. A positive displacement pump cannot create the required
capacity and thus speed of the liquid melting medium, such as hot
bitumen or hot bitumen compound. Centrifugal pumps can be used but
with some deficiencies for pumping hot liquid bitumen. Preferably a
positive discharge pumps, is used. e.g. a positive discharge pump
can be formed as a gear pump or the like.
[0125] Fed in bituminous material is preferably used as a melting
medium and preferably is formed as a hot bitumen, hot bitumen
compound, hot oil, a cold dissolver of bitumen type or the like
(e.g. Diesel). In operation the hot bitumen has a temperature of
between 80.degree. C.-200.degree. C., preferable of between
120.degree. C.-160.degree. C., more preferable of between
160.degree. C.-260.degree. C.
[0126] The bottom plate 61 and/or the vessel bottom 15 preferably
has a thickness of at least 3 mm, preferable a thickness of between
3-500 mm, more preferable 100 mm, in particular a thickness of
between 50 to 100 mm. The lower border of thickness is achieved
when the bottom plate 61 and/or the vessel bottom 15 are that much
thin, that fluid bituminous material solidifies rather quick, due
to loss of heat. Then solid bituminous material can be scraped from
the bottom plate 61 and/or the vessel bottom 15 only with increased
effort.
[0127] The vessel wall and/or the pipes in this embodiment
preferably are enclosed in a pillow plated jacket or the like
mantle as mentioned hereinbefore. Some, preferably all, pillow
plated jacket or mantles can be operated with an internal pressure
of 5-20 bar. Thereby an improved stream of thermal oil in the
pillow plates is achieved and thus an improved thermal heat
transfer. Each pillow plate system may have its own thermal medium
pump, i.e. a secondary pump is provided for the thermal medium in
addition to a primary pump for fluid bituminous material (in the
flow pipes 51, 52 e.g.). Thereby a setting is possible to provide
an equal heating of the vessel; also respective valves and a
distributor can be used to adapt the stream of thermal medium in
the pillow plates. The openings of the flow pipes 51, 52, in
particular have a diffuser connection to the vessel or a manifold
or the like branching of outlet pipes. Preferably the diffuser has
an opening diameter of between 500 mm to 600 mm.
[0128] Through flow orifices in the compression plate and/or the
bottom plate are adapted for draining the residue composite
material upwards. They can have a widening, in particular a conical
widening, in the flow direction of the bitumen streaming out of the
residue, to prevent blocking up by the carriers or parts of the
carriers. The diameter of the through flow orifices can vary from 1
mm-60 mm. The number of through flow orifices may range from 1 to
500.
[0129] Preferably backwards closing valves are provide in the
compression plate and/or the bottom plate. The openings in the
compression plate drain the residue upwards. Therefore backwards
closing valves are preferred in the compression plate: By
compressing the remaining, liquid bitumen is flowing upwards out of
the remaining through the conical holes into the vessel. Preferably
it can be prevented that the retained bitumen flows back onto/into
the residue composite. This can be achieved by openings with a
check valve or the like backwards closing valve. E.g. in the
conical hole a conical stop can be provide, lifted by the flow of
the liquid bitumen and closing if there is no flow. The
power/pressure to open the holes can depend on the shape and weight
of the stops.
[0130] A draining system can be provided to the bottom plate. A
draining system can be realized by a number of parallel strips on
the bottom plate with a certain space between each other. The
strips are parallel to the pusher movement. The strips have a width
of 5-1000 mm, preferable a width of 10-50 mm. The height of the
strips is 1-100 mm, preferably 2-20 mm. Between the strips on the
bottom plate canals can be created in which the squeezed liquid
bitumen is flowing to the outside of the bottom plate and dropping
into the space between the bottom plate and the bottom of the
vessel. This can be pumped out of the vessel without streaming back
into the remaining. Alternatively a draining system can be realized
by a perforated plate system. The perforated plate is supported by
small square bars leaving room between the perforated plate and the
bottom plate, so that the regained/squeezed out bitumen of a cake
of compressed composite material can flow into the space underneath
the bottom plate and pumped out of the vessel.
[0131] By oscillating movements of the compression plate in the
fluid bitumen in the vessel, blocked up holes can be opened. The
carrier package underneath the compression plate can act as a
filter, as described with the first particular preferred developed
variant hereinbefore, when there is a certain downwards speed of
the plate. The minimum speed is v>0 m/s. When the downwards
speed is too high the carrier package prevents penetration of the
bitumen compound into the cook and requires too much power to lower
the compression plate. Bituminous roofing is always a bitumen
compound. A maximum speed required is preferably 1 m/s. A realistic
speed is such that particles must have a certain maximum speed to
find there way through the cake of pressed composite material in
all directions. An optimal speed can be just above 0 m/s, e.g.
0.001 m/s.
[0132] A heated disposal plate or tray 40 is preferred. This plate
is connected to the side of the vessel opposite the pusher. In this
way the residue is pushed from the bottom plate over the disposal
plate into a disposal container. The disposal plate can move from
the horizontal position while the pusher is moving into the
vertical position dropping the residue into the disposal container
standing under the vertical disposal plate. The disposal plate is
preferably heated to prevent sticking of the bituminous residue is
small and can have at least the dimensions of the bottom plate.
[0133] Also the system can be monitored, controlled and/or
regulated using such measurement values. Supervision of the
apparatus 100 can be achieved by a camera installation of telemetry
applications. In particular bituminous vapors or the like can be
supervised. The apparatus can be enclosed in a housing to provide a
containment or the like. An automated fire extinguishing
installation can be provided, in particular in the containment.
[0134] In particular the invention comprises one or more of the
apparatus and method embodiments as listed below.
[0135] 1. Apparatus for recycling bituminous material bodies by
melting, in particular for recycling bituminous composite material
bodies comprising a composite material and a bituminous material,
in particular roofing materials, in particular in the form of
bituminous covering layers of roofing sheets, the apparatus
comprising: [0136] a vessel having a vessel wall surrounding an
interior space of the vessel extending along a vertical axis of the
vessel for receiving the bituminous material bodies, [0137] a
bottom plate and a compression plate extending transverse to the
vertical axis wherein at least the compression plate has a number
of through flow orifices adapted to allow a through flow of molten
bituminous material, wherein the plates are movable along the
vertical axis such that [0138] in a first operating state the
compression plate is in a middle position for forming a melting
space of larger size between the compression plate and the bottom
plate for melting bituminous material in the melting space wherein
the bottom plate is in a melting position, [0139] in a second
operating state the compression plate is in a lower position for
forming a compression space of minor size between the compression
plate and the bottom plate for compressing solid residues and/or
solid composite material in the compression space, and wherein
[0140] molten bituminous material is retained in a storing space
above the compression plate for storing and/or discharging
bituminous material, wherein the bottom plate is in a compression
position, wherein [0141] the compression plate is movable from the
middle position to the lower position.
[0142] 2. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the compression plate is movable from the middle position
to the lower position with a downward velocity below an upper
limit, wherein the upper limit of the downward velocity and the
through flow orifices are in a form adapted to--retain the
composite material and/or other solid residues in a state of
operation below the compression plate when moving the compression
plate from the middle position to the lower position with the
downward velocity such that a passive filter means below the
compression plate is provided by means of the composite material
and/or other solid residues.
[0143] 3. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the upper limit of the downward velocity is between 10
cm/min and 15 cm/min.
[0144] 4. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the through flow orifices are in the form of slits having a
lower slit width and an upper slit length.
[0145] 5. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the through flow orifices lower cross-sectional dimension,
in particular lower width, in particular slit width, is below 10
mm, in particular below 4 mm, in particular below 2 mm.
[0146] 6. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the ratio of a sum of open cross-sections of orifices to
the total closed area of the compression plate is below 10%, in
particular below 5%, in particular below 2%, in particular below
1%.
[0147] Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the orifices have plan-parallel boundary surfaces.
[0148] 8. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein a hydraulic and/or pneumatic drive is adapted to move at
least the compression plate along the vertical axis from the middle
position to the lower position with the downward velocity.
[0149] 9. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein a drive is adapted to move at least the compression plate
along the vertical axis by exerting pressure at least to a first
number of drive rods adapted to move the compression plate between
said positions.
[0150] 10. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein a second number of guidance rods are adapted to establish a
guidance link at least of the bottom plate to the compression plate
wherein [0151] a lower distance between the bottom plate and the
compression plate is variable dependent on the position of the
compression plate, and [0152] an upper distance between the bottom
plate and the compression plate is limited by a stop collar.
[0153] 11. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein a drive rod extends to a first line of openings in said
plates and a guidance rod extends to a second line of openings in
said plates.
[0154] 12. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein a first line of openings in said plates is located on an
outer circumference line on a respective plate and a second line of
openings in said plates is located on an inner circumference line
on a respective plate.
[0155] 13. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the number of drive rods and the number of guidance rods
and respective openings are the same, in particular the number
amounts to three, in particular each rod is arranged along a first
and second inner circumferential cylindrical shape.
[0156] 14. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein further comprising a cover plate wherein the compression
plate is arranged between the bottom plate and the cover plate.
[0157] 15. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein when the bottom plate is in a melting position, the bottom
plate in a lowermost region of the vessel wall along the vertical
axis and the vessel is closed by the cover plate and the
compression plate is in an upper region of the vessel wall along
the vertical axis.
[0158] 16. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein when the bottom plate is in a compression position, the
bottom plate in a lowermost region of the vessel wall along the
vertical axis and the vessel is closed by the cover plate and the
compression plate is in a lower region of the vessel wall along the
vertical axis.
[0159] 17. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein when the bottom plate is in a discharge position, the
vessel is open and the compression plate and the cover plate are in
a region above the vessel wall along the vertical axis, in
particular the bottom plate in the region above the vessel wall
along the vertical axis.
[0160] 18. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the interior space is adapted for receiving the bituminous
materials, wherein the vessel wall has an inner wall defining the
interior space and adapted for contacting the bituminous materials,
and an outer wall defining an annular space between the inner wall
and the outer wall, which annular space is adapted to receive a
heating liquid for heating the interior space, in particular the
bituminous materials.
[0161] 19. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the inner wall and the out wall are connected at a
plurality of hubs, in particular each hub is formed as pillow
plated hub, in particular of a weld hub.
[0162] 20. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the interior space is adapted to be open to the
surrounding, in particular an overflow channel is connectable in a
flow connection to the interior space.
[0163] 21. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the interior space is adapted to be pressurized with a
pressure below atmospheric pressure, in particular with a vacuum
pressure.
[0164] 22. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein further comprising a microwave heating arrangement adapted
to heat the interior space, in particular the bituminous
materials.
[0165] 23. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein further comprising:
[0166] a first and second flow pipe connected to the vessel in a
flow connection to the interior space of the vessel wherein a
propeller is adapted to circulate molten bituminous materials in
the first and second flow pipe and the interior space of the
vessel.
[0167] 24. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein in a third operating state the compression plate is in an
upper position for forming a discharge space between the
compression plate and the bottom plate for discharging bituminous
materials from the discharge space, wherein the bottom plate is in
a discharge position.
[0168] 25. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the discharge position of the bottom plate is adapted such
that the bottom plate surface aligns with a slider element of a
slide and/or a discharge receipt tray, wherein the slide is adapted
to move the slider element along the surface of the bottom plate to
move the compressed solid residues and/or composite material to the
discharge receipt tray.
[0169] 26. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the discharge receipt tray is pivotable from a horizontal
surface position to a vertical surface position to release the
compressed solid residues and/or composite material.
[0170] 27. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein a head frame is adapted for supporting the vessel and/or a
slide and/or a tray wherein a vessel part of the a head frame
comprises a number of columns extending a along an outer
circumferential cylindrical shape, in particular wherein a column
is basically aligned in a radial extending vertical tier with a
guidance rod and a drive rod.
[0171] 28. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein a stirring unit is provided, wherein the stirring unit has
a shaft and an elongated stirring member rotatable arranged between
the bottom plate and a vessel bottom.
[0172] 29. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein
[0173] a shaft of a stirring unit is adapted to rotate an elongated
stirring member in a stirring space between the bottom plate and
the vessel bottom and/or wherein
[0174] a shaft of a stirring unit is hollow with an upper outlet
adapted to feed through a bituminous fluid, in particular a
bituminous melting fluid.
[0175] 30. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments,
wherein the shaft has an opening out into the space between the
bottom plate and the compression plate, in particular for forming a
jet stream of bituminous fluid into a bituminous material to be
recycled in the melting space and/or into a composite material in
the compression space between the bottom plate and the compression
plate.
[0176] 31. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments,
wherein the shaft has an opening out into the stirring space
between the bottom plate and the vessel bottom, in particular for
forming a cushion stream of bituminous fluid into a bituminous
material to be recycled in the melting space and/or into a
composite material in the compression space between the bottom
plate and the compression plate, in particular wherein the bottom
plate has a number of further through flow orifices adapted to
allow a through flow of molten bituminous material.
[0177] 32. Apparatus according to one of the preceding embodiments,
wherein the bottom plate on a bottom side has a cup cladding, in
particular formed by a circumferential arrangement, in particular
of a number of fins.
[0178] 33. Method for recycling bituminous material bodies by
melting, in particular for recycling solid bituminous composite
material bodies comprising a composite material and a bituminous
material, in particular roofing materials, in particular in the
form of bituminous covering layers of roofing sheets, in particular
using an apparatus as claimed in one or more of the preceding
embodiments, comprising the steps of:
[0179] receiving the bituminous materials in an interior space of a
vessel having a vessel wall surrounding the interior space of the
vessel extending along a vertical axis of the vessel,
[0180] containing the bituminous materials above a bottom plate and
allowing a through flow of molten bituminous materials through a
compression plate extending transverse to the vertical axis wherein
at least the compression plate has a number of through flow
orifices adapted to allow the through flow of molten bituminous
materials, [0181] moving the plates along the vertical axis such
that [0182] in a first operating state the compression plate is in
a middle position for forming a melting space of larger size
between the compression plate and the bottom plate for melting
bituminous materials in the melting space wherein the bottom plate
is in a melting position, [0183] in a second operating state the
compression plate is in a lower position for forming a compression
space of minor size between the compression plate and the bottom
plate for compressing solid residues and/or composite material in
the compression space, and wherein melted bituminous material is
retained in a storing space above the compression plate for storing
and/or discharging melted bituminous material, wherein the bottom
plate is in a compression position, wherein [0184] the compression
plate is moved from the middle position to the lower position.
[0185] 34. Method for recycling bituminous material wherein the
compression plate is moved from the middle position to the lower
position with a downward velocity below an upper limit, wherein the
upper limit of the downward velocity and the through flow orifices
are in a form adapted to retain composite material in a state of
operation below the compression plate when moving the compression
plate from the middle position to the lower position with the
downward velocity such that a passive filter means below the
compression plate is provided by means of the composite material
and/or other solid residues.
[0186] 35. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the upper limit of the downward velocity is between 10
cm/min and 15 cm/min.
[0187] 36. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein moving the plates along the vertical axis is further such
that in a third operating state the compression plate is in an
upper position for forming a discharge space between the
compression plate and the bottom plate for discharging bituminous
materials from the discharge space, wherein the bottom plate is in
a discharge position.
[0188] 37. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein when moving the compression plate from the middle position
to the lower position with the downward velocity composite material
and/or solid residues are retained below the compression plate.
[0189] 38. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein composite material and/or solid residues are retained such
that the bituminous material of a through flow of the bituminous
material through the orifices is filtered, in particular to provide
clean primary bituminous material.
[0190] 39. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein non-melting additives, in particular polyester- and/or
glass-fleece- and/or -fabric or mineral filler materials as
additives, are added to the bituminous materials to improve
filtering of the bituminous material.
[0191] 40. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein non-melting additives are added to the bituminous materials
in a concentration corresponding to an amount of up to 50 m2 to 100
m2 per volume of bituminous materials of up to 6 m3 to 11 m3.
[0192] 41. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the bituminous materials comprise a polymer-modified
bitumen compound, in particular wherein the polymer-modified
bitumen compound forms a major part of the recycled bituminous
material.
[0193] 42. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the bituminous material bodies comprise filler material
residues, in particular inlaids (such as polyester- or glass-fleece
or -fabric or mineral filler materials) or unwanted residues (such
as slate chippings) wherein the filler materials form a minor part
of the bituminous material bodies.
[0194] 43. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the bituminous material is heated by a heating liquid, in
particular a heating liquid circulated in the annular space and/or
heated by a microwave energy.
[0195] 44. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the compression plate is hydraulically and/or pneumatically
moved.
[0196] 45. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein the compression plate and/or the bottom plate are guided
and/or are driven by a number of rods.
[0197] 46. Method according to one of the preceding embodiments
wherein compressed solid composite material and/or solid residues
are shifted from the bottom plate to a pivotable discharge receipt
tray at a discharge position of the bottom plate.
* * * * *