Materials Recovery Facility Process Optimization Via Unit Operation Feedback

• US 20080197056A1
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MSS Incorporated (The CP Group (United States))
• Original Assignee: MSS Incorporated (The CP Group (United States))
• Inventors: Kenny, Garry R.
• Application Number:
  US12/109,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20080197056A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/644
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 9/06 specially adapted for refuse
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/15 using corrugated, grooved or ribbed rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 11/04 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 13/00 Grading or sorting solid materials by dry methods, not otherwise provided for; Sorting articles otherwise than by indirectly controlled devices grading eggs A01K43/04
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 13/08 according to weight B07B13/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 13/18 Control
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 4/08 while the mixtures are supported by sieves, screens, or like mechanical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 9/02 Combinations of similar or different apparatus for separating solids from solids using gas currents
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/00 Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches sorting by hand only B07C7/00; separating solids from solids by sieving, screening, or sifting or by using gas currents or other separating by dry methods applicable to bulk material B07B
• CPC Class Codes: D21B 1/028 by dry methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/52 Mechanical processing of waste for the recovery of materials, e.g. crushing, shredding, separation or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/93 Municipal solid waste sorting

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for controlling an automatic separator apparatus of a Materials Recovery Facility. An input stream of recycled materials is provided, wherein the composition of the input stream is subject to variation during a time interval. The input stream passes through a separator machine having a plurality of adjustable machine operating parameters. Via a computerized control system the first one of the operating parameters is adjusted for monitoring the quality of separation achieved by the separator machine so as to select a value of the first parameter that improves the monitored quality of separation. This process is continued for each of the other adjustable parameters of the separator machine, and then the process is repeated so as to continuously adjust the operating parameters of the separator machine to optimize its efficiency of separation.

Claims

1. A method of sorting recycled materials, comprising:

(a) providing an input stream of recycled materials, wherein a composition of the input stream is subject to variation during a time interval;

(b) moving the input stream through a separator machine having a plurality of adjustable machine operating parameters;

(c) adjusting via a computerized control system a first one of the adjustable machine operating parameters while monitoring with the computerized control system a quality of separation achieved by the separator machine, so as to select a value of the first parameter that improves the effect of the first parameter on the monitored quality of separation;

(d) after step (c), adjusting a second one of the adjustable machine operating parameters while monitoring the quality of separation achieved by the separator machine, so as to select a value of the second parameter that improves the effect of the second parameter on the monitored quality of separation; and

(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) with the computerized control system during the time interval so that the effects of the adjustable machine operating parameters are repeatedly automatically adjusted as the composition of the input stream varies during the time interval.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

producing stored historical data representative of a set of historical values of the operating parameters corresponding to improved quality of separation for given values of a characteristic of said input stream;

sensing a present value of said characteristic of said input stream; and

adjusting said operating parameters, via said computerized control system, in response to said sensed present value of said characteristic of said input stream so that said operating parameters approach said historical values of the operating parameters corresponding to improved quality of separation for said sensed present value of said characteristic of said input stream.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the characteristic of the input stream is density.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the density of the input stream is estimated by measuring a height of a portion of said input stream and a weight of said portion of said input stream.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the characteristic of the input stream is moisture content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

in step (a) the input stream is comprised primarily of paper and containers; and

in step (b) the separator machine separates the input stream into a paper stream and a container stream made up primarily of paper and containers, respectively.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the paper is primarily newspaper.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

in step (b), the separator machine is a rotary disc screen having a V-shape chute, and the plurality of adjustable machine operating parameters include a V-angle, a chute tilt angle and a rotational speed of the rotary discs.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

in step (b) the plurality of adjustable machine operating parameters further includes air flow onto a face of the screen.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

in step (b), the separator machine includes an inclined flat bed rotary disc screen, and the plurality of adjustable machine operating parameters include angle of inclination and a rotational speed of the rotary discs.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

in step (b) the plurality of adjustable machine operating parameters further includes air flow onto a face of the screen.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after step (d), adjusting a third one of the adjustable machine operating parameters while monitoring the quality of separation achieved by the separator machine, so as to select a value of the third parameter that improves the effect of the third parameter on the monitored quality of separation; and

then adjusting a fourth one of the adjustable machine operating parameters while monitoring the quality of separation achieved by the separator machine, so as to select a value of the fourth parameter that improves the effect of the fourth parameter on the monitored quality of separation.