Materials Recovery Facility Process Optimization Via Unit Operation Feedback

• US 20080197058A1
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MSS Incorporated (The CP Group (United States))
• Original Assignee: MSS Incorporated (The CP Group (United States))
• Inventors: Kenny, Garry R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,994,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/672
• 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. A separator for separating a stream of recyclable paper and containers into a paper stream including primarily paper and a container stream including primarily containers is provided. The separator has at least one adjustable operating parameter. A first detector detects an amount of container contaminants in the paper stream. A second detector detects an amount of paper contaminants in the container stream. A control system operably connected to the separator and the first and second detectors adjust the adjustable operating parameter so as to reduce a combined measure of contaminants in the paper stream and in the container stream.

Claims

1. A separator system, comprising:

a separator for separating a stream of recyclable paper and containers into a paper stream including primarily paper and a container stream including primarily containers, said separator having at least one adjustable operating parameter;

a first detector for detecting an amount of container contaminants in said paper stream;

a second detector for detecting an amount of paper contaminants in said container stream; and

a control system operably connected to the separator and the first and second detectors for adjusting the adjustable operating parameter so as to reduce a combined measure of contaminants in the paper stream and the container stream.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the combined measure of contaminants equally weights the contaminants in each of the paper stream and the container stream so as to minimize total contaminants.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the combined measure of contaminants favors a reduction in contaminants of one stream at the expense of an increase in total contaminants.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the separator is rotary disc screen having a V-shape cross-section, and having at least three adjustable operating parameters including a V-angle, a chute tilt angle and a rotational speed of the rotary discs.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the separator is an inclined rotary disc screen having at least two adjustable operating parameters including angle of inclination and rotational speed of the rotary discs.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the adjustable operating parameters also include a flow of air onto a face of the screen.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a paper stream separator for receiving the paper stream and separating container contaminants from the paper stream; and

a container stream separator for receiving the container stream and separating paper contaminants from the container stream; and

wherein the first detector is associated with the paper stream separator and includes a first sensor for identifying whether each item of the paper stream is paper; and

wherein the second detector is associated with the container stream separator and includes a second sensor for identifying whether each item of the container stream is a container.

8. An automated separator system for separating containers from paper, comprising:

(a) a plurality of spaced rotating discs defining a screen having a length, said screen being adjustable with regard to;

(a)(1) an angle of inclination along said length; and

(a)(2) a rotational speed of said rotating discs; and

said screen outputting a paper stream including primarily paper, and said screen outputting a container stream containing primarily containers; and

(b) a control system, including;

(b)(1) a first measuring unit for measuring an amount of containers in said paper stream;

(b)(2) a second measuring unit for measuring an amount of paper in said container stream; and

(b)(3) a control mechanism for automatically adjusting at least one of (a)(1) and (a)(2) in coordination with measurements made by the first and second measuring units.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a paper stream separator for receiving the paper stream and separating container contaminants from the paper stream; and

a container stream separator for receiving the container stream and separating paper contaminants from the container stream; and

wherein the first measuring unit is associated with the paper stream separator and includes a first sensor for identifying whether each item of the paper stream is paper; and

wherein the second measuring unit is associated with the container stream separator and includes a second sensor for identifying whether each item of the container stream is a container.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

an input conveyor for carrying an input stream including containers and paper to said screen;

a sensing unit for sensing a characteristic of said input material stream; and

wherein said control mechanism automatically adjusts at least one of (a)(1) and (a)(2) in response to said sensed characteristic of said input material stream.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein:

said screen has a V-shape chute and said screen is also adjustable with regard to a V-angle of the V-shape chute.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein:

said screen is a flat bed inclined screen.