Materials recovery facility process optimization via unit operation feedback
First Claim
1. A method of sorting an input waste material stream including a mixture of first and second materials, comprising:
- (a) passing said input waste material stream through an adjustable separator having at least one adjustable parameter, and separating said input waste material stream into a first output stream containing the majority of said first material and some contaminant second material, and a second output stream containing the majority of said second material and some contaminant first material;
(b) adjusting the adjustable parameter;
(c) monitoring the amount of contaminant second material in said first output stream, and the amount of contaminant first material in said second output stream, both before and after step (b), and generating a signal indicative of whether the combined amount of contaminant material has decreased;
(d) further adjusting said adjustable parameter responsive to said signal, in a direction indicated by step (c) as being favorable to decreasing the combined amount of contaminant material in the first and second output streams.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for controlling an automatic separator apparatus of a Materials Recovery Facility. An input waste material stream includes a mixture of first and second materials. The method includes a step of passing the input waste material stream through an adjustable separator having at least one adjustable parameter, and separating the input waste material stream into a first output stream containing the majority of the first material and some contaminant second material, and a second output stream containing the majority of the second material and some contaminant first material. The adjustable parameter is adjusted. The method includes monitoring the amount of contaminant second material in the first output stream, and the amount of contaminant first material in the second output stream, both before and after the adjustment of the adjustable parameter, and generating a signal indicative of whether the combined amount of contaminant material has decreased. The adjustable parameter is further adjusted responsive to the signal, in a direction indicated by the signal as being favorable to decreasing the combined amount of contaminant material in the first and second output streams.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of sorting an input waste material stream including a mixture of first and second materials, comprising:
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(a) passing said input waste material stream through an adjustable separator having at least one adjustable parameter, and separating said input waste material stream into a first output stream containing the majority of said first material and some contaminant second material, and a second output stream containing the majority of said second material and some contaminant first material; (b) adjusting the adjustable parameter; (c) monitoring the amount of contaminant second material in said first output stream, and the amount of contaminant first material in said second output stream, both before and after step (b), and generating a signal indicative of whether the combined amount of contaminant material has decreased; (d) further adjusting said adjustable parameter responsive to said signal, in a direction indicated by step (c) as being favorable to decreasing the combined amount of contaminant material in the first and second output streams. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification