DE-102024133219-A1 - Adaptive air classifier control

Abstract

Air classifier 15 for air classifying a material stream 2, comprising at least one static and/or dynamic air classifier 6, and means for supplying a classifier air stream to the air classifier 6, wherein the air classifier 15 separates a material stream 2 into a first fraction 8 and a second fraction 7, wherein the first fraction 8 comprises, in particular, films, wherein the air classifier 15 comprises at least one measuring device, wherein the measuring device is arranged in the region of the air classifier 6, in particular downstream of the air classifier 6, wherein the measuring device detects contaminants of at least one material type contained in the first fraction 8, wherein the material type is assigned to the second fraction 7, wherein the air classifier 15 comprises a control and/or a regulating device 13, wherein the control and/or regulating device 13 is for controlling and/or regulating at least one parameter influencing the separation behavior of the air classifier 6, and depending on the number of contaminants determined by the measuring device Contaminants are formed.

Inventors

• Marvin Emmerich
• Annika Ludes
• Bastian Küppers

Assignees

• STADLER ANLAGENBAU GMBH

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20241113

Claims (5)

1. Air classifier (15) for air classifying a material stream (2), comprising at least one static and/or dynamic air classifier (6), and means for supplying a classifier air stream to the air classifier (6), wherein the air classifier (15) separates a material stream (2) into a first fraction (8) and a second fraction (7), wherein the first fraction (8) in particular comprises films, wherein the air classifier (15) comprises at least one measuring device, wherein the measuring device is arranged in the region of the air classifier (6), in particular downstream of the air classifier (6), characterized in that the measuring device detects contaminants of at least one material type contained in the first fraction (8), wherein the material type is assigned to the second fraction (7), wherein the air classifier (15) comprises a control and/or a regulating device (13), wherein the control and/or the regulating device (13) is for controlling and/or regulating at least one, the separation behavior of the air classifier (6). influencing parameter, and depending on the number of interfering substances detected by the measuring device.
2. Method for operating an air classifier (15), in particular an air classifier (15) according to Claim 1 , wherein the air classifier (15) is configured for air classifying a material stream (2) into a first fraction (8) and a second fraction (7) with at least one static and/or one dynamic air classifier (6), the method comprising the process steps: a) supplying a classifying air stream to the air classifier (6) and separating a material stream (2) into a first fraction material stream (8, 2) and a second fraction material stream (7, 2), b) determining a number of the contaminants contained in the first fraction material stream (8, 2) of at least one material type which is assigned to the second fraction (7), c) diverting the contaminants contained in the first fraction (8) of at least one material type downstream of the classifier (6); d) Control and/or regulate at least one parameter (12, 14) influencing the separation behavior of the air classifier (15) depending on the number of contaminants in the first fraction material stream (8, 2).
3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in process step d) the influencing parameter is determined using and/or by means of a lookup table based on the number of contaminants in the first fraction material stream (8, 2).
4. A method according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that a water content (12) of the material stream upstream and/or downstream of the air classifier (6) and/or a heavy material content in the first fraction material stream (8, 2) upstream and/or downstream of the air classifier (6) is used as a parameter for controlling and/or regulating the air classifier device (15), wherein in particular the heavy material content in the first fraction material stream (8, 2) is quantified by means of optical sorters (9, 10).
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the case of a heavy fraction content, in particular a PET content, in the first fraction material stream (8, 2) greater than a first defined percentage, in particular 3%, a fan speed of the air classifier (6) is reduced and/or in the case of a heavy fraction content, in particular a PET content, in the first fraction material stream (8, 2) less than a second defined percentage, in particular 1.5%, a fan speed of the air classifier (6) is increased.

Description

The present invention relates to a viewing device for viewing a material stream, and a corresponding method. In many waste sorting plants and in almost all sorting facilities for lightweight packaging, air classifiers are used after classification into fractions to separate light and heavy materials. Light materials, such as films, in heavy material streams place a significantly increased load on sensor-based sorters because their low basis weight leads to high surface area coverage, especially due to large-area films, and relative movement on the acceleration belt, which in turn causes increased overlap and thus false detection. The use of air classifiers facilitates subsequent sorting steps, especially those of optical sorting, and allows for their maximum efficiency. A problem with known wind separation processes is that bulk density is a crucial factor in the parameterization of air classifiers. The higher the bulk density, the more powerful the fan, for example, must be to generate the wind, and thus the air volume flow rate, in order to remove as much of the lighter material as possible. However, if the air classifier is set too aggressively, too many heavy particles are transferred into the lighter material, causing problems in subsequent sorting processes, such as reduced performance. The technical objective of the invention is therefore to improve the state of the art and/or to propose alternative solutions. The technical problem of the invention is solved by an object with the technical features according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims, the description, and the figure. All features described in connection with individual embodiments of the invention can be provided in different combinations in the object according to the invention in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the patent claims and is not limited by the features explained in the description or illustrated in the figures. For the purposes of the invention, the term "heavy fraction" includes, among other things, materials of the following types: cups and/or trays made of polypropylene (PP), bottles and/or cans and/or trays made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), yogurt cups and/or trays made of polystyrene (PS), bottles or trays made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), paper, cardboard, carton, beverage cartons, iron cans, and aluminum cans. Furthermore, for the purposes of the invention, on the one hand the term first fraction can be understood to mean a light fraction and on the other hand the term second fraction can be understood to mean a heavy fraction and on the other hand the term first fraction can be understood to mean a heavy fraction and on the other hand the term second fraction can be understood to mean a light fraction. Furthermore, for the purposes of the invention, on the one hand the term first fraction material stream can be understood to mean a light fraction material stream and on the other hand the term second fraction material stream can be understood to mean a heavy fraction material stream or on the other hand the term first fraction material stream can be understood to mean a heavy fraction material stream and on the other hand the term second fraction material stream can be understood to mean a light fraction material stream. Furthermore, for the purposes of the invention, the term "light fraction" includes, among other things, materials of the following type: films made of low-density polyethylene or polypropylene, or multilayer films made of PP, PE, PET, polyamides (PA). Furthermore, for the purposes of the invention, the term "lookup table" includes, for example, conversion tables used in computer science and digital technology to statically define information and use it at runtime of a program, thus avoiding complex calculations or high memory consumption. Control can be implemented manually using a lookup table, but it can also be automated in the form of a control system. According to one aspect, the technical problem of the invention is solved by means of an air classifier for air classifying a material stream, comprising at least one static and/or dynamic air classifier, and means for supplying a classifier air stream to the air classifier, wherein the air classifier separates a material stream into a first fraction and a heavy fraction, wherein the first fraction in particular comprises films, wherein the air classifier comprises at least one measuring device, wherein The measuring device is arranged in the area of the air classifier, in particular downstream of the air classifier, wherein the measuring device detects contaminants of at least one material type contained in the first fraction, wherein the material type is assigned to the heavy fraction, wherein the air classifier device comprises a control and/or a regulating device, wherein the control and/