PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SCRAP MATERIALS WITH HIGH PURITY LEVEL FROM INHOMOGENEOUS INPUT MATERIAL

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing recycled scrap, said method comprising the following steps: a) preparing or providing an inhomogeneous, ferrous scrap composition; b) comminuting the inhomogeneous, ferrous scrap composition in a comminution unit in order to obtain a comminuted material; c) separating organic and/or inorganic impurities from the comminuted material in order to obtain a pre-cleaned material; d) analysing the pre-cleaned material with one or more first detection devices in order to detect at least a first item of material information and separating out constituents of the pre-cleaned material in order to obtain a purified material, wherein the separation is performed depending on the first item of material information; and e) analysing the purified material with one or more second detection devices in order to detect at least one second item of material information; f) matching the detected second item of material information with a predefined material criterion associated with the second item of material information, wherein the purified material is output as recycled scrap if the second item of material information fulfils the associated predefined material criterion.

Claims

1. A process for producing recycled scrap comprising the steps of: a) producing or providing an inhomogeneous, iron-containing scrap composition, b) comminuting the inhomogeneous, iron-containing scrap composition in a comminution unit to obtain a comminuted material, c) separating organic and/or inorganic impurities from the comminuted material to obtain a pre-purified material, d) analyzing the pre-purified material with one or more first detection apparatuses to detect at least one first material information and segregating constituents of the prepurified material to obtain a purified material, wherein the segregating is carried out according to the first material information and e) analyzing the purified material with one or more second detection apparatuses to detect at least a second material information, f) comparing the detected second material information with a predetermined material criterion assigned to the second material information, wherein the purified material is discharged as recycled scrap when the second material information meets the assigned predetermined material criterion.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the separating of organic and/or metallic impurities in step c) comprises two or more different operating steps selected from the group consisting of long fraction separation, windsifting, magnetic separation and sieving.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the segregating in step d) is carried out by an automated apparatus.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first material information and/or the at least one second material information, are detected with a spatial and/or temporal resolution to obtain a spatially and/or temporally resolved information profile respectively and/or wherein the analyzing in step d) and/or step e) is carried out by one or more; different methods selected from the group consisting of X-ray fluorescence analysis, optical image recognition, artificial intelligence, infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy, and near infrared (NIR) absorption spectroscopy.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the composition of the inhomogeneous iron-containing scrap composition is controlled according to the first material information and/or the second material information.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the comminuting in step b) is controlled according to the first material information and/or the second material information.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein in the further processing of the recycled scrap at least a third material information is detected, wherein the composition of the inhomogeneous iron-containing scrap composition and/or the comminuting in step b) and/or the separating in step c) is controlled according to the at least one third material information.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the process is a continuous or semicontinuous process.

9. A plant for recycling scrap by performing the process according claim 1, the plant comprising: at least one comminuting unit for comminuting an inhomogeneous, iron-containing scrap composition, means for separating organic and/or metallic impurities from the comminuted material, one or more first detection apparatuses for analyzing the material obtained after the separating to detect a first material information, means for automated segregation of fractions from the material obtained after the separating according to the first material information, one or more second detection apparatuses for analyzing the material obtained after the segregating to detect a second material information and a data processing apparatus adapted for comparing the second material information with an assigned predetermined material criterion and discharging the material purified in the apparatus as recycled scrap when the second material information meets the assigned predetermined material criterion.

10. (canceled)

Description

[0139] The inventive comminuting unit and the preferred embodiments thereof are more particularly elucidated and described below with reference to the accompanying FIGURE.

[0140] FIG. 1

shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of an inventive comminuting unit in a particularly preferred embodiment.

[0141] FIG. 1 shows by way of example a schematic cross-sectional representation of a preferred inventive comminuting unit 10.

[0142] The comminuting unit 10 is especially suitable for use in a process according to the invention/in a plant according to the invention and comprises a comminuting space 12.

[0143] The comminuting space 12 comprises an inlet opening 22 through which the scrap composition, supplied for example via a conveyor belt 18a, may be introduced into the comminuting space 12. The comminuting space 12 additionally comprises two discharging regions 14a, 14b.

[0144] The first discharging region 14a is arranged in the upper part of the comminuting space 12 and comprises a first movable element 20a which is adapted for limiting the discharging area of the comminuted material from the comminuting space 12 which is available in the discharging region 14a. The first movable element 20a is in the present case configured as a hydraulically adjustable cover plate.

[0145] The second discharging region 14b is arranged in the bottom of the comminuting space 12 and comprises a second movable element 20b which is adapted for limiting the discharging area of the comminuted material from the comminuting space 12 which is available in the discharging region 14b. The second movable element 20b is in the present case configured as a hydraulically adjustable base plate which is configured in two parts in the form of a flap having two wings.

[0146] In FIG. 1 the movability of the movable elements 20a, 20b is indicated by double arrows. The discharging regions 14a, 14b are each covered by grates which prevent escape of excessively large particles from the comminuting space 12. The grates in the discharging regions 14a, 14b may preferably have adjustable mesh sizes and/or be reversibly and nondestructively replaceable.

[0147] In the comminuting space 12 the scrap composition is comminuted by the rotor 16 fitted with hammers. After a certain residence time in the comminuting space 12 the comminuted particles are discharged from the comminuting unit 10 through one of the discharging regions 14a, 14b and may for example be sent for further processing via conveyor belts 18b, 18c.

[0148] Controlling the movable elements 20a, 20b makes it possible to control the average residence time of the particles in the comminuting space 12. The second movable element 20b additionally allows the second discharging region 14b to be completely closed so that the comminuting unit 10 may be switched from zerdirator operation to shredder operation.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0149] 10 [0150] Comminuting unit [0151] 12 [0152] Comminuting space [0153] 14a-b [0154] Discharging region [0155] 16 [0156] Rotor [0157] 18a-c [0158] Conveyor belt [0159] 20a-b [0160] Movable element [0161] 22 [0162] Inlet opening