CH719571B1 - PROCEDURE FOR THE RECOVERY AND RECYCLING OF DISCONTINUED ENERGY AND FLUID METERS, AIMED AT THE REGENERATION OF THE GRANULATE OF THE PLASTIC PARTS CONTAINED. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention refers to a method and/or process for the disposal of disused energy, gas and liquid meters and the regeneration of the materials contained therein in order to obtain suitable plastic products that comply with specific regulations required by end users. The process consists of two main phases, the first consists in the treatment of the meters in order to separate the metal components from the plastic ones, the second consists in the process of recycling and transforming the recovered plastic material into granules.

Description

INTRODUCTION

[0001] The present invention refers to a method and/or process for the disposal of disused energy, gas and liquid meters and the regeneration of the materials contained therein which can subsequently be reused for the production of new products. More specifically, the invention concerns a process for the extraction of plastic and metal materials, electronic cards contained in the aforementioned meters which precisely defines times, technical equipment, operational methodologies for the treatment of the meters to obtain a plastic granulate ready to be reused through the regeneration of plastic parts as well as for metal parts.

[0002] The functions and purposes of the present invention, which are organized in a real protocol, are to establish a procedure that becomes a procedural and process standard for the collection of a type of waste (energy, gas meters and liquids) which currently, due to the fractionation of the materials contained in them, is not managed in an adequate and coherent way to safeguard the environment and the economy.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention is designed to be used in the disposal of disused energy, gas and liquid meters by extracting the materials contained therein, plastic, metal, copper, aluminum and iron materials and electronic cards.

STATE OF ART

[0004] The market for energy, gas and liquid meters today is undergoing very rapid technological evolution, to the point that companies have to dispose of old meters with very frequent rotation. These devices are made up of approximately 70% plastic parts and approximately 30% metal parts. Disused meters most of the time end up in landfill, because it is not possible to activate an effective collection and recycling process for them. The problem is so serious that we must urgently find a solution for the full recycling and reuse of the aforementioned meters. It is a known problem, but currently there is no economically valid standard process for the collection and complete recycling of the aforementioned meters in the supply chain. The current situation sees the presence of very few producers active in the collection of meters, furthermore companies specialized in waste collection are difficult to allocate direct and specific activities to the treatment of this specific type of waste, with consequent serious damage to the environment and further waste of energy and materials in producing new objects from virgin plastic instead of being made from recycled plastic. Furthermore, this process reduces the CO2 emissions emitted by a virgin plastic production process derived from petroleum by 5 to 7 times.

[0005] The present invention refers to a process for recovering and recycling the materials that make up disused energy and fluid meters, as described in Claim 1.

ILLUSTRATION DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1: Illustrates through a Block Diagram the scheme of the first phase of the recycling process, i.e. the separation of the metal components from the plastic ones; Figure 2: Illustrates through a Block Diagram the scheme of the second phase of the recycling process, i.e. the treatment of the recovered plastic material and its transformation by extrusion into regenerated (granulated) plastic material; Figure 3: Illustrates the execution of the first phase of the procedure through the configuration of the sequence of processes corresponding to the steps of its route in a dedicated plant; Figure 4: Illustrates the execution of the second phase of the procedure through the configuration of the sequence of processes corresponding to the steps of its route in a dedicated plant;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The following description and the related drawings, however, are to be considered purely illustrative and therefore not limiting of the present invention, which may be implemented according to other and different embodiments.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to remedy the technical and environmental problems described above and in particular to create a procedure, organized in a real standard protocol, in order to facilitate and organize the collection of meters, using a sequence of processes for recycling the plastic parts contained therein and reusing them to create new products such as, purely for information purposes, new meters or electrical parts, creating a circular economy.

[0009] Advantageously, the present invention concerns a protocol, which precisely defines times, technical equipment and operating methodologies for each individual phase of the process in question, in particular the collection and separation of the plastic and metal materials contained in the meters. Technologically advanced activities are also envisaged in the planning and management of meter collection, in order to create a link between producer and user aimed at protecting the environment by obtaining a lower use of consumption and production of virgin raw materials.

[0010] Specifically, the process begins with the collection of the disused meters 101, which are placed on container platforms. These platforms are loaded onto vehicles and transported to the recycling plant.

[0011] Once the container platforms have arrived and unloaded, the counters 101 are fed into the mill 102 where, using blades, they will be reduced into flakes giving rise to a ground product.

[0012] The ground material obtained is subjected to further separation and more precisely, introduced into the metal and non-metal separator 105 which has the function of separating the metals from the plastic materials contained therein. The plastic materials obtained from this first separation process will be fed into another machine called polymer and color separator 106 which has the function of dividing the polymers by type and colour.

[0013] From this process, different types of polymers are obtained and separated in specific polycarbonate, polyamide, polypropylene, ABS, and other minor ones also classified according to their color.

[0014] With the material obtained, another sieving is carried out using a vibrating sieve 103 which has the function of eliminating the fine dust contained therein, the material obtained is then passed through a hopper with permanent magnets at 14000 gauss in order to to eliminate metal residues.

[0015] The flakes obtained are then transported 111 to the bagging 107 consisting of a silo with at least two metal detectors 104 in cascade with a quartz glass tube having the function of eliminating any impurities present in the plastic materials obtained, (Fig. 1 ).

[0016] The plastic flakes are placed in the mixer 201 in which they are dosed together with mineral and chemical additives which, with specific formulations, which are also part of the present invention, allow the creation of a compound suitable for obtaining a granulate 209 which complies with regulations such as ASTM, ISO, UL. These regulations are requested by end users on the basis of the products to be created and depending on the technical applications and their destination dictated by said end user.

[0017] The mixture obtained with the flakes and additives, which compose and give rise to the formulation, is introduced into the screw extruder 203 in which the melting process takes place at temperatures varying from 250 °C to 280 °C, from which the spaghetti comes out of the die provided with a variable number of holes, possibly with a variable or adjustable diameter, located on the head of the extruder, which passes through a first cooling tank 204 with water at a temperature of 33° C and then continue by entering a second cooling tank 205 with water at a temperature of 23°C.

[0018] Upon exiting this last tank, the spaghetti 202, now solidified, are cut by the cutter 207 into small granules 209' of variable length.

[0019] The granule 209' obtained is brought to a vibrating screen 208 with a permanent magnet recovery hopper 210 to remove any impurities and is pumped through a tube 211 under pressure to the storage silo 206, in which another process of elimination of any metal impurities through the use of at least two 212 metal detectors in cascade with quartz glass tube.

[0020] Once the process was finished, the regenerated plastic granulate 209 was obtained, ready to be reused (Fig.2).

[0021] Through composition with appropriate formulations, the different plastic materials obtained are again suitable for use by molding or extrusion and are also compliant with the specific ASTM, ISO, UL standards requested by end users.

[0022] With respect to the formulations for obtaining the compound or mixture by way of example, we describe below four types of formulations directed at four main polymers object of recycling with the method of the present invention:

Standard formulations for polycarbonate, polyamide, ABS, polypropylene.

i) FORMULATION FOR RECYCLED POLYCARBONATE PC

DESCRIPTION

[0023] Selected PC flakes deriving from ground counters 95% Glass fiber 3% Chemical additives (Flame retardant, primary stabilizer, secondary stabilizer, lubricant and release agent) 2% 100%

ii) FORMULATION FOR RECYCLED POLYAMIDE PA

DESCRIPTION

[0024] Selected PA flakes deriving from ground counters 75% Glass fiber 20% Chemical additives (Flame retardant, primary, secondary stabilizer, lubricant and release agent) 5% 100%

iii) FORMULATION FOR RECYCLED ABS

DESCRIPTION

[0025] Selected ABS flakes deriving from ground counters 97% Chemical additives (primary stabilizer, secondary stabilizer, lubricant and release agent) 3% 100%

iv) FORMULATION FOR RECYCLED POLYPROPYLENE PP

DESCRIPTION

[0026] Selected PA flakes deriving from ground counters 80% Mineral filler 18% Chemical additives (primary, secondary stabiliser, lubricant and release agent) 2% 100%

[0027] The formulations can be variable depending on the physical, thermal and mechanical properties and flame resistance required by the end users depending on the products to be made.

[0028] The present invention also includes a plant for carrying out the phases of the process of the invention thus arranged and configured, comprising the following means: - a shredder 102, the discarded articles (counters) 101 are introduced into the blade mill 102 in the which, through the said blades, are reduced into flakes giving rise to a ground product; – a metal - non-metal separator 105; contained in the ground coffee obtained; – a polymer and color separator 106 contained in the non-metallic separator; – a 103 vibrating screen with 14000 Gauss permanent magnets, for the elimination of ferrous metal materials; – at least two 104 metal detectors in cascade with quartz glass tube; for the elimination of non-ferrous materials, in particular such as copper, aluminum and minors; – a conveyor 111 of the plastic flakes in – a bagging silo 107 equipped with at least two metal detectors 104 arranged in cascade with a quartz glass tube, (Fig. 3); – a mixer 201 in which the flakes are dosed together with the mineral and chemical additives of appropriate formulation, for their subsequent processing in an extruder; – an extruder 203 equipped with adjustable speed screws, in which the melting process takes place at a temperature between 250°C and 280°C, and from whose head by means of a die provided with a variable number of holes, in particular also of variable or adjustable diameter as desired, the regenerated plastic spaghetti 202 comes out; – several cooling tanks, a first cooling tank 204 with water at a temperature of 33°C, a second cooling tank 205 with water at a temperature of 23°C; – a cutter 207 for cutting the spaghetti 202 from which granules 209' of variable length are obtained, in order to obtain a granulate 209' which, with specific formulations, responds to standard technical regulations requested by end users and to regulations and specifications of bodies such as ASTM, ISO and UL; – a second vibrating screen 208 combined with a permanent magnet hopper 210 to remove any remaining impurities, connected to a pressurized pipe 211 to pump the granulate 209' into the storage silo 206, in which another final elimination process is repeated of any last metal impurities by using at least two 212 metal detectors in cascade with quartz glass tube; – to obtain plastic granulate 209 which can be reused in accordance with regulations (Fig.4).

[0029] A final granulate 209 of finished plastic material regenerated in accordance with standards is thus obtained, which finds particular use in the manufacture of recycled plastic products in accordance with standards, with a significant reduction in the expenditure of energy and raw materials, fitting into a production economy sustainable circular.

[0030] Purely by way of example, recycled polycarbonate can be used to create new meters, which complies with the specific standards of the meter itself.

[0031] Another example of use is recycled polyamides which can be reused for the production of electrical switches.

[0032] Another example for the use of recycled ABS which can be used to produce components in the electrical field.

[0033] Another example for using recycled polypropylene which can be used in the electrical field and various other applications.

[0034] These exemplary uses illustrated above, as well as all other applications of the invention which is the subject of the present invention, fall within a circular economy project.

[0035] The invention thus conceived and illustrated is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the inventive concept of the attached claims.

[0036] Finally, the components used, as long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, can be modified at any time according to the needs of the end users without thereby invalidating the novelty of the present invention. with respect to the state of the known art.

[0037] Where the features and techniques mentioned in any claim are followed by reference marks such reference marks have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and, consequently, such reference marks have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by these reference signs.

Claims (13)

1. Procedure for sustainable disposal, through the recovery and recycling of the materials contained in disused energy, electricity, gas and liquid meters, through the separation of the materials and components contained therein and subsequent transformation of the recovered plastic parts into a plastic granulate regenerated, characterized by comprising the following phases: a) grinding of disused energy, electricity, gas, liquid and water meters, to reduce them into flakes giving rise to a ground product; b) separation of the plastic materials from the metallic materials present in the ground material obtained; c) subsequent processing of the plastic materials present in the ground material, separated from the metallic materials and extracted into flakes, using means that divide the plastic materials by type of polymer and colour; d) an initial elimination of the impurities still present in the plastic flakes made up of the metal materials produced by grinding, by sieving using a vibrating sieve equipped with permanent magnets; e) further elimination of residual metallic impurities in the plastic flakes, using at least two metal detectors in cascade with quartz glass tube, having the function of eliminating any residual impurities remaining in the flakes of the plastic materials obtained, divided by type and colour; f) bagging of said plastic flakes, freed from any foreign material, into silos equipped with at least two metal detectors in cascade with quartz glass tube; g) obtaining, as a result of the aforementioned treatments, flakes of different types of polymers which are contained in the said counters, such as polycarbonate, polyamides, ABS, polypropylene, which are subsequently transported separately to collection and bagging silos, these equipped with vault of at least two metal detectors; h) mixing of the selected plastic flakes, obtained through the above-mentioned processes, with the addition of mineral and chemical additives prepared according to specific recipes and formulations, in order to obtain a compound aimed at the production of certain qualities of plastic materials, depending on the applications techniques for using the end user and the products to be created, which correspond in terms of characteristics and performance to the specifications required by the end users. i) introduction of the compound, obtained from the mixture formed with the said flakes and with the addition of the said mineral and chemical additives, for its fusion in an extruder for a subsequent processing of transformation of the recovered plastic material into granulate. j) melting of the compound, obtained from the mix or mixture formed with said flakes and with said additives, according to the different formulations, introduced into the extruder, equipped with counter-rotating variable speed screws, in which said melting process takes place, the melt of regenerated plastic material created by coming out of a multi-hole die located in the head of said extruder to form spaghetti; k) cooling of the spaghetti in special subsequent tanks containing water; l) cutting of the solidified spaghetti at the exit of the last tank using a cutter, to be chopped into granules of variable length depending on the final use; m) final purification of the granulate thus obtained, to remove any residual impurities remaining, through a second sieve and permanent magnet hopper, to be said granulate then pumped through a pressurized pipe into a storage silo, in which it is repeated again the process of total elimination of any metal impurities through the use of at least two metal detectors in cascade with quartz glass tube; n) obtaining a regenerated plastic granulate ready to be reused. 2. Process according to claim 1, in which the additives for obtaining the compound or mixture with the flakes correspond to one of the following formulations: i) - Selected flakes of PC, Polycarbonate, deriving from ground counters 95%, - Glass fiber 3%, - Chemical additives such as flame retardant, primary stabilizer, secondary stabilizer, lubricant and release agent 2%. ii) - Selected flakes of PA, Polyamide, derived from ground counters 75%, - Glass fiber 20%, - Chemical additives such as flame retardant, primary stabilizer, secondary stabilizer, lubricant and release agent 5%. iii) - Selected ABS flakes deriving from ground counters 97%, - Chemical additives such as primary stabilizer, secondary stabilizer, lubricant and release agent 3%. iv) - Selected flakes of PP, Polypropylene, deriving from ground counters 80%, - Mineral filler 18%, - Chemical additives such as primary stabilizer, secondary stabilizer, lubricant and release agent 2%. 3. Process according to claim 1, in which the elimination of impurities from metallic materials, in particular ferrous materials, is carried out through the use of vibrating screens equipped with 14000 Gauss permanent magnets. 4. Process according to claim 1, in which the elimination of impurities of metallic materials, in particular of non-ferrous materials, is carried out through the use of multiple metal detectors in cascade with quartz glass tube. 5. Process according to claim 1, in which the fusion in the extruder of the mixture obtained with the plastic flakes and the additives takes place at a temperature between 250°C and 280°C, from which said extruder exits, from the die provided with a variable number of holes, of variable diameter, adjustable in the case, located on the head of said extruder, regenerated plastic spaghetti. 6. Process according to claim 1, in which the spaghetti, after extrusion from the die, for their cooling and solidification, passes through a first cooling tank with water at a temperature of 33°C and then continues by entering a second cooling with water at a temperature of 23°C. 7. Granulate of finished and regenerated plastic material, obtained with the process according to claim 1. 8. Recycled plastic products, made using the finished and regenerated plastic material granulate according to claim 7. 9. System for carrying out the process according to claim 1, arranged and structured for the implementation of its phases, characterized by comprising: – a shredder (102), the discarded counters (101) are fed into the blade mill (102) in which, through said blades, they are reduced to flakes giving rise to a ground product; – a metal - non-metal separator (105), contained in the ground material obtained; – a polymer and color separator (106) contained in the non-metallic separator; – a vibrating screen (103) with permanent magnets at 14000 Gauss; – at least two metal detectors (104) in cascade with quartz glass tube; – a conveyor (111) for plastic flakes – a bagging silo (107) equipped with at least two metal detectors (104) arranged in cascade with a quartz glass tube; – a mixer (201) in which the flakes are dosed together with the mineral and chemical additives of appropriate formulation, for their subsequent processing in an extruder; – an extruder (203) equipped with adjustable speed screws, in which the melting process takes place and from whose head, by means of a die, located on the head of said extruder, provided with a variable number of holes, where appropriate, these of variable or adjustable diameter, regenerated plastic spaghetti comes out (202); – cooling tanks, a first cooling tank (204) with water at a temperature of 33°C, a second cooling tank (205) with water at a temperature of 23°C; – a cutter (207) for cutting spaghetti (202) from which granules (209') of variable length are obtained, in order to obtain a granulate (209) which, with specific formulations, responds to standard technical regulations required by the end users; – a second vibrating screen (208) combined with a permanent magnet hopper (210) to remove any remaining residual impurities, – connected to a pressure hose (211) to pump the granulate (209'), – in the storage silo (206), in which another process of final elimination of any metal impurities is repeated through the use of at least two metal detectors (212) in cascade with quartz glass tube; – to obtain regenerated plastic granulate (209) that can be reused. 10. Use of the recycled polycarbonate granulate, obtained according to the process of claim 1, for the production of new meters. 11. Use of the recycled polyamide granulate, obtained according to the process of claim 1, for the production of electric switches. 12. Use of the recycled ABS granulate, obtained according to the process of claim 1, for the production of components in the electrical field. 13. Use of recycled polypropylene granulate, obtained according to the process of claim 1, for the production of components in the electrical field.