WO1996005920A1 - Apparatus disposal process and device - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved process and device are disclosed for disposing of apparatus in a closed processing chamber (1), preferably apparatus with expanding agent-containing foams. Apparatus (7) to be disposed of are supplied to the processing chamber (1) through a siphon-like liquid sluice (3) and solid materials produced in the processing chamber (1) are carried out of the processing chamber (1) through another siphon-like sluice (33). Apparatus (7) to be disposed of are separated into their various components in a hermetically sealed gas bubble formed within the processing chamber (1).

Description

Method and device for the disposal of equipment

The invention relates to a method and a device for the disposal of devices.

A generic method and a device for the disposal of foams with blowing agent-containing devices, in particular cooling devices with insulating material made of foams, such as polyurethane, has become known from WO 93/11885 AI.

In order to be able to dispose of such devices, which comprise foams containing blowing agents, in an environmentally friendly manner, they are introduced into a chamber via a chamber door. The foam materials are irradiated and / or irradiated to enable the plastic foam to detach under this fluid flow. The cell structure is destroyed to such an extent that the blowing agent contained therein is released. To improve disposal and above all to require less energy, it is provided that the irradiation and / or irradiation is carried out by means of a cooled fluid stream, preferably water. The temperature is chosen so that the fluid flow has a temperature below the boiling point of the blowing agent. As a result, the blowing agents released become liquid or remain liquid.

In a subsequent chamber, the completely destroyed PUR flakes or particles are further ground or slurried in order to finally destroy the porous cell structure - where it is still present. In a successor tank there is a separation depending on the specific weight of the individual components. For example, since the liquid blowing agent, e.g. B. the CFC (Rll), has a specific weight of about 1 / 0.68 and is therefore heavier than water, this usually consists of liquid frigents blowing agent below. The blasting agent consisting of water floats on the blowing agent. The polyurethane, which has largely been freed from the blowing agent and has a specific weight of> 1, hovers in an intermediate layer.

Depending on this weight split, the individual components can then be separated further, i.e. the polyurethane is separated from the usually aqueous fluid stream and from the blowing agent. Through further steps below, an attempt can be made to further improve the separation of the individual components.

Although this method and this device have proven themselves in practice in principle, it is the object of the present invention to provide a method which is again improved compared to this, and an improved device with which a possible environmental pollution when disposing of such devices or comparable devices te (where, for example, during the disposal, in a possible grinding or crushing process, pollutants can get into the drains or atmosphere) is further improved.

The object is achieved with respect to the method according to the features specified in claim 1 and with regard to the device according to the features specified in claim 4. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The method according to the invention and the device according to the invention make it possible to ensure that, in connection with the disposal of such devices, the environment is again significantly less polluted than before.

This is made possible according to the invention in that the treatment chamber is separated from the environment via one or more locks. A siphon-like aqueous lock is preferably used, through which the devices to be disposed of are fed to the treatment chamber. As a result, the treatment chamber is hermetically shielded from the outside and separated (encapsulated) before, during and after the treatment. If it was previously necessary to always open the treatment chamber again in order to introduce new devices to be disposed of and to remove residual materials that can no longer be broken down, with the result that at least during this process step dangerous and environmentally harmful substances are removed from the chamber leaked, this step, which is dangerous for the environment, is now avoided due to the permanent hermetic sealing of the treatment chamber.

According to the invention, the devices to be disposed of are now introduced into the treatment chamber via the preferably siphon-type water lock and, if necessary, there dig, for example mechanically separated into fragments by comminution tools, which are then preferably processed further in accordance with the method known from WO 93/11885 A1.

The further separation and reprocessing of the fluid abrasive, the separation and removal of the blowing agent and the further treatment of, for example, the polyurethane foam (when disposing of refrigerators, for example) can be carried out at least largely similarly to the previously published WO 93/11885 A1.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the treatment chamber connects directly to the siphon-type lock, i.e. it is usually provided in or above the immersion channel adjoining the immersion channel of the siphon-type lock.

In an embodiment which is further improved compared to this, the preferably siphon-type lock is separated from the treatment chamber in such a way that the devices to be disposed of which are to be supplied to the treatment chamber via the siphon-type lock first leave the fluid barrier in the lock and are supplied to the actual treatment chamber via an intermediate channel become. This offers the further substantial advantage that the abrasive used in the treatment chamber, for example the propellant that settles out, has no direct contact with the liquid in the siphon-type lock. This further avoids the fact that more and more pollutants can accumulate in the liquid in the siphon-like lock during the process, which, for example, degasses via the open immersion channel of the lock (via which the devices to be disposed of are fed to the treatment chamber) can. Finally, in a particularly preferred embodiment, it is further provided that the treatment chamber has at least one siphon-like further lock for bringing out the cleaned parts, which generally consist of metal and are not further comminuted and / or processed in this treatment chamber can. This also realizes a "gas barrier" to avoid any environmental pollution.

Another advantage of the solution according to the invention is that the entire work in the treatment chamber is carried out in a "closed gas bubble" shielded from the outside, with no new air being introduced from the outside. This also opens up the possibility that the Work in the treatment chamber can be carried out in a protective gas atmosphere, which is of particular importance because the foam materials to be disposed of generally contain substances such as isopentane, for example, and already contain more than 1. 2% of a substance such as isopentane in an air mixture at a temperature of over 20 ^{* means} an absolute risk of explosion.

In addition, since the cutting work for producing fragments of the refrigerators to be disposed of (which are then only irradiated with high-pressure radiators) is carried out in the wet area, that is to say generally in the water used, there is also no isostatic charging and come to a spark flight, which also counteracts a possible risk of explosion again.

Due to the encapsulated arrangement, also using the siphon-type lock, a certain protective gas can also be introduced into the treatment chamber via corresponding, closed supply lines suctioned off or, above all, a corresponding pressure can be set in order to possibly carry out the work in the gas bubble at a level which is higher or lower than atmospheric pressure, that is to say at excess or low pressure.

Further advantages, details and features of the invention result from the exemplary embodiments illustrated with the aid of drawings, reference being expressly made to the disclosure content of WO 93/11885 A1 to explain the entire process and the content of the present application made.

The accompanying drawings show in detail:

FIG. 1: a schematic representation of a functional structure of a system for the disposal of devices with plastic foam containing blowing agent, in particular polyurethane, and

FIG. 2: an embodiment example modified from FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a treatment chamber 1 for the disposal of devices, in the exemplary embodiment shown for example for the disposal of cooling devices, for example, which contain polyurethane foams with CFC blowing agents, such as, for example, Frigen R11.

In front of the treatment chamber 1 is a liquid lock, in the exemplary embodiment shown a siphon-like liquid lock, in which water is used as the liquid.

The liquid lock 3 comprises an immersion channel 3 ', via which devices 7 to be disposed of can be immersed in the liquid. The immersion channel 3 ″ of the siphon-like liquid lock 3 adjoins a transfer section 9 located below, the liquid level 11 being so high that a gas barrier from the outside to the inside of the treatment chamber 1 is achieved.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, a transport device 13 in the form of a slightly increasing feed path 15 is provided in the ascending channel 3 ", which already merges into the treatment chamber 1 or forms part of the treatment chamber, which leads to a comminution device 17, preferably in the form of a rotor shear where the devices to be disposed of are cut into smaller fragments.

In the area of the shredding device 17, a transport device 21 running essentially with a vertical component, preferably in the form of a screw conveyor, which leads to a work station 22 located in the treatment chamber 1, adjoins a collecting and feeding station 19 located below.

The work station 22 comprises a spray device 23 with at least some high-pressure nozzles 25.

Opposite to the inlet side 27 of the work station 22 comprising a drum 29 is the outlet side 31, at which the hard parts, such as metal parts etc., which cannot be processed further, are discharged to the outside via a further, preferably siphon-like, liquid lock 33. Here too the liquid level is so high that a clear and permanent gas barrier to the outside is maintained. In the outlet channel 35 of this liquid lock 33, a suitable conveyor 37 can also again, for example in the form of a Screw conveyor, can be provided to deliver the solid parts to the outside.

The solid parts discharged to the outside at the outlet channel are then sprayed and cleaned by means of a spray device 38.

On the basis of this basic structure of the device described above, the mode of operation and the further structure are explained in detail below.

The devices 7 to be disposed of, for example, are fed into the immersion channel 3 'of the liquid lock 3. Immersion takes place with the device open so that as much of the air as possible can escape from the device.

The device can be moved forward by suitable conveying means, for example by a piston 40, which is only indicated in FIG. 1 and plunges the device down into the water.

At the lower end of the immersion channel 3 ', the device 7 is fed to the transport device 13, which in the exemplary embodiment shown leads into the ascending channel 3 "with a slightly rising component. If the devices are lighter than the liquid medium, the arrangement can be made using rollers be such that the devices automatically move through the buoyancy to the shredding device 17. Otherwise suitable conveying means, for example revolving chains, can be provided in the liquid medium which move the devices forward.

At the shredding device 17, the devices are cut into fragments.

Metal parts and polyurethane parts, their metal parts adhere and are still held, usually sink due to the higher weight than the specific weight of the liquid medium, which usually consists of water, and are detected there at the collecting and feeding station 19 by the transport device 21 and to the entry side 27 of the Work station 22 consisting of a rotating drum 29 and a spray device 23.

Further already detached polyurethane foam particles or other particles that are lighter than water float automatically upwards in the direction of the gas bubble 39. The conveying device can be such that at least a certain percentage of these suspended matter is always removed from the conveying device are detected and also fed to the work station 22.

The drum 29 is aligned with its axis slightly falling towards its outlet end 31, so that the inserted fragments are guided longitudinally through the drum 29 during the rotational movement. At the same time, they are preferably irradiated by non-rotating high-pressure nozzles 25, as is basically described in WO 93/11885 A1. Due to the high impact pressure of the blasting agent, in which solid particles can also be found, the polyurethane foam parts are increasingly destroyed, so that the blowing agent bound therein, usually CFCs, is released.

The metal parts which have been completely freed of foam particles at the end of this blasting process are discharged to the outside at the outlet end 31 via the liquid lock 33 explained.

Since CFCs (e.g. Frigen Rll) consisting of propellants are heavier than the liquid medium, Mend more on the bottom collecting tray 41 of the treatment chamber (that is, on the lower collecting tray of the ascending channel 3 "). It can therefore settle downwards because the drum 29 and the further collecting device 43, which will also be explained below, below the Drum 29 is sieve-shaped and therefore permeable to liquids.

The propellant can be pumped out via a lower propellant line 45 at the bottom of the collecting device 43 and can be completely or almost completely separated from any water residues that may still be present, possibly via subsequent further settling and separation tanks. The collecting and calming container 46 for the propellant can also be connected to a gas cleaning device 49 via a degassing line 47.

As already mentioned, a further, also liquid-permeable collecting device 43 leading to a drain line 51 is provided below the sieve-shaped drum device 29, via which the remnants of the PU foam still being formed and the water (liquid medium) are now fed, for example, to a fine mill 53 can be, whereby the cell walls of the foam particles that have not yet been completely destroyed are finally destroyed and the residues of blowing agents (and additionally, for example, CO ₂ ) that are still contained therein are released.

The last necessary steps for degassing the foam particles are carried out in a subsequent degassing station 55, which is likewise connected to an already mentioned gas cleaning device 49 via a line 56. The degassing station can, for example, comprise a vacuum degasser known per se. The water residues still present are separated off via a water separator 57 which is further downstream of the degassing station 55 and is fed to a downstream high-pressure pump 61 via a water purifier 59, via which the fluid can again be fed at high pressure to the spray device 23 in the treatment chamber 1.

The PUR material thus freed from the water can then be fed to a catch basin 63.

The gas mixture (gas bubble) formed simultaneously in the treatment chamber can also be connected to the gas cleaner 49 via a further gas line 65. The gases and vapors, which are not dangerous for the environment, can then be released via an exhaust air line 67, and here, too, further filter systems, not shown and described, can be connected downstream.

Likewise, it is not shown in Figure 1 that the treatment chamber 1, i.e. in particular in the area of their gas bubble 39, can at least be connected to a gas line, via which controlled gas can be supplied or discharged in order to determine the size of the gas bubble and thus the height of the liquid level in the treatment chamber, i.e. in the ascending channel 3 "of the liquid lock 3. In addition, the pressure in the treatment chamber can also be set, for example, to a pressure above or below atmospheric pressure. Finally, a protective gas can also be introduced which is suitable for processing proves to be particularly favorable.

The structure described shows that the gas bubble is relatively small, furthermore no air is supplied from the outside during the entire process and no gases can escape to the outside unhindered, and that, above all, by cutting the devices under water into smaller or larger fragments using the rotor shears, no static charge and ignition or even explosion can occur here either.

Reference is made below to FIG. 2, in which a modification to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 is shown, the same parts or parts having the same function being provided with the same reference symbols as in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1.

The essential difference in the embodiment according to FIG. 2 compared to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 is that here the siphon-like liquid lock 3 is separated from the actual treatment chamber. That is to say that the separating liquid provided in the lock 3 in its immersion and emerging channel 3 * ^* and 3 ", preferably in the form of water, does not contain the spray liquid used in the treatment chamber or the spray liquid collecting there on the lower floor 41 communicates.

In this exemplary embodiment, the devices to be disposed of are optionally fed to the immersion channel 3 'of the liquid lock via a feed opening, using suitable transport devices, and are lifted over this into an intermediate channel 71. There they are fed to the comminution device 17 in a gas bubble 39 which is formed and cut into fragments. The fragments are then again fed via a downstream transport device 21 to an otherwise identical work station 22 with a rotating drum 29 and a high-pressure spray device 23.

Another difference in this exemplary embodiment from the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 is that here the foam particle residues accumulating below the drum and the spray liquid and the blowing agent are collected together and fed to a fine mill 53 via a common drain line 75. The blowing agent is now also supplied to the gas cleaning device 49 via the degassing station 55 arranged downstream of the fine mill 53, in which the blowing agent present in gaseous form is now separated and fed to a blowing agent collecting container 46.

Here, too, a further spray device 34 can be arranged at the outlet of the second liquid lock 33 for cleaning the discharged and non-degradable parts (usually made of iron, aluminum, copper, etc.).

Deviating from the last shown embodiment, the arrangement can also be such that the cooling devices in the intermediate channel 71 first immerse again in a further liquid basin and in the liquid, preferably with a crushing device 17 consisting of rotor shears, not in the gaseous but in the liquid medium are divided and separated in order to further counteract static charge and the risk of a possible explosion. As a result, the volume of the gas bubble 39 can also be reduced further. In addition, the further advantage is realized that the gas bubble itself has no direct contact with the liquid provided in the first siphon-type lock 3. The further arrangement for collecting and separating the blowing agent from polyurethane foam etc. could then be carried out in a manner similar to that in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 via the treatment chamber described there.

Claims

Expectations; 1. Method for the disposal of devices in a closed treatment chamber (1), preferably for the disposal of devices with foams containing blowing agent, with a spray device (23) provided in the treatment chamber (1) for irradiating the devices to be disposed of or Pre-cut fragments, characterized in that the devices (7) to be disposed of are fed to the treatment chamber (1) via a siphon-like liquid lock (3), that the solids accumulating in the treatment chamber (1) are fed through a further siphon-like lock (33 ) are transported out of the treatment chamber (1) and that the devices (7) to be disposed of are separated into different components in a gas bubble formed in the treatment chamber (1) and hermetically sealed to the outside. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing of the devices to be disposed of (7) in a gas bubble (39) takes place at a pressure prevailing over the ambient pressure. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the devices to be disposed of are processed in the gas bubble (39) at a pressure below the ambient pressure. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the processing of the devices to be disposed of (7) in the liquid channel (3) belonging to the ascending channel (3 "). 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the processing of the devices to be disposed (7) takes place in the treatment chamber (1) downstream of the siphon-like liquid lock (3), in which the medium used as spray medium in one of the in the liquid lock (3) separating liquid is circulated separate circuit. 6. The device, in particular for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 5, with a treatment chamber (1), in particular with a device suitable for the disposal of foams containing blowing agents, high-pressure spray device (23) and nachgeord¬ Neten further separating and / or cleaning devices, characterized in that a completely hermetically sealed treatment chamber (1) is provided to the outside, that a siphon-like liquid lock (3) is provided, via which the devices to be disposed of (7) can be fed to the treatment chamber (1), and that a further liquid lock (33) is provided, via which the solids and parts accumulating in the treatment chamber (1) during the treatment process can be removed from the treatment chamber (1) . 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the Auftauchka- channel (3 ") belonging to the liquid lock (3) merges into the treatment chamber (1). 8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that in the treatment chamber (1) is a lying gas bubble (39) is provided, in which a work station (22) preferably with the high-pressure spray device ( 23) is provided. 9. Device according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the pressure and / or the size of the gas bubble (39) is adjustable. 10. Device according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that a comminution device (17) is provided in the treatment chamber (1) in which the devices can be comminuted into fragments and cuts. 11. Device according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the comminution device (17) is arranged outside the gas bubble (39) and within the liquid medium. 12. Device according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that a transport device (21) is arranged between the shredding device (17) and the work station (22). 13. Device according to one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that a transport and transfer device (13) is provided in the liquid lock (3). 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the transport device (13) is designed in the manner of an at least slightly increasing channel path, via which the devices to be disposed of, which have a specific weight more easily than water, can be moved forward by buoyancy forces. 15. The device according to any one of claims 6 to 14, characterized in that the work station (22) comprises a rotating drum (29), in the interior of which the high-pressure spray device (23) is preferably provided in the longitudinal direction of the drum (29) is. 16. Device according to one of claims 6 to 15, characterized in that the treatment chamber (1) comprises the immersion channel (3 ") of the liquid lock (3). 17. The device according to one of claims 6 to 15, characterized in that the treatment chamber (1) is arranged downstream of the liquid lock (3), and that the liquid dispensed via the spray device (23) is located in the liquid lock (3) Separation liquid is separated.