This section provides an overview of the contents and the results achieved within the WP4 of "Zero Waste PCB" in the first year of project. The objective of WP4 is to develop a physical model for trajectories of particles in a Corona Electrostatic Separator (CES), which can be used to predict the separation performance efficiencies of the process as a function of the process parameters. State-of-art models show several limitations, which mine their possibility of use in industrial applications: only single particles' trajectory is computed and particle-particle and particle-equipment interactions are neglected. However, in real Corona Electrostatic Separation systems, the quality of the separation is strongly affected by the presence of impacts between particles, which increase the variability in the particle throws. In fact, the quality of the separation decreases when the flow rate increases, since in these conditions more impacts take place. A more realistic model of CES is therefore needed to better capture the real behavior of the system and to provide a more accurate performance analysis of CES processes. Hence the need to develop a more realistic, multi-body, multi-particle simulation model of the process. The work within WP4 is structured in three main tasks: Task 4.1: Development of a physical model of Corona Electrostatic Separation (ITIA) This task deals with the development of an advanced physical model that simulates the flow of particles in CES for predicting its performance. Particle interaction will be a particular focus, as particle collision and interference greatly affect the performance of CES. The effects of controllable process parameters, including electrode voltage and position, drum speed, splitters' position, and feed rate, and non-controllable parameters, such as particle size, shape and material mixture, will be considered in the model. Task 4.2: Implementation of the simulation model in software tool (ITIA) Matlab and Chrono::Engine will be used to build a simulation software that will take user input for controllable parameters and provide descriptive indicators of particle flow within the separator as well as sample simulated trajectories, depending on the specific process conditions. Task 4.3: Experimental verification and validation (ITIA) Individual particle trajectories for different geometries and materials along with bulk separation data for mixed particle streams will be captured to provide experimental verification of the physical model developed during the earlier tasks. These experiments will be carried out at the Pilot Plant at ITIA--CNR. The objective of the document is to present an overview of the results achieved during the first project year that can be summarized in the items listed below: 1)Modeling and analysis of the electrostatic field acting on particles (Task 4.1). 2)Development and implementation of a deterministic numerical model for simulation of single particle trajectories (Task 4.1). 3)Analysis of the trajectories of the metal particles as a function of the process parameters (angular velocity of the drum, supplied high voltage and particles radius) and particles' physical features to deeper understand the process physics (Task 4.1). 4)Development and implementation of a multi-body, multi-particle simulation model of the CES process within the CHRONO::ENGINE environment (Task 4.2). 5)Evaluation and testing of the output trajectories of metal and non-metal particles (Task 4.3). Finally, a discussion of the deviations with respect to the workplan and the working hypotheses for the second year are reported.
ZeroWaste PCBs project D4.1: Report on separation process modeling and simulation
Giacomo Copani
2013
Abstract
This section provides an overview of the contents and the results achieved within the WP4 of "Zero Waste PCB" in the first year of project. The objective of WP4 is to develop a physical model for trajectories of particles in a Corona Electrostatic Separator (CES), which can be used to predict the separation performance efficiencies of the process as a function of the process parameters. State-of-art models show several limitations, which mine their possibility of use in industrial applications: only single particles' trajectory is computed and particle-particle and particle-equipment interactions are neglected. However, in real Corona Electrostatic Separation systems, the quality of the separation is strongly affected by the presence of impacts between particles, which increase the variability in the particle throws. In fact, the quality of the separation decreases when the flow rate increases, since in these conditions more impacts take place. A more realistic model of CES is therefore needed to better capture the real behavior of the system and to provide a more accurate performance analysis of CES processes. Hence the need to develop a more realistic, multi-body, multi-particle simulation model of the process. The work within WP4 is structured in three main tasks: Task 4.1: Development of a physical model of Corona Electrostatic Separation (ITIA) This task deals with the development of an advanced physical model that simulates the flow of particles in CES for predicting its performance. Particle interaction will be a particular focus, as particle collision and interference greatly affect the performance of CES. The effects of controllable process parameters, including electrode voltage and position, drum speed, splitters' position, and feed rate, and non-controllable parameters, such as particle size, shape and material mixture, will be considered in the model. Task 4.2: Implementation of the simulation model in software tool (ITIA) Matlab and Chrono::Engine will be used to build a simulation software that will take user input for controllable parameters and provide descriptive indicators of particle flow within the separator as well as sample simulated trajectories, depending on the specific process conditions. Task 4.3: Experimental verification and validation (ITIA) Individual particle trajectories for different geometries and materials along with bulk separation data for mixed particle streams will be captured to provide experimental verification of the physical model developed during the earlier tasks. These experiments will be carried out at the Pilot Plant at ITIA--CNR. The objective of the document is to present an overview of the results achieved during the first project year that can be summarized in the items listed below: 1)Modeling and analysis of the electrostatic field acting on particles (Task 4.1). 2)Development and implementation of a deterministic numerical model for simulation of single particle trajectories (Task 4.1). 3)Analysis of the trajectories of the metal particles as a function of the process parameters (angular velocity of the drum, supplied high voltage and particles radius) and particles' physical features to deeper understand the process physics (Task 4.1). 4)Development and implementation of a multi-body, multi-particle simulation model of the CES process within the CHRONO::ENGINE environment (Task 4.2). 5)Evaluation and testing of the output trajectories of metal and non-metal particles (Task 4.3). Finally, a discussion of the deviations with respect to the workplan and the working hypotheses for the second year are reported.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
