Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Arno Jantzen
Sebastian Bartscher M.Eng.
Thanks to the increasing processing power of today's computers, flows can be increasingly more accurately predicted and investigated. Numerical simulation (CFD) provides the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into technical systems and, in this way, to obtain a new understanding of their functioning.
The intention is to examine selected techniques and combinations of techniques for sorting and classification processes over the course of the doctoral studies. The objective is a tailor-made, significantly improved separation of pre-crushed waste mixtures and hence a higher enrichment of the recyclable material, in particular, metals and plastics.
Experiment Setup with a perforated pipe
Existing, proven technologies (e.g. jig machines, pneumatic tables, air separators) in combination with new approaches are to be analysed in detail, evaluated and optimised within the framework of a fundamental, computer-aided analysis of physically relevant mechanisms of action for mechanical separation in conjunction with the partners involved.
As well as optimising the plants, the intention is to achieve a better integration into the overall process using insights gained through simulation. Both adapting the plant to the output of the upstream unit and adjusting its own output to the requirements of the subsequent process step can increase the yield of specific materials.
The theoretical / computer-aided analysis should not be limited to existing systems, however. Fundamental physical mechanisms of action should specifically be discussed and investigated in the course of experiments and simulation calculations in order to assess the potential of alternative approaches and to supplement and further optimise the existing systems.