SBIR Phase I: An Improved Multi-Sensor Manufacturing System for Scrap Metal Sorting

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将把两种光电分选方法结合到一个单一的制造平台上，用于高速分选废金属。该项目旨在以以前无法达到的精度和速度分选低Z和高Z的废金属和合金；然而，它可能适用于其他材料分类和识别应用，如化学品、药品和陶瓷材料。光电制造技术平台，用于将富铜、富铝、富锌、富钛、富钴和富镍合金以前所未有的精度和速度分析成已知合金，以满足冶炼厂的合金规格。该技术平台不仅旨在将合金分类为贱金属组，还可以按每种合金等级或类型对各种合金进行分类。该系统是全自动的，不需要操作员干预。该项目的更广泛影响可能是一种新技术，它可能会彻底改变工厂中有色金属的处理方式。这些金属不会被处理在垃圾填埋场，也不会以金属混合物的形式出售，在那里它们会造成土地和水的污染，或者会被低价出售，而是会被分离、提炼、分类，然后作为高品位的可回收金属再出售给商业最终用途。该项目旨在验证小规模、经济高效的快速分选技术，该技术具有用小规模分选操作取代大型冶炼和精炼操作的潜力。在全球潜在的500亿美元的铝冶炼和铸造市场中，利基市场机会约为20亿美元。来自这些来源的混合有色精矿和来自数千家金属经销商和废料场的混合废金属将得到升级，创造出显著的价值。此外，这项新技术还将减少环境污染，因为它不会产生炼油厂、金属冶炼厂和重媒体工厂所产生的排放。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Project will combine two methods of optoelectronic sortation onto a single manufacturing platform for high speed sorting of scrap metal. The project is aimed at sorting scrap metals and alloys, both low Z and high Z, at previously unattainable accuracy and speed;however, it may be applicable to other material sorting and identification applications such as for chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and ceramic materials. The technology platform of optoelectronic manufacturing technologies for analyzing copper-rich, aluminum-rich, zinc-rich, titaniumrich, cobalt- and nickel-rich alloys at previously unachievable accuracy and high speeds into known alloys to meet smelter alloy specifications. The technology platform is not only aimed at sorting alloys into base metal groups, but can also sort a wide range of alloys by each alloy grade or type. The system is fully automatic and does not require operator intervention. The broader impact from this project could be a new technology that potentially could revolutionize the way nonferrous metals from plants are handled. Instead of disposing of the metals in a landfill, or selling them as metal mixtures, where they will contribute to land and water pollution or be sold at low prices, they will instead be separated, refined, sorted and resold into commercial end uses as high-grade, recycled metal. This project is aimed at validating small scale, cost effective rapid sortation technology having the potential of replacing large smelting and refining operations with small scale sorting operations. The market niche opportunity represents about $2 billion of a total potential $50 billion worldwide aluminum smelting and casting market. Mixed nonferrous concentrates from these sources and mixed scrap metal from thousands of metals dealers and scrap yards will be upgraded, creating significant value. Moreover, The new technology will also reduce environmental pollution because it does not generate emissions such as those produced by refineries, metal smelters and heavy-media plants.