EP4237479A1

EP4237479A1 - Reactor arrangement and method for decomposing objects consisting of plastic-based composite materials

Info

Publication number: EP4237479A1
Application number: EP21801044.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas DREWES; Karl Heinz Thiel
Original assignee: Hanseatic Rohr GmbH
Current assignee: Hanseatic Rohr GmbH
Priority date: 2020-10-30
Filing date: 2021-10-22
Publication date: 2023-09-06
Also published as: DE102020128587A1; US20230399484A1; WO2022090079A1; JP2023547937A; CA3199980A1; CN116669922A

Abstract

The invention relates to a reactor arrangement and to a method for decomposing objects consisting of plastic-based composite materials into their individual constituents by way of a solvolysis using at least one reactor chamber in which the objects can be exposed to a solvent in the supercritical state. The invention is characterised in that at least three pressure chambers arranged in series, a first load lock chamber, a reactor chamber adjoining same, and a second load lock chamber adjoining the latter, are provided and are each connected to each other via an actuatable partition means which can be moved in each case from an open position, in which two of the mutually adjacent pressure chambers are connected to each another, to a closed position, in which two of the mutually adjacent pressure chambers are fluidically, thermally and pressure-specifically isolated from each other. The reactor chamber is thermally coupled to a heating system and can be directly or indirectly fluidically connected via at least one first line to the first load lock chamber and can be connected to a first pressurisable feed line, via which solvent can be fed into the reactor chamber. The second load lock chamber has a second line, which can be connected directly or indirectly to the first load lock chamber. A means is also provided which can transfer the objects or a carrier holding the objects from one pressure chamber to the adjacent pressure chamber in a force-assisted manner when the partition means is moved into the open position.

Description

Reactor arrangement and method for dismantling objects made of plastic-based composite materials

technical field

The invention relates to a reactor arrangement and a method for breaking down objects made of plastic-based composite materials into their individual components by means of a solvolysis with at least one reactor chamber in which the objects can be exposed to a solvent in the supercritical state.

If liquids, such as water, are heated under pressure, they finally reach the so-called supercritical state above their respective critical temperature and critical pressure, which differs from real liquids by a lower density, a much lower viscosity and much higher diffusion coefficients excellent. Water in the supercritical state also has excellent dissolving power. In order to convert water into the supercritical state, the water must have a temperature of at least 374.12 °C and be subjected to a pressure of at least 22.1 MPa (221 bar). In addition to the special solvent properties of water in the supercritical state, the aspect that is of technical interest is that the solvent can be easily removed by reducing the pressure.

These special solvent properties of supercritical water are already being used successfully for separating, processing and recycling e.g. hybrid materials or components, in particular fiber composite materials based on engineering plastics. State of the art

The publication DE 2016 105 966 B4 describes a method and a system for recycling carbon fiber-reinforced polymers using water as a solvent in the supercritical state for the purpose of separating carbon fibers or carbon fiber mats from the polymer matrix surrounding them. To carry out the recycling process, two reactors of the same design are used, the operation of which is mutually coordinated in the following way: While in a first reactor, which is already loaded with recycling material and filled with liquid solvent, the solvent, after appropriate heating to a temperature between 374 12 ° C and 450 ° C prevailing process temperature and under process pressures between 221, 2 bar and 300 bar has assumed the supercritical state in which the solvent is able to dissolve the polymer matrix by means of a chemical reaction and is able to separate the fiber component the second reactor loaded with recycling material and filled with solvent. Both reactors are thermally coupled via a heat recovery system that uses the heat from the first reactor, in which the recycling process has been completed and which has to be cooled down before the cleaned material can be removed, to heat up the second reactor. While the first reactor has been cooled and emptied and can thus be loaded with new recycling material and filled with fresh solvent, the purification reaction process takes place in the second reactor after appropriate further heating and pressure increase to achieve the supercritical state of the solvent.

The sequence of the above-described, serially coordinated mode of operation of both reactors can be continued continuously.

Japanese publications JP 3134095 B2 and JPH 1087872 A show the basic applicability of supercritical water for the purification of fiber-reinforced composite materials, each with a plastic polymer matrix. US Pat. No. 5,233,021 A describes a method for extracting pure polymer components from a multi-component polymer textile structure in which the components have different melting temperatures. Using a supercritical fluid, individual components are extracted from the multi-component structure by successively separating individual components under different temperature and pressure conditions within individual process chambers.

Document US 20030129103 A1 discloses a process for separating electrophotographic carrier compositions which have at least one carrier and a toner, the carrier comprising a magnetic core material and a resinous material which coats the carrier. For separation, the carrier is treated in water under supercritical or subcritical conditions to separate magnetic core material and resinous material from each other. In this way, the separated magnetic core material can be collected.

Document JP 2013203826 A discloses a method and a system for producing a recycled fiber. The system includes a reaction treatment tank for subjecting a fiber-reinforced resin to decomposition treatment using a supercritical or critical fluid.

Presentation of the invention

The invention is based on the object of further developing a reactor arrangement and also a method for dismantling objects consisting of plastic-based composite materials into their individual components by means of a solvolysis, in which the objects can be exposed to a solvent in the supercritical state, in such a way that the very Energy-intensive process on an industrial scale should be feasible with significantly reduced energy consumption than has been possible up to now. In particular, it is important to create a possibility with which large quantities of objects to be cleaned up, such as those found when dismantling obsolete ones Wind turbines in the form of rotor blade sections or fragments made from them, for example in the form of bulk material, can be managed.

The solution to the problem on which the invention is based is specified in claim 1. A method according to the solution is the subject matter of claim 14. Features which further develop the idea of the invention in an advantageous manner are the subject matter of the dependent claims and can be gathered from the further description, in particular with reference to the illustrated exemplary embodiments.

The invention is based on the finding that the greatest expenditure of energy lies in the production of the process parameters required for the critical state of the solvent in relation to temperature and pressure within a reactor chamber. It is therefore important to use the amount of energy required for the chemical reaction process, which appears in particular as thermal energy, in the most economical way possible in order to reduce thermal energy losses that occur due to the process when filling the reactor chamber, when carrying out the reaction process and also when emptying the reactor chamber occur, to be reduced as far as possible. This applies in particular to the recycling of large quantities of recyclables, which must be processed on an industrial scale, i.e. in the shortest possible time with high separation quality.

The reactor arrangement according to the solution according to the features of the preamble of claim 1 provides at least three pressure chambers arranged in series and each connected or connectable to one another via an actuatable separating means. The separating means can be individually transferred from an open position, in which two adjacent pressure chambers are connected to one another, i.e. can openly communicate fluidly with one another, to a closed position, in which the two adjacent pressure chambers are separated from one another fluidically, thermally and also in terms of pressure .

The outer pressure chambers in the serial sequence serve as lock chambers and are also referred to as such in the following each end has an openable reactor cover, which is able to seal the lock chambers in a fluid-tight, thermally insulated and pressure-resistant manner. The pressure chamber, which is arranged between the two lock chambers via a separating means in each case, serves as a reactor chamber and is thermally coupled to a heater.

The at least three pressure chambers arranged in a serial sequence are referred to below as the first lock chamber, reactor chamber and second lock chamber. The objects to be chemically treated, consisting of plastic-based composite materials, are first introduced into the first lock chamber by means of a carrier with the reactor cover open, in which they undergo thermal pretreatment after the reactor cover has been closed. The carrier holding the objects is then transferred from the first lock chamber with the separating means open into the reactor chamber, in which the objects are exposed to the actual chemical reaction process. The chemically processed objects then reach the second lock chamber, where they cool down before they are discharged from the second lock chamber in the form of extracts or residual components at the end of the process.

Optionally, at least one further lock chamber can be provided on one or both sides of the reactor chamber, each in a serial arrangement, but the further description focuses on the reactor arrangement explained above, each comprising three pressure chambers.

The reactor chamber, which, with the exception of the thermal coupling to a heater, is otherwise advantageously identical in terms of shape and size to the first and second lock chambers, which are also advantageously identical in design, is connected directly or indirectly to the at least one first line first lock chamber fluidly connected. Furthermore, a first pressurizable supply line opens into the reactor chamber, via which solvent can be fed into the reactor chamber as required. Furthermore, the second lock chamber can be fluidically connected directly or indirectly to the first lock chamber via a second line.

Finally, a means is provided which, with the assistance of a force, is able to transfer the carrier holding the objects from one pressure chamber to the adjacent pressure chamber when the separating means is transferred to the open position. Although it is assumed below that the objects to be chemically decomposed are preferably arranged in a carrier for controlled transport through the reactor arrangement, it is also conceivable to dispense with the carrier and place the objects in the individual pressure chambers, for example in the form of portioned bulk material to arrange.

The first lock chamber can be fluidically connected both to the reactor chamber via the first line and to the second lock chamber via the second line, so that a considerable proportion of the heat is removed from the heatable reactor chamber and the second lock chamber by means of the controlled and needs-based removal of solvent which is to dissipate heat for cooling purposes, is used in the first lock chamber to preheat the objects to be chemically separated and the solvent contained therein. Due to the preheating of the objects to be chemically separated together with the carrier and the solvent surrounding the objects and carrier, which takes place in the first lock chamber, essentially on the basis of waste heat from the second lock chamber and the reactor chamber, the energy input into the reactor chamber is that required to produce the supercritical state of the solvent inside the reactor chamber is required is significantly lower compared to previously known comparable reactor technologies.

In addition, the solution according to the reactor arrangement enables a clocked, unidirectional implementation of the stocked with the objects to be disassembled carrier from the first lock chamber in the reactor chamber and from the reactor chamber in the second lock chamber, from which the chemical into liquid and solid individual parts dismantled object components including support can be removed. The serially clocked process control resulting from the reactor arrangement enables the purification or chemical decomposition of fiber-reinforced plastic parts, primarily in the form of flat components or component segments up to bulk material, in large quantities and with a high throughput per time and is characterized by the following process steps according to the solution out of:

For the initial start of the method, it is necessary to introduce a first carrier with objects to be chemically treated through the respectively open first lock chamber and the reactor chamber openly connected to it. A second carrier, which is also equipped with objects to be chemically treated, is then brought into the first lock chamber. After closing the separating means provided between the first lock chamber and the reactor chamber and after closing the first lock chamber by means of the reactor cover, solvent is fed into the reactor chamber and is heated in the reactor chamber to a predeterminable temperature T1 of a maximum of 320°. The pressure that develops within the reactor chamber as a result of a pressurized solvent feed and the resulting heating is limited by controlled, overpressure-regulated discharge of heated solvent from the reactor chamber to a first pressure value p1, which is a maximum of 250 bar, preferably 150 bar, where the heated solvent is in a subcritical state at temperature T1 and pressure p1.

Water is preferably used as the solvent.

The subcritical solvent, which is released from the reactor chamber in a controlled, overpressure-regulated manner, is then fed into the first lock chamber, as a result of which the objects held in the second carrier are preheated within the lock chamber. Optionally, additional solvent is also fed into the first lock chamber under pressure. The heating process is continued inside the reactor chamber until a temperature T2 of at least 374° C. and a maximum of 500° C. and a pressure p2 of at least 230 bar and a maximum of 250 bar are reached, at which point the solvent water assumes a supercritical state. This state is maintained for a specified process time t, within which the solvent, which is in the supercritical state, is able to dissolve the objects made of plastic-based composite materials into their components. Here, the polymer plastic parts of the objects go into solution with the solvent, whereas the insoluble solid parts in the objects, e.g. fiber parts, remain as residues in the carrier.

Meanwhile, a maximum temperature T1 of 320° and an internal lock chamber pressure of p1 of maximum 250 bar are established within the first lock chamber due to optionally separately flowing solvent and solvent originating from the reactor chamber. In this way, the objects located in the first load-lock chamber experience an action of the solvent at the process temperature T1 and the process pressure p1 in the subcritical state, while the objects located in the reactor chamber undergo chemical decomposition by the solvent in the supercritical state, i.e. preheating of the objects in the first lock chamber and the chemical decomposition of the objects in the reactor chamber take place simultaneously.

After the specified process time t, which depends on how long it takes for the objects in the reactor chamber to be completely chemically separated or broken down into individual components, the solvent in the supercritical state is controlled from the reactor chamber via one line into the second lock chamber transferred. The second separating means separating the reactor chamber from the second lock chamber is then opened and the carrier, together with the solid residues of the objects, is transferred from the reactor chamber into the second lock chamber with the aid of a means with the aid of a force. After closing the between the reactor chamber and the second Lock chamber arranged second separating agent, the solvent preheated within the first lock chamber is transferred in a controlled manner via a line into the reaction chamber. Following this or with a temporal overlap, the first separating means arranged between the first lock chamber and the reactor chamber is opened, as a result of which the second carrier with the preheated objects is transferred into the reactor chamber. After closing the first separating means arranged between the first lock chamber and the reactor chamber, the preheated solvent is converted to the supercritical state by heating, as it were in the previous process step within the reactor chamber. After the first lock chamber has been emptied, the reactor cover closing off the first lock chamber is opened and a further carrier is fitted with objects to be separated. After loading and closing the first lock chamber, filling and preheating in the first lock chamber starts, as explained above.

After draining the solvent from the second lock chamber, to which dissolved polymers from plastic parts of the objects have been added, the first carrier holding the undissolved residual components can be removed from the second lock chamber.

After the solvent has been drained from the second lock chamber and before the reactor cover is opened, the first carrier, together with the remaining object components, is rinsed with fresh solvent, whereby the solvent is preheated due to the residual heat present in the second lock chamber and is made available for further feeding into the first lock chamber will.

The method according to the solution thus comprises, after the initial loading of an empty reactor arrangement in normal operation, the implementation of three process steps running simultaneously, namely the thermal pretreatment of the objects to be reactively treated in the presence of a solvent in the subcritical state, the chemically reactive dissolution or decomposition of the objects in the presence of the itself in the supercritical state solvent within the Reactor chamber and the cooling and rinsing of the remaining object components as well as the removal of used solvent from the second lock chamber.

The energetic advantage underlying the method according to the solution and the reactor arrangement according to the solution lies in the use of thermal waste heat, in particular from the reactor chamber from the residual heat of the second lock chamber for the purpose of heating the first lock chamber after appropriate loading with objects by filling with solvent that a process temperature of T1 and a process pressure of p1 is in the subcritical state.

The process times or residence times of the objects within the first and second lock chamber depend on the duration of the chemically reactive decomposition or dissolution process within the reactor chamber. With a suitably coordinated selection of an always identical quantity of objects per carrier and the process volume within the reactor chamber, the process time t for complete dissolution of the plastic parts of the objects is typically 2 hours, i.e. every two hours the carriers in the reactor arrangement, together with the objects, are conveyed further around a pressure chamber .

Due to the mode of operation of the reactor arrangement according to the solution as explained above, the temperature level within the reactor chamber only oscillates between the process temperature T1, which occurs as the final process temperature during the heating phase within the first lock chamber, and the process temperature T2, at which the solvent is in a critical state. Depending on the choice of the upper process temperature T2, which can be between 374°C and 500°C, the temperature inside the reactor chamber, starting from the lower process temperature of 320°C, should only be in a range of at least 54°C or a maximum of 180°C C additional heat. The energy input required for this, which has to be provided for each individual decomposition or dissolution process, is therefore significantly smaller than in all previously known, generic methods. The arrangement according to the solution as well as the method according to the solution that can be implemented in this way is also explained in more detail below with reference to illustrated exemplary embodiments.

Brief description of the invention

The invention is described below by way of example, without restricting the general inventive concept, using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 p/T diagram to explain a cycle process for the solvolysis,

2 exemplary embodiment of a reactor arrangement designed according to the solution,

3 carrier with arranged objects to be reactively treated,

Fig. 4 overview scheme,

Fig. 5a-d Representation of the individual process steps.

Ways of carrying out the invention, industrial applicability

1 shows a thermodynamic pressure-temperature diagram in which the phase transitions of water are shown as a function of pressure and temperature. In addition to the phase transitions, which are known per se, the critical point for water must be emphasized. Above a temperature of 374.12° C. and a pressure of 221.2 bar, water no longer has a defined physical state, especially since the densities of the liquid and gas phases are the same. It is precisely this critical point that needs to be reached and exceeded in order to achieve the desired effect of dissolving plastic-based fiber composites.

The reactor arrangement according to the solution is made up in such a way that the thermodynamic cycle process K shown in FIG Cycle phases K1, K2, K3, K4 and K5 can be realized with a minimum of energy use. Reference is made below to the cycle phases K1 to K5 shown in FIG. 1 in connection with the explanation of the method steps illustrated below.

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the reactor arrangement according to the solution, which has three pressure chambers connected to one another in series in the form of a first lock chamber 1 , a reactor chamber 2 and a second lock chamber 3 . All three pressure chambers 1, 2, 3 are designed as hollow tubes, each with the same inner diameter, the tube lengths of which are preferably chosen to be the same length. A first separating means 4′ is inserted between the first lock chamber 1 and the reactor chamber 2, and a second separating means 4″ is inserted between the reactor chamber 2 and the second lock chamber 3, each of which has a gate valve which, when open, allows a free passage between the two adjoining pressure chambers and, in a closed state, separates the adjoining pressure chambers from one another in a fluid-tight, thermally and pressure-stable manner, and this at temperatures of up to a maximum of 650° and pressures or

Pressure differences up to 400 bar. At each end, the first and second lock chambers 1, 3 can be closed with a reactor cover 5', 5'', through which the first and second lock chambers 1, 3 can be closed in a fluid-tight manner with respect to the environment.

The reactor chamber 2 is also equipped with a heater H, with which it is possible to heat the reactor chamber 2 to a process temperature of up to 500°C.

According to the inside diameter of the otherwise equally dimensioned pressure chambers 1, 2, 3, a carrier 6 is provided, see FIG. For this purpose, the carrier preferably has lattice-shaped holders 8, which allow for a possible all-round flow and temperature distribution within of the carrier 6 to the objects 7 allow. Sliding elements 9 attached to the outside of the carrier 6 allow the carrier 6 to slide or be pushed through easily through the tubular inner contour of the individual pressure chambers 1, 2, 3, which each have an identical cross-sectional shape and size as well as pressure chamber longitudinal axes that are oriented coaxially to one another . This ensures that a carrier 6 introduced into the reactor chamber 2 via the first lock chamber 1 can easily get into the reactor chamber 2 and from there into the second lock chamber 3, from which the carrier 6 can be removed from the reactor arrangement again.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic overview of all the components required for the operation of the reactor arrangement according to the solution. The first lock chamber 1 is openly connected to the reactor chamber 2 via a first separating means 4'. The reactor chamber 2 is in turn openly connected to the second lock chamber 3 with a second separating means 4″, which is otherwise identical in construction to the first. The first and second lock chambers 1, 3 can each be closed at the end in a fluid-tight manner with a reactor cover 5', 5''. The reactor chamber 2 is thermally coupled to a heater H, which is provided as the sole heat source within the entire reactor arrangement according to the solution. A supply line Z1 opens into the first lock chamber 1, via which, by means of a delivery pump F, preferably pressure-controlled solvent, preferably in the form of water, can be fed into the first lock chamber 1 as required.

In the same way, a feed line Z2, Z3 opens into the reactor chamber 2 and the second lock chamber 3, via which a feed pump F, preferably pressure-controlled, can be used to feed solvent in the form of water into the reactor chamber 2 or the second lock chamber 3 as required.

In addition, a first line A1 emerges from the reactor chamber 2, along which a controllable check valve SP is attached. The first line A1 opens into a Intermediate store ZW, which is preferably thermally insulated in order to temporarily store hot solvent drained from the reactor chamber 2 in a controlled manner by means of the check valve SP for further use without the solvent that has been drained off undergoing any significant cooling. The intermediate store ZW is connected to the first lock chamber 1 via a supply line Z4, along which a check valve SP is also arranged. In addition, a second line A2, which is connected to the second lock chamber 3 and along which a controllable check valve SP is also installed, opens into the intermediate store ZW.

In addition, the reactor chamber 2 is fluidically connected to the first lock chamber 1 via a third line A3, a controllable check valve SP also being arranged along the third line A3. If necessary, either solvent from the reactor chamber 2 passes directly into the first lock chamber 1 via the third line A3 in order to limit an overpressure building up in the reactor chamber 2 without delay and/or to support the preheating of the solvent in the first lock chamber. In addition, the third line A3 enables a controlled transfer of the solvent preheated in the first lock chamber 1 into the emptied reactor chamber 2, as will be explained in more detail below.

In the same way, between the reactor chamber 2 and the second lock chamber 3, there is a fourth line A4, along which a controllable check valve SP is also arranged. The fourth line A4 is used for the controlled transfer of the supercritical solvent from the reactor chamber into the second lock chamber 2, as will also be explained in more detail below.

Finally, a fifth line A5 emerges from the second lock chamber 3, which line is connected to a collection container AB and along which a check valve SP is arranged. The components discussed above work together to implement a process of disassembling plastic-based composite objects in the following way:

Starting from a completely empty reactor arrangement, a first carrier 61 equipped with objects to be reactively treated is inserted into the reactor chamber 2 via the first lock chamber 1, which is open due to the opened reactor cover 5', and the separating means 4', which is transferred to the open position, between the first lock chamber 1 and the reactor chamber 2 placed in reactor chamber 2. The separating means 4' between the first lock chamber 1 and the reactor chamber 2 is then closed. A second carrier 62 provided with corresponding objects is introduced into the first lock chamber 1 when the reactor cover 5' is open and the reactor cover 5' is then connected to the first lock chamber 1 in a fluid-tight manner. This situation is illustrated in Figure 5a.

Water as a solvent enters the reactor chamber 2 via the feed line Z2 shown in FIG. Parallel to the feeding of the water solvent into the reactor chamber 2, the heating process begins by means of the heater H, as a result of which the temperature within the reactor chamber rises to approximately 300°C.

The internal pressure within the reactor chamber 2 is limited to a maximum of 250 bar by reducing the amount of water via the first line A1 and the controllable check valve SP provided along the first line A1, for example pressure-controlled. The heated solvent flowing out of the reactor chamber 2 via the first line A1 is collected in an intermediate container ZW and temporarily stored as heated solvent. The solvent is converted into the supercritical state by further heating and pressure regulation within the reactor chamber 2, ie temperatures of 380° C. to 400° C. and process pressures between 230 and 250 prevail within the reactor chamber 2 bar. In this state, the objects are broken down into their components as part of a solvolysis. Referring to the thermodynamic cycle process according to FIG. 1, this process section corresponds to the cycle phase K3, which lasts until all fiber components have been released from the plastic-based matrix comprising them. The cycle phase K3 of the solvolysis typically lasts about two hours.

At the same time, the thermally preheated and temporarily stored solvent is admitted into the first lock chamber 1 from the temporary store ZW. The first lock chamber 1 is also filled with solvent by means of the delivery unit F in order to achieve a pressure of approx. 150 bar. The temperature inside the first lock chamber is preheated to a temperature of 300° C. and an internal pressure of a maximum of 250 bar by the solvent temporarily stored in the buffer store ZW and optionally via the third line A3 with the solvent originating from the reactor chamber 2 . Thus, the cycle phases K1 and K2 are realized within the first lock chamber 1, while the cycle phase K3 lasts in the reactor chamber 2, in which the objects to be cleaned are broken down into their components. See Figure 5b.

After the end of the chemical decomposition process taking place in the reactor chamber 2, the solvent, which is in the supercritical state and contains the dissolved polymer fractions, is discharged into the second lock chamber 3 via the fourth line A4 in a controlled manner. For this purpose, the check valve SP along the fourth line A4 is opened in a controlled manner. As a result of the expansion and pressure reduction that takes place when the supercritical solvent passes into the second lock chamber 3, the solvent immediately assumes a subcritical state. After this, the second separating means 4″ is opened to the second lock chamber 3 and the first carrier 61 loaded with the chemically treated object remains is transferred to the second lock chamber 3 .

For the purpose of transferring the carrier 61 from the reactor chamber 2 into the second lock chamber 3, a means is provided which supports the carrier with a force 61 can be transferred from the reactor chamber 2 into the second lock chamber 3 . The means provided for this purpose can either comprise an electromotive, hydraulic, pneumatic or magnetic force-assisted conveying mechanism, which conveys the carrier 61 in the longitudinal direction of the reactor chamber 2 and the second lock chamber 3, which are openly connected to one another.

Alternatively, it is possible to incline the entire reactor arrangement about the horizontal Ho, as illustrated in FIG. 5c, or even to convert it to the vertical. In this way, the carrier 61 located in the reactor chamber 2 slides, driven by gravity, into the second lock chamber 3 when the second separating means 4" is open. Using this gravity-driven conveyor technology, the objects could also be brought into the pressure chambers without a carrier, e.g. in form of loose bulk goods. In this case, the bulk material literally falls into the subsequent pressure chamber. The solvent flows beforehand in a controlled manner via the fourth, open line A4 from the reactor chamber 2 into the second lock chamber 3 and expands in the process. The second separating means 4″ closing off the second lock chamber 3 is then transferred to the closed position and the reactor chamber 2 is filled in a controlled manner with the preheated solvent from the first lock chamber 1 via the opened third line A3. Thereafter, the first separating means 4' between the first lock chamber 1 and the reactor chamber 2 is opened. In this way, the second carrier 62 located in the first lock chamber gets into the reactor chamber 2 in the first lock chamber 1. After the first separating means 4' between the first lock chamber 1 and reactor chamber 2 has been closed accordingly, the reactor arrangement is brought back into the original horizontal position Ho .

As a result of the rapid displacement of the first carrier 61 and the solvent from the reactor chamber 2 into the right-hand lock chamber 3 and the discharge of this solvent via the fifth line A5 into the collection container AB, see FIG. and temperature drop. This corresponds to the cycle phase K4 in the thermodynamic cycle process K illustrated in FIG cooling of the first carrier 61 placed in the second lock chamber 3 together with the fibrous object residue components by rinsing with fresh water, which is realized with the aid of the third feed line Z3 into the second lock chamber 3 . This cooling corresponds to the fifth cycle phase K5. The solvent introduced into the second lock chamber 2 as a result of the fresh water flushing is preheated by the thermal contact with the second lock chamber 2 and the first carrier 61, as a result of which this solvent is transferred via the second line A2 into the intermediate reservoir ZW for filling the first lock chamber 1 , which is once again equipped with a third carrier 63 with objects to be chemically treated.

After appropriate cooling and rinsing of the first carrier 61 located in the second lock chamber 3 , it can be removed from the second lock chamber 3 after opening the reactor cover 5 . In this way, the insoluble object residues located in the first carrier have gone through all the cycles of the solvolysis cycle shown in FIG. At the same time, the subsequent solvolysis process corresponding to the third cycle phase K3 takes place within the reactor chamber 2, the duration of which of up to two hours covers the time frame for both the residence time of the objects within the first lock chamber 1, in which the cycle phases K1 and K2 take place, as well as the second lock chamber 3, in which the cycle phases K4 and K5 take place, see Figure 5d.

Thus, the reactor arrangement according to the solution is able to carry out the thermodynamic cycle process K illustrated in FIG. In full-load operation, the process phases taking place in the individual pressure chambers change in a 2-hour cycle.

The reactor arrangement according to the solution may deviate from that illustrated

Three-chamber division, ie first lock chamber, reactor chamber, second Lock chamber can also be expanded by further lock chambers, in order to be able to realize the thermodynamic transitions with lower temperature and pressure differences. For example, two lock chambers could each be arranged in a serial sequence in front of the reactor chamber. Alternatively or in combination, two lock chambers could also be arranged in series downstream of the reactor chamber.

Reference List

1 First lock chamber

2 reactor chamber

3 Second lock chamber

4' First release agent

4' Second release agent

5',5' reactor lid

6, 61, 62, 63 beams

7 objects

8 bracket

9 sliding element

H heater

K Thermodynamic cycle process

K1 ,K2,K3,K4,K5 cycle phases

A1 ,A2,A3,A4,A5 line

F feed pump

SP lock valve

AB collection container

Z1 ,Z2,Z3,Z4 supply line

Ho horizontal

ZW intermediate container

Claims

patent claims

1 . Reactor arrangement for the decomposition of objects (7) consisting of plastic-based composite materials into their individual components by means of a solvolysis with at least one reactor chamber (R) in which the objects (7) can be exposed to a solvent in the supercritical state, characterized in that at least three in series arranged pressure chambers, a first lock chamber (1), an adjoining reactor chamber (2) and an adjoining second lock chamber (3), which are each connected to one another via an actuatable separating means (T1, T2), each consisting of an open position, in which two of the adjoining pressure chambers (1/2, 2/3) are connected to one another, into a closed position, in which two of the adjoining pressure chambers (1/2, 2/3) are fluidic, thermal and pressure-specifically isolated from one another, that the reactor chamber (2) is thermally coupled to a heater (H) and can be brought into fluid communication directly or indirectly with the first lock chamber (1) via at least one first line (A1) and can be connected to a first supply line (Z1) that can be pressurized, via which the solvent can be fed into the reactor chamber (2), that the second lock chamber (3) has a second line (A2) which can be connected directly or indirectly to the first lock chamber (1), and that a means is provided which supports the objects or a carrier holding the objects with power a separating means (T1, T2) transferred to the open position, is able to transfer from one pressure chamber into the adjacent pressure chamber.

2. Reactor arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure chambers (1, 2, 3) are each tubular, each have an identical cross-sectional shape and size and each have a pressure chamber longitudinal axis, which are arranged coaxially to one another.

3. Reactor arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the separating means (4', 4") each have a gate valve.

4. Reactor arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that a check valve (SP) is arranged along the first line (A1).

5. Reactor arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the check valve (SP) is designed in the form of a pressure relief valve.

6. Reactor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an intermediate container (ZW) is arranged along the first line (A1).

7. Reactor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first lock chamber (1) can be connected to a second pressurizable supply line (Z2), via which solvent can be fed into the first lock chamber (1),

8. Reactor arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a third supply line (Z3) for feeding in solvent opens into the second lock chamber (3).

9. Reactor arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one controllable feed pump (F) and/or at least one flow valve (D) is arranged along the first, second and third feed line (Z1, Z2, Z3).

10. Reactor arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a fifth line (A5) which is connected to a collection container (AB) and along which a check valve (SP) is arranged opens out at the second lock chamber (3).

11 . Reactor arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the means comprises a tilting arrangement which converts the at least three pressure chambers (1, 2, 3) arranged in series from a horizontal position into a position tilted relative to the horizontal, in which the the carrier (6) holding the objects (7) slips, driven by gravity, from one pressure chamber into the adjacent pressure chamber.

12. Reactor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the means comprises an electric motor, hydraulically, pneumatically or magnetically assisted conveying mechanism which conveys the carrier (6) in the longitudinal axis to two openly connected pressure chambers

13. Reactor arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the first and second lock chamber (1, 3) each end with an openable reactor cover (R1, R2) fluid-tight, temperature and pressure resistant lockable.

14. Method for disassembling objects (7) consisting of plastic-based composite materials into their individual components using a reactor arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized by the following method steps: a) Equipping the reactor chamber (2) with a first one, the objects (7 ) carrying carrier (6) and closing the reactor chamber (2), b) equipping the first lock chamber (1) with a second carrier (6) holding the objects (7) and closing the first lock chamber (1), c) feeding solvent into the reactor chamber (2) and heating the reactor chamber (2) to a temperature T 1 , d) limiting a pressure occurring in the reactor chamber (2) to a first pressure value p1 by overpressure-controlled release of heated solvent from the reactor chamber (2), the solvent being in a subcritical state at the temperature T1 and the pressure P1, e) feeding the subcritical solvent discharged from the reactor chamber (2) into the first lock chamber (1), f) pressure and temperature increase within the reactor chamber (2) to a temperature T2 and pressure P2, the solvent taking on a supercritical state for a predetermined process time t, g) transferring the first carrier (6) holding the objects (7) and the solvent to the Process time t from the reactor chamber (2) into the second lock chamber (3) and draining the solvent from the second lock chamber (3), h) transfer the second carrier (6) holding the objects (7) from the first lock chamber (1) into the reactor chamber (2), i) equipping the first lock chamber (1) with a further carrier holding the objects, j) removing the first , the carrier holding the objects from the second lock chamber (3) and k) carrying out the process steps c) to j) in the form of a continuously clocked process, in which in all pressure chambers (1, 2, 3) carriers holding further objects are removed for the purpose of Solvolysis are treated thermally.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the subcritical solvent drained from the reactor chamber (2) is temporarily stored in an intermediate storage container (ZW), and that the feeding of the subcritical solvent drained from the reactor chamber (2) is carried out by removal from the intermediate storage container (ZW) takes place in the first lock chamber (1).

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that in addition in conjunction with method step e)

Solvent pressurized in the first lock chamber (1) is fed.

17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that after the solvent has been drained from the second lock chamber (3) as part of method step g), the second lock chamber (3) together with the objects (7) present in the second lock chamber (3) comprehensive carrier (6) are rinsed with fresh solvent, and that after rinsing the second lock chamber (3), the fresh, heated solvent is transferred to the intermediate storage (ZW).

18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that water is used as the solvent and the following applies to the following process parameters:

T1: max. 320° C., p1: max. 250 bar, preferably 150 bar

T2: 374 °C to 500 °C p2: 230 bar to 250 bar