Diseño de un prototipo de reactor de pirólisis térmica para la descomposición y aprovechamiento de residuos plásticos fabricados a partir de: PP, PE, Y PS

Abstract

The exponential increase in the use of polymers has caused contamination problems; Therefore, a study and application of various recycling methods is required. In the present work, the design of a thermal pyrolysis reactor prototype was presented, for the decomposition and use of plastic waste made from Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), and Polystyrene (PS). For the design, the parameters required by the reactor were established, making use of the alternative analysis method that allowed finding the best solution, which guarantees an efficient degradation of plastic waste. The prototype with capacity 1 kg has a pressure vessel, designed in accordance with the ASME VIII Division I standard; a ceramic band type resistance which provides the necessary temperature for the process, which ranges between 450 and 550° C; measuring instruments for pressure and temperature; and a gas condensation system. The prototype was modeled using SolidWorks software. For the simulation, the ANSYS software was used, which allowed to verify the thermal and structural behavior, as well as the gas flow. In addition, the deformations and forces present in the metallic structure to support the equipment were analyzed using the SAP 2000 software. The optimum temperature for the pyrolysis process is 550 ° C, in addition the reactor vessel was covered with an insulating ceramic fiber blanket that guarantees a safe temperature outside, between 40 and 50 ° C as specified in the permit regulation of job. The analytically determined values were contrasted by simulation, where the low error margins were obtained in all the results, so it was possible to verify that the design carried out behaves in optimal working conditions to carry out the process.