Diseño y construcción de un reactor de pirólisis térmica, para el aprovechamiento de residuos plásticos de polipropileno, generados en la ESPOCH.

Abstract

The objective of this project was design and build a thermal pyrolysis reactor, using polypropylene plastic waste (PP), generated at ESPOCH. It began with the selection of the reactor model, choosing a Batch model, in view of the fact that it is the best to work on a laboratory scale. The reactor was built with a stainless steel cylinder, covered by a casing with heat diffusers in its lower part. The type of ceramic flexible band resistors chosen was 220v and 3000W, which it can reach high temperatures to 830˚C. The type of manometer used is Bourdon; also ceramic fiber was used as thermal insulation in the upper part of the reactor. The flap that was used has a system of flanges, which maintain the internal temperature. The pressure and product will be released by a copper pipe system consisting of 4 extensions. It furthermore has a control panel to measure the internal temperature through a thermocouple inserted inside the cylinder to turn on and off the electrical resistances. Finally, a cooling system with centrifugal fans. In the validation, a yield of 51.10% was reached; thus obtaining a liquid product, which was a mixture of hydrocarbons, from C6 to C12 a percentage of 51%; while from C12 to C28 a percentage of 32.6%; to reach these percentages, temperatures between 400˚ to 450˚C were applied as process variables and resistance times of 15 to 30 minutes; the gaseous products were generated in a percentage of 47.9% and the solid fraction in a percentage of 1% verifying in Carbon, during the process was determined that the pressure has an important role to obtain the desired item, being the best value of 70PSI, been able to work at higher pressures and analyze the products inside.