Members of the Consortium

Lehrstuhl für Lasertechnik LLT

www.llt.rwth-aachen.de

Laser Analytical

Systems & Automation GmbH

www.lsa-systems.de

TITeCH GmbH

www.titech.de

Constellium

www.constellium.com

Funding Agency and Supporting Programme

P R E S E N TAT I O N O F T H E P R O J E C T » PA R I L A S «

Project Coordinator

Dr. Reinhard NollPhone +49 241 8906-138reinhard.noll@ilt.fraunhofer.deChair for Laser Technology LLT, RWTH Aachen UniversitySteinbachstraße 15, 52074 Aachen, Germanywww.llt.rwth-aachen.de

Project Leader and Organization

Dipl.-Phys. Patrick WerheitPhone +49 241 8906-308patrick.werheit@ilt.fraunhofer.deFraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILTSteinbachstraße 15, 52074 Aachen, Germanywww.ilt.fraunhofer.de

pILot DemonstratIon oF HIGH perFormance aLumInum recYcLInG BY InLIne Laser IDentIFIcatIon

CONSORTIUM

W W W. PA R I L A S . E U

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The LIBS sensor uses a 3-axis scanner to direct the next laser burst

at the target coordinates. The spectral data is analyzed by the

control computer which then makes a classification decision which

is forwarded to the diversion unit. The diversion unit then hits the

particle with a jet of compressed air to knock it into one of four

fractions product A, product B, reefed or reject.

Method

• Vibratory feeder (1) spreads the pieces on a conveyor belt (2)

• Each scrap piece is detected by a 3D camera (3)

• A laser beam (4) with tailored pulse profile is focused on

each scrap piece. The surface material is thereby ablated

to uncover the bulk material

• The laser causes material to be evaporated into plasma,

emitting a spectral fingerprint

• The emitted light is detected by a multichannel spectrometer,

to characterize the composition of the sample

• The samples are sorted with regard to their alloying composition (5)

Expected Results

• Demonstration of the economic feasibility of high performance

aluminum recycling based on single particle sorting using

laser technology

• Sorting of 20 to 200 tons per day (depending on scrap sizes)

• System availability > 90 %

Objectives

The objective of PARILAS is to demonstrate the sorting

of post-consumer scrap aluminum into fractions which can

be re-melted and used to reduce the amount of prime metal

required to make aluminum alloys. To provide high quality

input material for remelters and refiners this mixture has to be

separated into cast and wrought fractions. The wrought fractions

have to be further allocated to alloy types. With well characterized

recycled aluminum alloy fractions, current limitations of the

process guidance in remelting and refining lines for the production

of secondary aluminum can be overcome. Furthermore it is

the aim to improve the quality and to expand the applicability

of secondary aluminum.

The planned pilot sorting machine consists of a vibratory feeder,

conveyor belt, 3D camera, control computer, laser induced

breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) sensor, and a diversion unit:

The vibratory feeder spreads the particles into a single layer and

drops them down a chute onto the belt. The belt carries the

particles at 3 m/s under the line-laser of the 3D camera system.

The control computer uses the 3D data to generate targeting

information for the sensor.

Prototype Parilas-Demonstrator

1 Vibratory feeder

2 Conveyor belt

3 3D camera

4 Laser and spectrometer module

5 Diversion unit

PRojeCT »PARILAS«