Portable warm asphalt preparation apparatus and process for the production of warm asphalt

A portable warm asphalt preparation apparatus comprising:

• a source of granular plastic;
• a source of mineral aggregate;
• the granular plastic and mineral aggregate from the sources forming an asphalt feed material;
• a first receptacle defining a chamber, the chamber comprising:
• an inlet for introducing the asphalt feed material into the chamber,
• a floor at an inclined plane between a lower first end of the chamber and an elevated second end of the chamber, and
• an outlet disposed at the elevated second end for discharging a warm heterogenous mixture formed of the granular plastic and mineral aggregate from the chamber;
• a conveying means provided between the lower first end and the elevated second end of the floor of the chamber, the conveying means for mixing the asphalt feed material and transporting a resultant warm heterogenous mixture along the inclined plane towards the outlet;
• and
• a heating means for supplying heat to the asphalt feed material during mixing by the conveying means to enable formation of the warm heterogenous mixture;
• wherein the heating means is a burner disposed below one or both of the first end and second end of the chamber floor, such that, when the asphalt feed material is in the chamber, it is heated indirectly by the burner through the floor while the asphalt feed material is mixed by the conveying means;
• wherein the burner heats the chamber to a temperature from 100° C. to 120° C.;
• wherein the apparatus comprises a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature within the chamber;
• and
• wherein the apparatus further comprises a controller operatively connected to the burner for activating and deactivating the burner based on an input from the temperature sensor, the controller further operatively acting to actuate a valve for interrupting and allowing a fuel supply to the burner when the burner is deactivated and activated, respectively, thereby maintaining the temperature in the chamber in a range of 100° C. to 120° C. to form the warm heterogenous mixture that is discharged from the outlet of the chamber without excessive emissions and/or fume generation from the chamber.