Systems and methods for manufacturing low-carbon warm mix asphalt and hot mix asphalt

A system for storing and time-shifting at least one of electrical power from a power grid, excess electrical power from a power grid, or renewable electrical power, to create low-carbon heat for use in preheating components used in manufacturing asphalt mix, and for manufacturing asphalt mix, the system comprising:

• a first thermally insulated storage subsystem containing a quantity of at least one of aggregate, reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), reclaimed asphalt shingles, reclaimed tires, or reclaimed plastic for use in manufacturing asphalt mix;
• a first furnace configured to heat the at least one of the aggregate, the RAP, the reclaimed asphalt shingles, the reclaimed tires, or the reclaimed plastic using an available supplemental energy source;
• a second thermally insulated storage subsystem configured to store a quantity of asphalt binder;
• a second furnace operably associated with the second thermally insulated storage subsystem for heating the quantity of asphalt binder;
• and
• an air blower configured to supply a quantity of air to the first furnace to assist in a heating during a heat-charge phase of operation of the system;
• an asphalt mixing subsystem configured to carry out a heat-discharge operation including:
• receiving at least one of the aggregate, RAP, reclaimed asphalt shingles, reclaimed tires, reclaimed plastic or a mixture thereof, and the asphalt binder;
• and
• mixing the at least one of aggregate, RAP reclaimed asphalt shingles, reclaimed tires, reclaimed plastic or mixture thereof, and the asphalt binder to produce at least one of hot mixed asphalt (HMA) or warm mixed asphalt (WMA).

A method for storing and time-shifting at least one of electrical power, excess electrical power, or renewable electrical power, to create low-carbon heat for future use in assisting with a production of asphalt mix, the method comprising:

• using a first thermally insulated storage subsystem to store at least one of a quantity of aggregate or a quantity of at least one of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), reclaimed asphalt shingles, reclaimed tires, or reclaimed plastic;
• using a first furnace to heat at least one of:
• the aggregate, using an available supplemental energy source, to a temperature of between 120-200° C.;
• or
• the at least one of RAP, reclaimed asphalt shingles, reclaimed tires, reclaimed plastic or a mixture thereof, using the available supplemental energy source, to a temperature between 50-100° C.
• using a second thermally insulated storage subsystem to store a quantity of asphalt binder;
• using a second furnace to heat the quantity of asphalt binder;
• and
• supplying a quantity of air to at least one of the first furnace to assist in heating during a heat-charge phase of operation in which both the quantity of asphalt manufacturing component and the quantity of asphalt binder are pre-heated.