Waste handling methods and apparatus
AssigneeAltek Europe Limited
InventorsAlan Peel, Andrew Gibbs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and a method of handling a molten metal processing by-product are provided in which the by-product is placed in a container unit and put in the apparatus, the apparatus including an element having a first position outside of the container and a second position in which at least a part of the element is in the container so as to compress the by-product and exclude oxygen from it. The element also serves to transfer heat from the contents of the container unit to the element and so provide cooling. The element can then be returned to the first position, the container unit be removed and placed at a cooling location for final cooling.
Claims21
A method of handling a molten metal processing by-product, the by-product having an aluminium content of less than 25% by weight and the by-product having a salt content of 10% to 75% by weight, the method including:
- providing a container unit;
- providing the by-product in the container unit;
- providing apparatus, the apparatus including an element having a first position outside of the container and a second position in which at least a part of the element is in the container;
- providing the container unit in the apparatus;
- moving the element from the first position to the second position;
- transferring heat from the by-product in the container unit to the element;
- compressing at least a part of the contents of the container unit;
- moving the element from the second position towards the first position;
- removing the container unit from the apparatus;
- and
- positioning the container unit at a cooling location;
- wherein moving the element from the first position to the second position and/or transferring heat from the by-product in the container unit to the element causes an oxygen impermeable and/or oxygen flow inhibiting layer to form on the by-product.
A method for treating dross to enable recovery of aluminum, the dross having an aluminium content of less than 25% by weight and the dross having a salt content of 10% to 75% by weight, the method comprising:
- placing the dross in a receiving location of a container unit, the container unit including a contact surface that extends around the receiving location;
- inserting a press head into the receiving location to compress the dross, the press head including a first contact surface that compresses the dross and a second contact surface that forms a seal with the contact surface of the container unit, the seal inhibiting airflow into the receiving location;
- maintaining the press head within the receiving location while the seal is formed on the dross and formed of the dross to cause a film to be formed on a surface of the dross that is in contact with the first contact surface, the film comprising a portion of the dross having a reduced permeability;
- and
- after the film is formed, removing the press head from the receiving location, the reduced permeability of the film inhibiting oxygen from permeating the dross after the press head has been removed.
A method of handling a molten metal processing by-product, the method including:
- providing a container unit;
- providing the by-product in the container unit;
- providing apparatus, the apparatus including an element having a first position outside of the container unit and a second position in which at least a part of the element is in the container unit;
- providing the container unit in the apparatus;
- moving the element from the first position to the second position;
- transferring heat from the by-product in the container unit to the element;
- compressing at least a part of the contents of the container unit;
- moving the element from the second position towards the first position;
- removing the container unit from the apparatus;
- and
- positioning the container unit at a cooling location;
- wherein a transition from the first to the second position and/or transferring heat from the contents of the container unit to the element, causes an oxygen impermeable and/or oxygen flow inhibiting layer to form on the by-product, the oxygen impermeable and/or oxygen flow inhibiting layer being formed of the by-product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.