Team:UESTC-China/Hardware
Overview
In order to achieve the application of our deinking enzymes in practise, we designed and produced a hardware device (Deinker) that can deink and reuse paper in the office.
It is an automatic device for deinking paper, which is shown in figure1.
Figure1. Current device model.
The hardware consists of four parts:
1.Paper transmission part.
It has a main track, two secondary tracks and a board moving along the track so the paper fixed on the board could move along the tracks too.
Figure2. The transmission system.
2. Enzyme-spraying part.
It pumps the enzyme solution through a water pump and sprays it to the surface of paper through a sprayer.
Figure3. Enzyme spray system.
3.Fiber separation part.
It removes the surface fiber of the paper through a sticky cylinder. Two small step motors next to the sticky cylinder control the sticky cylinder up and down.
Figure4. Paper fiber separation system.
4.Paper drying part.
Using a lamp to heat the paper,and maintain the environmental temperature at enzyme's optimum temperature range.
Figure5. Heating system.
The operation process of the deinking machine is shown in the figure.
Figure6. Operation diagram.
Video1. Deinking are repeated from left to right.
Figure7. Deinking effect display.
Click here to download our3D model and CAD diagram
Device iteration
During the developmenting process of hardware, we have designed and made three generations of hardware, and the fourth generation is still on the way.
First generation
Figure8. First generation of hardware design diagram.
Figure9. Part of first generation hardware.
The first generation hardware is composed of two parts: paper deinking part and drying part. However, it has two main problems: weak stability of operation and too long drying time.
Second generation
Figure10. Second generation of hardware design diagram.
Figure11. Second generation hardware.
This generation of hardware is built based on the two parts of the first generation. The guide rail is replaced with stepper motor rail and fixed with 3D printed pieces to improve the robustness of the equipment. However, it can easily cause unacceptable
damage to paper.
Third generation
Figure12. Third generation of hardware design diagram.
Figure13. Third generation hardware.
Through the optimization and re-selection of components, we have solved the problems of the previous two generations. It can complete the deinking process of a piece of paper, so that the paper can be used again. We have shown this machine in public,
and gained some good suggestions for further improvement.
Fourth generation
Figure14. Fourth generation hardware concept diagram.
Although we have benefited from it, we found that it still needs to be improved a lot. In the present time, we have designed the fourth generation of hardware for the purpose to smaller size, lower power consumption, higher deinking efficiency and more
deinking options. Eventually, it will behavior like an reverse printer.
Hardware performance
Table1. Hardware parameters
| Items | Power | Power Supply | Deinking time | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 30W with no heating/160W with heating | AC 220V | less than 5min | 560x300x400mm3 |
Compare with other hardware, like traditional paper making machine and paperlab A-8000Z:
1.The traditional papermaking process is divided into pulping and papermaking. First, the recycled waste paper and the added new wood are broken into pulp. Subsequently, some chemical reagents and other physical methods are used for papermaking, pulp
is ready for paper making.
2.Paperlab A-8000Z is an anhydrous paper recycling system developed and sold by Epson.
| Hardware | Traditional paper making machine | Paperlab A-8000Z | Third generation of Deinker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy consumption of papermaking | about 2,946kW·h/t | about 1,620kW·h/t | about 2,000kW·h/t |
| Energy consumption | Heat and electrical energy | electrical energy | electrical energy |
| Energy source | Manufacturers purchase electricity and heat or provide their own thermal power stations to provide electricity and heat | Three-phase AC200V | AC220V |
| Volume | Installed in a factory building | 2850x1430x2010mm3 | 560x300x400mm3 |
| Deinking methods | Mainly chemical and physical methods | Only Physical Method | Combination of biological and physical methods |
| Material source | Recycling waste paper, New wood | Paper requiring deinking | Paper requiring deinking |
Future expectations
In the future, there will be a "reverse printer" at home, just on your desk. Different from a printer, it can remove ink stains from the paper in situ so that the paper can be used again.
In order to realize the application scenarios mentioned above, we will continue to develop our hardware devices with lower power consumption, higher deinking efficiency and more functions. Hopefully, someday in the future, it will really enter people's
life and solve the recycling problem of office waste paper.
Measuring premise：
1. Studies show that 21% of office paper are made from waste pulp, while the remaining 79% are produced entirely from plantation wood.
2. The thermal energy required is equal to electrical energy.
1. Studies show that 21% of office paper are made from waste pulp, while the remaining 79% are produced entirely from plantation wood.
2. The thermal energy required is equal to electrical energy.
Data source:
Epson equipment Paperlab open data
Energy consumption monitoring manual for Chinese pulp and paper Enterprises
Epson equipment Paperlab open data
Energy consumption monitoring manual for Chinese pulp and paper Enterprises