De-manufacturing

Synthetic program:

The economical and environmentally sustainable treatment of end-of-life products and industrial waste by de-manufacturing processes is the core topic of this course. De-manufacturing includes the set of technologies, tools and knowledge-based methods to remanufacture and re-use functions and to recover materials from industrial waste and post-consumer high-tech products, under a circular economy perspective. This course provides competences related to mechanical de-manufacturing processes and systems, with the objective to design and operate these technologies in environmental and economical sustainable way, in different industrial settings. 

The course will be structured to cover the following topics:

-       De-manufacturing paradigm: definition of de-manufacturing systems and examples of industrial applications; de-manufacturing performance measures; integrated process and system view of the problem.

-       De-manufacturing technologies: description of mechanical de-manufacturing processes, including disassembly, re-manufacturing and recycling technologies; mechanical size-reduction and separation processes; the role of statistical and mechanical models in the design of de-manufacturing processes; advanced de-manufacturing technologies based on automated optical systems.

-       De-manufacturing systems: features of de-manufacturing systems; material mixtures and granular flow models; multi-stage de-manufacturing systems modeling; performance evaluation and design of de-manufacturing systems; flexibility in de-manufacturing systems.

The students will carry out laboratory activities to develop hands-on knowledge on specific processes and process-chains.

 

Detailed Lectures Plan (32h)

Introduction (6h)

• De-manufacturing paradigm: definitions and context.
• Integrated view of disassembly, remanufacturing, recycling, and recovery.
• Overview of de-manufacturing processes and systems.
• Examples:

o   Remanufacturing of mechatronic components in the automotive industry: Electronic Control Units (ECUs), starters, alternators, engines.

o   Recycling systems for End of Life Vehicles: workflow and ASR (Automotive Shredding Residue) problem.

o   Recycling systems for WEEE: focus on Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs).

o   Recovery of key-metals by metallurgical processes from Lamps, hard drives, and PCBs.

• Performance Measures: grade/recovery trade-off.
• Integrated process and system view of the problem.

 

 De-manufacturing processes and technologies (13h)

• Mechanical disassembly and remanufacturing processes. Disassembly graphs and disassembly planning.
• Mechanical recycling processes: size-reduction and separation.
• Mechanical size-reduction processes:

o   Overview of the cutting mechanisms;

o   Population Based Models for size reduction processes;

o   Experimental analysis.

o   Application and analysis of the results.

• Mechanical Separation processes:

o   Separation principles, physics and mechanisms;

o   Overview of technologies: eddy current separation, electrostatic separation, magnetic separation, floatation, sieving, jigging, separation by air, optical sorting       technologies (NIR, VIS, SWIR). Comparison of technologies and criteria for the selection of the most suitable process/technology.

o   Modeling and simulation of separation processes;

o   Analysis of the output and use of the models for process parameters optimization.

• Thermal and chemical processes: characteristics and requirements on the upstream processes.

 De-manufacturing systems (13h):

• De-manufacturing systems architectures and material transportation technologies.
• Modeling material mixtures and granular flows.
• Performance Evaluation of de-manufacturing systems:

o   Mass Balance Equations;

o   Analytical modeling of de-manufacturing systems dynamics.

• Design of de-manufacturing systems;
• Flexibility and modularity in de-manufacturing systems.