Structural Dimensioning of an Equipment to Sinter Refuse of Recycled PET

Abstract

The consumption of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has been increasing every year, as well as its recycling process as the applications of recycled PET are diversified. However, the recycling companies are not able to recycle 100% of PET because the particles with low granulometry (refuse) are not utilized because they stick to the extruder screw and are discarded. This study presents the structural dimensioning of a proposal of an equipment to sinter this refuse in some predetermined geometries, in order to achieve possible commercial applications. This structural dimensioning was done with finite element analysis open-source software Salome Meca. Some structural modifications required to achieve the design requirements are presented. Yet, the hydraulic system to operate the compression was also dimensioned.