Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Production Engineering and Mechanical Design Department, Faculty of Engineering, Minia University, Minia, Egypt.
Abstract
The management of municipal solid waste (MSW) presents a significant challenge worldwide, with potential health and environmental hazards if not properly recycled or disposed of. A promising approach to address this issue is the mechanical-biological treatment (MBT), which can process MSW and minimize landfill deposits. The efficacy of MBT is highly reliant on the bag opener machine’s ability to efficiently extract waste from bags. Thus, enhancing the bag opener’s performance is crucial for the MBT system’s overall effectiveness. This study introduces a set of four innovative blade designs for waste bags opening equipment, aimed at achieving optimal efficiency, minimal power usage, reduced maintenance overhead, and prolonged operational lifespan. These designs were crafted using the 3-D modelling software SOLIDWORKS. Additionally, the paper outlines the primary calculations of the bag opening equipment, derived from a synthesis of MSW characterization research. The robustness, functionality, and longevity of the blades were evaluated through finite element analyses (FEAs) (static/fatigue) at 1 MPa applied pressure. The results indicate that the new design can handle approximately 30 tons per hour, consuming only 22 kW of power. The blade designs reveal that the maximum Von Mises stress and the minimum factor-of-safety (FOS) across models A, B, C, and D, are 14.74, 14.32, 14.16, and 13.46 MPa, and 15.18, 18.66, 19.21, 19.43, and 20.44, respectively. Fatigue stress analysis indicates a lifespan of (106) cycles for all models. Model D is determined to be superior in terms of strength, FOS, and durability.
Keywords
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