Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2023

Document Type

Problem/Project Report

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Committee Chair

Terrence Musho

Committee Co-Chair

Edward Sabolsky

Committee Member

Charis Tsikkou

Abstract

Electronic waste (e-waste) has become a significant environmental issue due to the rapid advancement of technology, increasing demand for electronic devices, and shorter lifespan of electronics. One critical step in processing the e-waste involves ball milling as a means of preparing the recycling e-waste for the recovery of critical materials. Ball milling is a technique that involves the mechanical crushing and grinding of electronic waste to reduce its size and improve its reactivity during recovery. Our focused recovery technique is based on a microwave recovery technique of these critical materials from e-waste. The size and distribution of the e-waste with the addition of carbon black material influence how the e-waste is heated in a microwave reactor. This problem report provides details on how to model the heat transfer process during microwave irradiation for the ball-milled materials, with a specific focus on carbon black.

This study utilizes an analytical modeling technique based on the transient heat conduction equation of the heat transfer within a solid sphere with specific generation and convective boundary conditions that represent a packed bed of particles. The approach solved the second-order partial differential transient heat conduction equation using a Green's Functions approach. Significant emphasis is applied to the

description of the internal heat generation term that is dependent on the microwave loss within the carbon black material. The analytical solution was verified and validated using a Finite Element method. Ultimately, the analytical expression provides a quick and accurate way of determining optimal ball milling sizes and packing density to achieve optimal heating of carbon-containing e-waste.

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