ELVES LIFE05 ENV/E/000317 - Development of a system for high-quality separation of metal alloys from end-of-life-vehicle engines and its reuse in new engines and components for automotive sector
Overview
Background & policy context:
In the EU, between 10 and 11 million vehicles reach the end of their useful lives every year. This generates some 9 million tonnes of waste, which is generally contaminated with heavy metals, as well as oil and other lubricating fluids. However, the EU Directive on end-of-life vehicles (ELV) requires all metal components from ELVs be separated and decontaminated for re-introduction in the automobile industry. Nevertheless, a number of countries in Europe are having difficulties in complying with EU legislation, due to a lack of the facilities needed for re-using ELV materials.
Objectives:
The project’s main objective was to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of a new high-capacity process for separating metal alloys with degrees of purity of over 99%. Upon the separation of iron, aluminium and heavy metals from ELV engines, these could then be re-used in new automobile engines and components - gear boxes, engine blocks, casings, etc. - with 100% efficiency in the recuperation of aluminium. Specifically, this would entail the construction of a pilot plant for the fragmentation and separation of the constituent metals from ELV engines, using advanced technology: integrating acoustic insulation, water-based dust particle extraction, granulometric classification, and bi-density flotation separation. And that the process system will be flexible and adaptable enough to cope with future alloys used in engines. The project prototype was expected to process 650 tonnes of used engines a week. The project would also address the logistics of a network linking the firms that processed old engines and the car manufacturers who would use the recycled materials.
Share this page