SPARK PROBLEM STATEMENTS

SPARK INNOVATION – 1 – SOLVE WITH US

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NATIONAL GRID – INVESTMENT RECOVERY PROBLEM STATEMENT

CHALLENGE

Provide a mechanism to identify and/or remove lead material from bulk wire or chops.

BACKGROUND

National Grid granulates bulk wire to separate the wire into its raw constituents; aluminum, copper, and insulation. Occasionally, lead wire or lead connectors are in the bulk wire and lead contaminates the copper material which reduces the sale price of the recycled material.

CONSIDERATIONS

The bulk wire is manually separated and lead is supposed to be removed, but it is occasionally missed. Having the ability to quickly identify the presence of lead will enable it to be removed for a purer copper product. A few approaches to solving this problem could be considered:

1) A detection method to identify lead prior to it being chopped

2) If lead is chopped it may be visible on the conveyor. A mechanism to remove it with minimal disruption to the process would be another solution

DELIVERABLE

What is the desired outcome of the proposed solution? Either A technique to identify lead or, an approach to remove lead from the process line.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1: This is a photo of the wire being sorted into hoppers at the Investment Recovery facility. This is when the product is screened for lead. Photo 2: This is the sorted wire in hoppers

which are ready to be recycled.

SPARK PROBLEM STATEMENTS

SPARK INNOVATION – 2 – SOLVE WITH US

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Photo 3: This is a bail of wire which was sorted at another National Grid facility. It is

Photo 4: This is how the hopper or a bail is loaded into the recycling line.

Photo 5: If the lead is not found in the bail/hopper, then it may be visible on this conveyor after it is chopped. The conveyor is approximately 8’ wide and cannot be accessed while running.