Recycling and process metallurgy are the main enablers of Circular Economy (CE). To assess the circularity of CE, a detailed understanding of the limits of the current recycling infrastructure is required. For this paper, a predictive physical separation model for Eddy Current Separator was developed using 3D particle-level detail acquired by Computed Tomography. The developed model was combined with re-melting and alloying models to create an aluminum recycling flowsheet in a simulation platform HSC Sim. Different simulation scenarios were considered, and the impact of the physical separation stage to resource efficiency was quantified by measuring the required additional resources to produce specific alloy types. The resource efficiency and environmental impacts were estimated through exergy analysis and Life Cycle Assessment based on the detailed physical and thermochemistry simulation models. The paper demonstrates how digitalization and exergy analysis allow more efficient use of resources in the sense of CE.

中文翻译：

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基于模拟的铝回收利用的能值和LCA分析：将预测的物理分离和重熔工艺模型与特定的合金生产联系起来

循环冶金和工艺冶金是循环经济（CE）的主要推动力。为了评估CE的循环性，需要详细了解当前回收基础结构的限制。对于本文，使用计算机断层扫描获取的3D粒子级详细信息，开发了涡流分离器的预测性物理分离模型。所开发的模型与重熔和合金化模型结合在一起，在HSC Sim模拟平台中创建了铝回收流程。考虑了不同的模拟方案，并通过测量生产特定合金类型所需的额外资源来量化物理分离阶段对资源效率的影响。在详细的物理和热化学模拟模型的基础上，通过火用分析和生命周期评估，估算资源效率和环境影响。本文展示了数字化和火用分析如何从CE的角度更有效地利用资源。