Devices, systems, and methods for recycling plastic

Abstract

Systems for recycling waste plastic can include cartridges that are selectively sealable. Some cartridges can have elongated receptacles that improve heat transfer to plastic feedstock within the cartridges.

1 . A system for recycling plastic, the system comprising:
 a sealable cartridge comprising a body and a plurality of receptacles that are in fluid communication with the body and that extend away from the body, the cartridge further comprising an evacuation port through which gases can be removed from the cartridge when the cartridge is sealed, wherein the cartridge is configured to be selectively opened so as to receive a plastic feedstock therein; and   a heating plenum configured to receive at least a portion of the cartridge therein so as to heat the contents of the cartridge, the heating plenum comprising a first fluid port via which heated fluid is delivered into the plenum and further comprising a sidewall, wherein the first fluid port is spaced from the sidewall of the plenum and is configured to direct heated fluid in an outward direction and into contact with the plurality of receptacles when the cartridge is received within the heating plenum.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacles extend downwardly from the body when the cartridge is received within the heating plenum, and wherein the first fluid port extends upwardly so as to be positioned among the plurality of receptacles. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid port comprises a sidewall that defines a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the sidewall defines a longitudinal axis that is substantially vertical. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heating plenum further comprises a second fluid port that is configured to introduce heated fluid into the plenum in an inward direction such that the heated fluid initially moves away from the sidewall when within the heating plenum. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of receptacles of the cartridge defines a longitudinal axis that is substantially vertical when the cartridge is received within the heating plenum. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of receptacles of the cartridge define one or more rings, and wherein the first fluid port is configured to be positioned at an interior of each of the one or more rings when the cartridge is received within in the heating plenum. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is selectively removable from the heating plenum. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the cartridge is configured to cooperate with the heating plenum to form a seal that prevents heated fluid from escaping from the heating plenum. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the upper portion of the cartridge is configured to cooperate with the heating plenum to suspend the plurality of receptacles within the plenum. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of receptacles are suspended above a base of the heating plenum when the cartridge is received within the heating plenum. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional heating plenums, wherein the heating plenum and the one or more additional heating plenums receive heated fluid from a common source. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein one or more additional cartridges are respectively positioned in the one or more additional heating plenums, and wherein gases that are removed from the cartridge and from the one or more additional cartridges are mixed with each other. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional cartridges and an evacuation system, wherein the evacuation system causes the gases that are removed from the cartridge and from the one or more additional cartridges to mix with each other. 
     
     
         15 . A cartridge for use in recycling plastic, the cartridge comprising:
 a selectively sealable opening through which plastic feedstock can be introduced into an interior of the cartridge;   a body that comprises a sidewall that at least partially defines an upper cavity into which a plastic feedstock can be received, wherein the upper cavity defines a first volume; and   a plurality of receptacles that extend away from the body, wherein each of the plurality of receptacles comprises a sidewall that at least partially defines a lower cavity that is in fluid communication with the upper cavity of the body, wherein the lower cavities of the plurality of receptacles together define a second volume,   wherein a ratio of an external surface area of the sidewalls of the plurality of receptacles to the second volume of the plurality of receptacles is greater than a ratio of an external surface area of the sidewall of the body to the first volume of the upper cavity such that heat from a heated fluid external to the cartridge can be transferred more readily to the contents of the plurality of receptacles than to the contents of the body.   
     
     
         16 . The cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the cartridge is configured for use with a plastic feedstock that reduces in volume by a known amount when melted, and wherein the first volume of the body and the second volume of the plurality of receptacles are sufficiently large to receive a sufficient amount of un-melted plastic feedstock therein such that when the opening of the cartridge is sealed and the plastic feedstock is melted, the plastic feedstock fills at least about  50  percent of the second volume defined by the plurality of receptacles. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the first volume of the body and the second volume of the plurality of receptacles are configured such that the un-melted plastic feedstock substantially fills both the body and the plurality of receptacles when the opening of the cartridge is sealed. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the cartridge is configured for use with a plastic feedstock that reduces in volume by a known amount when melted, wherein the first volume of the body and the second volume of the plurality of receptacles are configured such that the un-melted plastic feedstock substantially fills both the body and the plurality of receptacles when the opening of the cartridge is sealed, and wherein, when the opening of the cartridge is sealed and the plastic feedstock is melted, the plastic feedstock fills no more than about 20 percent of the first volume of the body. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the opening through which plastic feedstock can be introduced into an interior of the cartridge is at an upper end of the cartridge and the plurality of receptacles are at a lower end of the cartridge. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 18 , further comprising a lid that is configured to seal the opening, wherein the lid comprises an evacuation port through which gas can be removed from an interior of the cartridge. 
     
     
         21 . The cartridge of  claim 15 , further comprising an evacuation port through which gas can be removed from an interior of the cartridge when the opening of the cartridge is in a sealed condition. 
     
     
         22 . The cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the body comprises a support member configured to support the full weight of cartridge when the cartridge is filled with a plastic feedstock so as to suspend the plurality of receptacles. 
     
     
         23 . The cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the support member is configured to provide a substantially fluid tight seal with a heating plenum about a full periphery of the cartridge. 
     
     
         24 . The cartridge of  claim 21 , further comprising a layer of insulation at a position above the support member. 
     
     
         25 . The cartridge of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more reinforcing members that connect two or more of the receptacles to each other. 
     
     
         26 . The cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of receptacles is spaced from the remainder of the plurality of receptacles such that heated fluid at an exterior of the cartridge can pass between any set of adjacent receptacles. 
     
     
         27 . The cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of receptacles define an open volume configured to receive a fluid port of a heating plenum therein, wherein the receptacles extend downwardly about the open volume such that when a fluid port is received therein, the fluid port can direct heated fluid radially outwardly into contact with an exterior surface of the receptacles. 
     
     
         28 . The cartridge of  claim 26 , wherein the receptacles are arranged in one or more rings, and wherein the open volume is within the one or more rings. 
     
     
         29 . The cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the each of the plurality of receptacles defines a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the remaining receptacles. 
     
     
         30 . The cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the body comprises a first composition and the plurality of receptacles comprise a second composition that differs from the first composition, wherein each of the first and second compositions comprises one or more of a metallic composition and a ceramic composition. 
     
     
         31 . A cartridge for use in recycling plastic, the cartridge comprising:
 a selectively sealable opening through which plastic feedstock can be introduced into an interior of the cartridge;   a body that defines an upper cavity into which a plastic feedstock can be received;   an evacuation port in fluid communication with the upper cavity, wherein the evacuation port is configured to permit removal of gas from the cartridge when the opening is sealed; and   a plurality of elongated receptacles that extend away from the body, wherein each of the receptacles defines a lower cavity that is in fluid communication with the upper cavity of the body such that heated gas can freely move from the lower cavities into the upper cavity.   
     
     
         32 . The cartridge of  claim 31 , wherein the cartridge is configured for use with a plastic feedstock that reduces in volume by a known amount when melted such that the cartridge is sufficiently large to receive a sufficient amount of un-melted plastic feedstock therein such that when the opening of the cartridge is sealed and the plastic feedstock is melted, the plastic feedstock fills at least about 75 percent of a volume defined by the plurality of receptacles. 
     
     
         33 . The cartridge of  claim 31 , wherein a longitudinal length of one or more of the plurality of receptacles is greater than a height of the body. 
     
     
         34 . The cartridge of  claim 31 , wherein a transverse dimension of the body is no less than about five times as large as one or more transverse dimensions defined by the plurality of receptacles. 
     
     
         35 . The cartridge of  claim 31 , wherein the each of the plurality of receptacles extends away from the body in the same direction. 
     
     
         36 . The cartridge of  claim 31 , wherein the number of receptacles is no fewer than five. 
     
     
         37 . The cartridge of  claim 31 , further comprising a counterbalance positioned opposite the evacuation port. 
     
     
         38 . The cartridge of  claim 31 , further comprising a lid that comprises a lift attachment and a guidance channel that is configured to direct a hook toward the lift attachment. 
     
     
         39 . A method of recycling plastic, the method comprising:
 providing a cartridge that comprises a plurality of elongated receptacles;   inserting a plastic feedstock into the cartridge;   sealing the cartridge; and   applying heated fluid to an exterior of the elongated receptacles.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising positioning a fluid port at an exterior of the cartridge and among the elongated receptacles. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of elongated receptacles extend downwardly in a longitudinal direction, and wherein said applying heated fluid to an exterior of the elongated receptacles comprises directing at least a portion of the heated fluid in an outward direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction from a position circumscribed by at least a portion of the elongated receptacles. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein applying heated fluid to an exterior of the elongated receptacles converts at least a portion of the plastic feedstock into a gas, the method further comprising removing the gas from the cartridge. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising inserting the cartridge into a heating plenum prior to applying the heated fluid to an exterior of the elongated receptacles. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 removing the cartridge from the heating plenum;   inserting an additional amount of a plastic feedstock into the cartridge;   sealing the cartridge; and   applying the heated fluid to an exterior of the elongated receptacles.   
     
     
         45 . A method of recycling plastic, the method comprising:
 providing a first cartridge having a quantity of plastic feedstock therein;   inserting the first cartridge into a heating plenum;   applying heated fluid to an exterior of the first cartridge so as to convert the plastic feedstock into one or more gases;   removing the one or more gases from the first cartridge while the first cartridge is in a sealed configuration;   removing the first cartridge from the first heating plenum;   providing a second cartridge having a quantity of plastic feedstock therein; and   inserting the second cartridge into the heating plenum.