45 / 2023-12-25 11:06:53

Evaluating Alternatives for Reusing Components of Used Automotive Oil Filters from Affinia Venezuela Company

AUTOMOTIVE OIL FILTER,USED OIL FILTER,REUSE

The purpose of this work was to propose alternatives for the use of the components of automotive oil filters used in Venezuela and was classified as an investigation of feasible project type. The current situation of disposal given to used automotive oil filters was diagnosed by applying a survey to filter changers legally constituted in the national territory, who have a direct relationship with the distributors of the company Affinia Venezuela. It was evident that currently the used filters are being discarded with common waste, becoming a contamination risk. It was learned that in Venezuela the vehicle fleet amounts to 4,196,365 vehicles, estimating a quantity of 12,589,095 used filters generated per year. It was evident that recycling practices are not carried out with these components and there is a lack of knowledge about the disposal and management of used filters and oils. The information collection instrument was applied, in this case the survey that was designed as a semi-structured questionnaire, made up of mixed questions, to evaluate the current situation regarding the disposal given to used automotive oil filters in Venezuela. The technical feasibility consisted of carrying out an evaluation of the existing technology in the Affinia Venezuela organization - Wix filters, for the design of machines, from the software approach and the possibility of using them for the design of the system, it was also verified that there are all the human resources, materials, equipment and instruments necessary to carry out the project. Two alternatives were presented for the recovery of the filter components and their advantages and disadvantages were evaluated to select the most convenient alternative. In the stage of the design of a system for the recovery of components from used automotive oil filters, the final conceptual model of the component recovery machine was generated, the main elements that made up the machine were determined and a simulation of its operation was carried out. From the survey, it was possible to know that 60 percent of those surveyed dispose of the filter in the same bag/container where they dispose of common waste, 54 percent indicated that they do not deposit the filter in an airtight container before discarding it and 86 percent state that they do not dispose of the filter in an airtight container so that it can be removed by a hazardous waste management company. Additionally, it was found that 96 % of those surveyed do not recycle the filter or any component thereof, 97 % stated that they do not know of any campaign on awareness of the proper disposal of used filters, as well as 89 % indicated that they do not know any company that carries out the handling and final disposal of used filters and oils. Pressure was the most important factor in the percentage of filter compaction and amount of oil extracted. Thus, the optimal working pressure was 120 Psi. The average compression percentage at 120 Psi was 61.77%. The average amount of oil extracted at 120 Psi was 536.87 g. Almost all of the components of the used filters can be used, facilitating the reinsertion and useful life of this waste as raw materials for new production chains, contributing to reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.