Apparatus and method for an asphalt mix temperature control system

Abstract

A control system for controlling the temperature of the asphalt mix comprising a recycled asphalt pavement source that is adapted to provide an amount of recycled asphalt pavement, a recycled asphalt pavement sensor that is adapted to determine an amount of RAP moisture contained in the amount of recycled asphalt pavement, a liquid asphalt cement source that is adapted to provide an amount of liquid asphalt cement, a liquid asphalt cement meter that is adapted to determine the amount of liquid asphalt cement provided by the liquid asphalt cement source, a burner assembly having a variable firing rate, a dryer, and a controller that is adapted to communicate with the recycled asphalt pavement source, the recycled asphalt pavement sensor, the liquid asphalt cement source, the liquid asphalt cement meter, and the burner assembly. The controller automatically controls the variable firing rate of the burner assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system for controlling the temperature of an asphalt mix, said control system comprising:
 (a) a recycled asphalt pavement source, said recycled asphalt pavement source being adapted to provide an amount of recycled asphalt pavement to the asphalt mix;   (b) a recycled asphalt pavement sensor, said recycled asphalt pavement sensor being adapted to determine an amount of RAP moisture contained in the amount of recycled asphalt pavement;   (c) a liquid asphalt cement source, said liquid asphalt cement source being adapted to provide an amount of liquid asphalt cement to the asphalt mix;   (d) a liquid asphalt cement meter, said liquid asphalt cement meter being adapted to determine the amount of liquid asphalt cement provided by the liquid asphalt cement source to the asphalt mix;   (e) a burner assembly, said burner assembly having a variable firing rate;   (f) a dryer, said dryer being disposed adjacent the burner assembly;   (g) a controller, said controller being adapted to communicate with the recycled asphalt pavement source, the recycled asphalt pavement sensor, the liquid asphalt cement source, the liquid asphalt cement meter, and the burner assembly;   wherein the controller automatically controls the variable firing rate of the burner assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the controller also collects data from the recycled asphalt pavement source, the recycled asphalt pavement sensor, and the liquid asphalt cement meter substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the controller also calculates an optimal firing rate for the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 3  wherein the variable firing rate of the burner assembly is substantially equal to the optimal firing rate. 
     
     
         5 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the controller also controls the variable firing rate of the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (h) an aggregate material source, said aggregate material source being adapted to provide an amount of aggregate material to the asphalt mix; 
 (i) an aggregate material sensor, said aggregate material sensor being adapted to determine an amount of aggregate material moisture contained in the amount of aggregate material; 
 wherein the controller is also adapted to communicate with the aggregate material source and the aggregate material sensor. 
 
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 6  wherein the controller also collects data from the aggregate material source and the aggregate material sensor substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         8 . The control system of  claim 6  wherein the controller also calculates an optimal firing rate for the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         9 . The control system of  claim 8  wherein the variable firing rate of the burner assembly is substantially equal to the optimal firing rate. 
     
     
         10 . The control system of  claim 6  wherein the controller also controls the variable firing rate of the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         11 . The control system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (h) a recycled asphalt shingles source, said recycled asphalt shingles source being adapted to provide an amount of recycled asphalt shingles to the asphalt mix; 
 (i) a recycled asphalt shingles sensor, said recycled asphalt shingles sensor being adapted to determine an amount of RAS moisture contained in the amount of recycled asphalt shingles; 
 wherein the controller is also adapted to communicate with the recycled asphalt shingles source and the recycled asphalt shingles sensor. 
 
     
     
         12 . The control system of  claim 11  wherein the controller also collects data from the recycled asphalt shingles source and the recycled asphalt shingles sensor substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         13 . The control system of  claim 11  wherein the controller also calculates an optimal firing rate for the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         14 . The control system of  claim 13  wherein the variable firing rate of the burner assembly is substantially equal to the optimal firing rate. 
     
     
         15 . The control system of  claim 11  wherein the controller also controls the variable firing rate of the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         16 . The control system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (h) a water source, said water source being adapted to provide an amount of water to the asphalt mix; 
 (i) a water meter, said water meter being adapted to determine the amount of water provided by the water source to the asphalt mix; 
 wherein the controller is also adapted to communicate with the water source and the water meter. 
 
     
     
         17 . The control system of  claim 16  wherein the water source comprises a means for determining a temperature of the amount of water provided by the water source to the asphalt mix. 
     
     
         18 . The control system of  claim 16  wherein the controller also collects data from the water source and the water meter substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         19 . The control system of  claim 16  wherein the controller also calculates an optimal firing rate for the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         20 . The control system of  claim 19  wherein the variable firing rate of the burner assembly is substantially equal to the optimal firing rate. 
     
     
         21 . The control system of  claim 16  wherein the controller also controls the variable firing rate of the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         22 . The control system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (h) a means for determining an exhaust gas temperature; 
 wherein the controller is also adapted to communicate with the means for determining an exhaust gas temperature. 
 
     
     
         23 . The control system of  claim 22  wherein the controller also collects data from the means for determining an exhaust gas temperature substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         24 . The control system of  claim 22  wherein the controller also calculates an optimal firing rate for the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         25 . The control system of  claim 24  wherein the variable firing rate of the burner assembly is substantially equal to the optimal firing rate. 
     
     
         26 . The control system of  claim 22  wherein the controller also controls the variable firing rate of the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         27 . The control system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (h) a means for determining a baghouse humidity; 
 wherein the controller is also adapted to communicate with the means for determining a baghouse humidity. 
 
     
     
         28 . The control system of  claim 27  wherein the controller also collects data from the means for determining a baghouse humidity substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         29 . The control system of  claim 27  wherein the controller also calculates an optimal firing rate for the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         30 . The control system of  claim 29  wherein the variable firing rate of the burner assembly is substantially equal to the optimal firing rate. 
     
     
         31 . The control system of  claim 27  wherein the controller also controls the variable firing rate of the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         32 . The control system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (h) a means for determining a final asphalt mix temperature; 
 wherein the controller is also adapted to communicate with the means for determining a final asphalt mix temperature. 
 
     
     
         33 . The control system of  claim 32  wherein the controller also collects data from the means for determining a final asphalt mix temperature substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         34 . The control system of  claim 32  wherein the controller also calculates an optimal firing rate for the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         35 . The control system of  claim 34  wherein the variable firing rate of the burner assembly is substantially equal to the optimal firing rate. 
     
     
         36 . The control system of  claim 32  wherein the controller also controls the variable firing rate of the burner assembly substantially continuously and substantially in real time. 
     
     
         37 . A method for controlling the temperature of an asphalt mix, said method comprising:
 (a) providing a control system for controlling the temperature of the asphalt mix, said control system comprising:
 (i) a recycled asphalt pavement source, said recycled asphalt pavement source being adapted to provide an amount of recycled asphalt pavement to the asphalt mix; 
 (ii) a recycled asphalt pavement sensor, said recycled asphalt pavement sensor being adapted to determine an amount of RAP moisture contained in the amount of recycled asphalt pavement; 
 (iii) a liquid asphalt cement source, said liquid asphalt cement source being adapted to provide an amount of liquid asphalt cement to the asphalt mix; 
 (iv) a liquid asphalt cement meter, said liquid asphalt cement meter being adapted to determine the amount of liquid asphalt cement provided by the liquid asphalt cement source to the asphalt mix; 
 (v) a burner assembly, said burner assembly having a variable firing rate; 
 (vi) a dryer, said dryer being disposed adjacent the burner assembly; 
 (vii) a controller, said controller being adapted to communicate with the recycled asphalt pavement source, the recycled asphalt pavement sensor, the liquid asphalt cement source, the liquid asphalt cement meter, and the burner assembly; 
 wherein the controller automatically controls the variable firing rate of the burner assembly; and 
   (b) automatically controlling the variable firing rate of the burner assembly.