Batch asphalt mix plant

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a plant for manufacturing heated asphalt mix. In particular, the disclosure relates to a batch asphalt mix plant for using a microwave heating vessel located in close proximity to a storage silo to heat asphalt mix at the point of storage using a batch production method.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A modular batch asphalt mix plant, comprising:
 two T shaped wings, wherein
 a first wing houses facility components comprising a microwave energy system and a microwave heating vessel configured to be heated by energy received from the microwave energy system, and 
 a second wing comprises a plurality of modular silos for storage of a heated finished asphalt mix. 
   
     
     
         19 . The modular asphalt mix plant of  claim 18 , wherein the asphalt mix comprises aggregate, treated aggregate, RAP, RAS, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The modular asphalt mix plant of  claim 19 , wherein the asphalt mix comprises 100% RAP. 
     
     
         21 . The modular asphalt mix plant of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of modular silos comprises three modular silos elevated to allow for dispensing the heated finished asphalt mix into one or more trucks positioned under the silos. 
     
     
         22 . The modular asphalt mix plant of  claim 18 , further comprising a combiner. 
     
     
         23 . The modular asphalt mix plant of  claim 22 , wherein the combiner comprises a series of paddles configured to move and mix the heated finished asphalt mix from the microwave heating vessel to the plurality of modular silos. 
     
     
         24 . The modular asphalt mix plant of  claim 18 , wherein the first wing comprises four levels, wherein the bottom level comprises a chiller unit that provides cooling for the microwave energy system and an electric generator to provide primary or back up electricity to the modular asphalt mix plant, and wherein the second level comprises space for offices and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit for heating and cooling areas of the plant including the microwave heating vessel and office spaces. 
     
     
         25 . The modular asphalt mix plant of  claim 24 , wherein the third level comprises the microwave energy system configured to generate microwave energy waves that are channeled to the microwave heating vessel by one or more wave guides. 
     
     
         26 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The modular asphalt mix plant of  claim 18 , further comprising a pug mill configured to mix the heated finished asphalt mix before being moved the plurality of modular silos for storage. 
     
     
         31 . The modular asphalt mix plant of  claim 18 , wherein the microwave heating vessel contains an agitation mechanism configured to mix the asphalt mix and optional asphalt binder or asphalt emulsion during heating. 
     
     
         32 . The modular asphalt mix plant of  claim 31 , wherein the agitation mechanism comprises a plurality of paddles that are configured to move the asphalt mix and optional asphalt binder or asphalt emulsion from one side of the microwave heating vessel to another side of the microwave heating vessel during heating. 
     
     
         33 . The modular asphalt mix plant of  claim 18 , wherein the microwave energy system is a Low Energy Heating System. 
     
     
         34 . The modular asphalt mix plant of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first wing and the second wing are T-shaped.