Device and method for processing bulk material

1 . A processing system for bulk material comprising:

a. processing device for the bulk material, wherein the processing device is an extruder and the bulk material comprises plastics;

b. at least one bulk material storage container for storing the bulk material,

c. a bulk material dosing device connected to the at least one bulk material storage container for dosed discharge of the bulk material from the bulk material storage container, wherein the bulk material dosing device is at least one of a rotary valve, a screw conveyor, a vibratory conveyor and a belt conveyor,

d. a bulk material downcomer connected to the bulk material dosing device for gravimetrically conveying the bulk material into the processing device,

e. at least one additive feed for feeding an additive,

f. an additive dosing device connected to the at least one additive feed for dosed discharge of the additive from the additive feed,

g. an additive downcomer connected to the additive dosing device for gravimetrically conveying the additive into the processing device,

wherein the bulk material downcomer directly connects the bulk material dosing device to the processing device,

wherein the additive downcomer opens and extends a penetration depth into the bulk material downcomer.

2 . The processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the bulk material downcomer is oriented at least in sections with respect to the vertical at an angle of inclination (α).

3 . The processing system according to claim 2 , wherein the bulk material downcomer is oriented completely with respect to the vertical at an angle of inclination (α).

4 . The processing system according to claim 2 , wherein the angle of inclination (α) is between 10° and 75°.

5 . The processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the bulk material downcomer opens directly into the extruder.

6 . The processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the bulk material downcomer opens into an extruder preliminary container of the extruder.

7 . The processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the downcomer opens into a junction nozzle of the bulk material downcomer.

8 . The processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the additive downcomer and the bulk material downcomer are arranged at an acute angle to one another.

9 . A processing system for bulk material comprising:

a. a processing device for the bulk material,

b. at least one bulk material storage container for storing the bulk material,

c. a bulk material dosing device connected to the at least one bulk material storage container for dosed discharge of the bulk material from the bulk material storage container,

d. a bulk material downcomer connected to the bulk material dosing device for conveying the bulk material into the processing device,

e. at least one additive feed for feeding an additive,

f. an additive dosing device connected to the at least one additive feed for dosed discharge of the additive from the additive feed,

g. an additive downcomer connected to the additive dosing device for conveying the additive into the processing device,

wherein the additive downcomer opens into the bulk material downcomer,

wherein the additive downcomer is arranged in the bulk material downcomer at a penetration depth (T), wherein the penetration depth (T) is at least 60% of an inner diameter (DN 1 ) of the bulk material downcomer.

10 . The processing system according to claim 9 , wherein the additive downcomer is arranged in the junction nozzle.

11 . The processing system according to claim 9 , wherein the penetration depth (T) is at least 80% of the inner diameter (DN 1 ) of the bulk material downcomer.

12 . The processing system according to claim 1 , wherein a flow guiding member is arranged in the bulk material downcomer upstream of the junction of the additive downcomer with the bulk material downcomer.

13 . The processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the additive downcomer is oriented at least in sections with respect to the vertical at an angle of inclination (B).

14 . The processing system according to claim 13 , wherein the additive downcomer is oriented completely with respect to the vertical at an angle of inclination (B).

15 . The processing system according to claim 13 , wherein the angle of inclination (B) is one of less than and equal to 40°.

16 . The processing system according to claim 1 , comprising a cooling unit for cooling at least one of the bulk material downcomer and the additive downcomer.

17 . The processing system according to claim 16 , wherein the cooling unit is attached directly to at least one of the bulk material downcomer and to the additive downcomer.

18 . The processing system according to claim 1 , comprising a flow support unit for supporting the flow at least one of in the bulk material downcomer and in the additive downcomer.

19 . The processing system according to claim 18 , wherein the flow support unit comprises a gas supply connected to at least one of the bulk material downcomer and to the additive downcomer and a mechanical member.

20 . The processing system according to claim 19 , wherein the mechanical member is at least one of a vibrator and a shaker.

21 . The processing system according to claim 1 , comprising a mixing/transport device, wherein the mixing/transport device is connected to the downstream processing device.

22 . The processing system according to claim 21 , wherein the mixing/transport device is a mixing/transport screw.

23 . The processing system according to claim 21 , wherein the mixing/transport device is connected to the downstream processing device via a connecting downcomer.

24 . The processing system according to claim 21 , comprising a second bulk material downcomer which connects the bulk material dosing device to the mixing/transport device.

25 . The processing system according to claim 21 , wherein the additive downcomer opens into the mixing/transport device.

26 . The processing system according to claim 21 , wherein the mixing/transport device has a mixing/transport rate which is at most 30% of a production rate of the processing device.

27 . A method for processing bulk material, comprising the following steps

dosed discharge of the bulk material from at least one bulk material storage container by means of a bulk material dosing device connected thereto, wherein the bulk material dosing device is at least one of a rotary valve, a screw conveyor, a vibratory conveyor and a belt conveyor, and wherein the bulk material comprises plastics,

direct and gravimetric conveying of the bulk material from the bulk material dosing device through a bulk material downcomer into a processing device, wherein the processing device is an extruder,

dosed discharge of an additive from at least one additive feed by means of an additive dosing device connected thereto, wherein the additive downcomer opens and extends a penetration depth into the bulk material downcomer,

gravimetrically conveying the additive from the additive dosing device through an additive downcomer into the processing device.

28 . The method according to claim 27 , comprising cooling at least one of the bulk material downcomer and the additive downcomer by means of a cooling unit.

29 . The method according to claim 28 , wherein the cooling unit is attached directly to at least one of the bulk material downcomer and to the additive downcomer.