Flow rate adjustment device

Abstract

This flow rate adjustment device 100 comprises: an accommodation tank 110 that accommodates solid particles; a sending pipe 210 that passes through the bottom surface 112 of the accommodation tank 110, the upper end of the sending pipe 210 being positioned within the accommodation tank 110; a through-hole 214 that passes through the side surface of the sending pipe 210, the through-hole 214 guiding the solid particles accommodated in the accommodation tank 110 into the sending pipe 210; an inclined part 250 that is provided to the upper end of the sending pipe 210, the inclined part 250 being inclined downward toward the inner wall of the accommodation tank 110; and a foreign matter retention part 120 that is provided to a region on the bottom surface 112 of the accommodation tank 110 that faces the lower-end edge 256 of the inclined part 250, the foreign matter retention part 120 being recessed downward.

Description

flow rate adjustment device

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-2554, filed on January 11, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] As an apparatus for adjusting the flow rate of solid particles, a flow rate adjusting device has been disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1), which includes a storage tank, a pressurized gas line, a fluidizing gas line, and a delivery pipe. The storage tank stores solid particles. The pressurized gas line supplies pressurized gas to an upper part of the storage tank. The fluidizing gas line supplies fluidizing gas to a lower part of the storage tank. The delivery pipe is connected to the lower part of the storage tank. A mixture of fluidized powder and gas passes through the delivery pipe.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-216402

[0004] In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, in which solid particles are discharged from a storage tank to the outside through a delivery pipe, if foreign matter larger than the solid particles is mixed in with the solid particles stored in the storage tank, the delivery pipe may be clogged with the foreign matter. Therefore, there is a need to develop a technology to prevent the delivery pipe from being clogged with the foreign matter.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a flow rate control device that can prevent clogging of a delivery tube by foreign matter.

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a flow control device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a storage tank for storing solid particles, a delivery pipe that penetrates the bottom surface of the storage tank and has an upper end disposed within the storage tank, a through-hole that penetrates the side surface of the delivery pipe and guides the solid particles stored in the storage tank into the delivery pipe, an inclined portion provided at the upper end of the delivery pipe and inclined downward toward the inner wall of the storage tank, and a foreign matter storage portion that is recessed downward and provided in an area on the bottom surface of the storage tank facing the edge of the lower end of the inclined portion.

[0007] The through-hole may also be inclined upward from the inside to the outside of the delivery tube.

[0008] The inclined portion and the through hole may be in a relationship such that an imaginary line extending upward from the central axis of the through hole passes through the inclined portion.

[0009] The inclined portion may have an apex provided on the central axis of the delivery tube and an inclined surface that slopes downward from the apex toward the lower end.

[0010] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent clogging of the delivery tube due to foreign matter.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a flow control device according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a first diagram illustrating the state of solid particles in a sealing position. Fig. 3 is a second diagram illustrating the state of solid particles in a sealing position. Fig. 4 is a third diagram illustrating the state of solid particles in a sealing position. Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the state of solid particles in a retracted position. Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an inclined portion according to this embodiment. Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the inclined portion and the through-hole.

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dimensions, materials, specific numerical values, etc. shown in the embodiments are merely examples for ease of understanding and do not limit the present disclosure unless otherwise specified. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant explanation, and elements not directly related to the present disclosure are not shown.

[0013] [Flow Control Device 100] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a flow control device 100 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the flow control device 100 includes a storage tank 110, a foreign matter storage section 120, a collection tank 130, a plurality of adjustment sections 140A and 140B, a moving section 150, and an inclined section 250. In Fig. 1, solid particles and foreign matter are omitted from the illustration to facilitate understanding.

[0014] The flow control device 100 adjusts the flow rate of solid particles flowing from above to below. In this embodiment, the flow control device 100 adjusts the flow rate of solid particles flowing from the storage tank 110 to the collection tank 130. The solid particles (powder) are, for example, minerals such as silica, alumina, barite sand (barite, barium sulfate), and olivine, partially calcined clay, glass spheres, recovered petroleum catalyst, etc. The particle size of the solid particles is, for example, 0.01 mm or more and 10 mm or less. There are no limitations on the shape of the solid particles, and they may or may not be spherical.

[0015] The storage tank 110 stores solid particles. A portion of a delivery pipe 210 (described later) and an inclined portion 250 are disposed within the storage tank 110. Within the storage tank 110, the portion of the delivery pipe 210 and the inclined portion 250 are buried in the solid particles.

[0016] The foreign matter storage section 120 is a portion recessed downward from the bottom surface 112 of the storage tank 110. The foreign matter storage section 120 will be described in detail later.

[0017] The collection tank 130 is a cylindrical member extending vertically. Arranged within the collection tank 130 are the bottom surface 112 of the storage tank 110, the foreign matter storage section 120, a part of the delivery pipe 210 (described later), the sealing plate 230 (described later), and the moving section 150 (described later).

[0018] The adjusting sections 140A and 140B each include a delivery tube 210 and a sealing plate 230 .

[0019] The delivery pipe 210 is a pipe that extends vertically and penetrates the bottom surface 112 of the storage tank 110. The inner diameter of the delivery pipe 210 is approximately constant. In this embodiment, the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the delivery pipe 210 of the adjustment unit 140A and the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the delivery pipe 210 of the adjustment unit 140B are substantially equal.

[0020] The upper end of the delivery pipe 210 is disposed in the storage tank 110. The upper end (upper opening) of the delivery pipe 210 is sealed. The lower end of the delivery pipe 210 is disposed in the collection tank 130. The lower end of the delivery pipe 210 is open. In other words, a lower opening 212 is formed at the lower end of the delivery pipe 210.

[0021] Furthermore, an orifice plate 220 is provided in the delivery pipe 210 that constitutes the adjustment unit 140B. An opening 222 is formed in the orifice plate 220. The area of ​​the opening 222 is smaller than the area of ​​the lower opening 212 (the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the delivery pipe 210). For example, the area of ​​the opening 222 is half the area of ​​the lower opening 212 of the delivery pipe 210.

[0022] One or more through holes 214 are formed in the side surface of the delivery pipe 210 that is disposed inside the storage tank 110. The through holes 214 penetrate the side surface of the delivery pipe 210. The through holes 214 guide the solid particles contained in the storage tank 110 into the delivery pipe 210.

[0023] The diameter of the opening of the through-hole 214 is, for example, at least seven times the particle size of the solid particles and is less than the diameter of the opening 222 of the orifice plate 220. In addition, it is preferable that the total area of ​​the openings of the through-holes 214 is greater than the area of ​​the lower opening 212.

[0024] The through-hole 214 is inclined upward from the inside to the outside of the delivery pipe 210. The angle of inclination of the through-hole 214 with respect to the central axis of the delivery pipe 210 is preferably larger than the angle of repose.

[0025] The solid particles contained in the storage tank 110 are guided into the delivery pipe 210 through the through hole 214 of the delivery pipe 210, fall through the delivery pipe 210, pass through the lower opening 212 of the delivery pipe 210, and fall into the collection tank 130.

[0026] As described above, the orifice plate 220 is not provided in the delivery pipe 210 of the adjustment unit 140A, but the orifice plate 220 is provided in the delivery pipe 210 of the adjustment unit 140B. Furthermore, the area of ​​the opening 222 of the orifice plate 220 is smaller than the area of ​​the lower opening 212 of the delivery pipe 210. Therefore, the flow rate of solid particles delivered from the delivery pipe 210 of the adjustment unit 140A to the collecting tank 130 is different from the flow rate of solid particles delivered from the delivery pipe 210 of the adjustment unit 140B to the collecting tank 130. For example, if the area of ​​the opening 222 is half the area of ​​the lower opening 212, and the flow rate of solid particles through the delivery pipe 210 of the adjustment unit 140A is 1, the flow rate of solid particles through the delivery pipe 210 of the adjustment unit 140B will be 1 / 2.

[0027] The sealing plate 230 is provided below the lower opening 212 of the delivery tube 210. The sealing plate 230 has a sealing surface 232 that extends in a substantially horizontal direction when in a sealing position, which will be described later.

[0028] The moving unit 150 moves the sealing plate 230 between the sealing position and the retracted position. The sealing position is a position where the sealing surface 232 of the sealing plate 230 is located vertically below the lower opening 212 of the delivery tube 210. In the example shown in Fig. 1 , the sealing plates 230 of the adjustment units 140A and 140B are disposed in the sealing position.

[0029] The moving unit 150 moves the sealing plate 230 of the adjusting unit 140A and the sealing plate 230 of the adjusting unit 140B independently of each other.

[0030] In this embodiment, the moving unit 150 moves the sealing plate 230 between the sealing position and the retracted position by rotating the sealing plate 230 in the vertical direction. The moving unit 150 includes, for example, a rotation shaft 152 and an actuator (not shown). The rotation shaft 152 is provided at one end of the sealing plate 230. The rotation shaft 152 extends horizontally or approximately horizontally.

[0031] The actuator rotates the rotary shaft 152. The actuator includes, for example, a motor. The actuator may be provided in the collection tank 130 or outside the collection tank 130. If the solid particles are at a high temperature (for example, 500° C. or higher), the actuator may be cooled (for example, water-cooled).

[0032] Fig. 2 is a first diagram illustrating the behavior of solid particles in the sealing position, Fig. 3 is a second diagram illustrating the behavior of solid particles in the sealing position, and Fig. 4 is a third diagram illustrating the behavior of solid particles in the sealing position.

[0033] As shown in Figure 2, when the sealing plate 230 is moved from the retracted position to the sealing position (indicated by the arrow in Figure 2), the solid particles that have flowed down from the lower opening 212 of the delivery pipe 210 are deposited on the sealing plate 230. The deposited solid particles maintain a repose angle θ and assume a conical shape. The repose angle θ is the angle between the inclined surface of the cone and the sealing surface 232.

[0034] Because the solid particles continue to flow from the lower opening 212, as shown in Fig. 3, the solid particles accumulate (pile up) on the sealing plate 230 while maintaining the angle of repose θ. Note that the size of the conical deposit T formed by the solid particles increases as the time elapses since switching from the retracted position to the sealing position. In other words, the contact area between the deposit T and the sealing surface 232 (the size of the bottom surface of the deposit T) increases as the elapsed time increases.

[0035] 4, when the top of the deposit T reaches the lower opening 212 and fills the lower opening 212 with the deposit T, the lower opening 212 is sealed by the deposit T. This stops the solid particles from falling downward from the lower opening 212.

[0036] That is, by disposing the sealing plate 230 in the sealing position, the flow of solid particles from the delivery pipe 210 can be stopped.

[0037] The distance L (shortest distance) between the lower opening 212 and the sealing surface 232 in the sealing position is equal to or greater than the maximum particle size of the solid particles. The distance L is, for example, equal to or greater than about 10 times the particle size (e.g., the maximum particle size) of the solid particles. If the distance L is too small, the lower opening 212 and the sealing surface 232 will slide against each other, causing wear. Therefore, by setting the distance L to be equal to or greater than the maximum particle size of the solid particles, wear of the lower opening 212 and the sealing surface 232 can be prevented.

[0038] Furthermore, the maximum value of the distance L is determined based on the size of the sealing surface 232. Specifically, the distance L is a value at which the area of ​​the bottom surface of the deposit T is less than the area of ​​the sealing surface 232 when the lower opening 212 is filled with the deposit T.

[0039] 5 is a diagram illustrating the state of the solid particles in the retracted position. As shown in FIG. 5, when the sealing plate 230 is moved from the sealing position to the retracted position (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5), the deposit T formed on the sealing surface 232 of the sealing plate 230 falls into the collecting tank 130, and the seal on the lower opening 212 by the deposit T is released. Thus, the fall of the solid particles through the delivery pipe 210 (lower opening 212) is resumed.

[0040] In this way, the moving unit 150 can adjust the flow rate of solid particles supplied from the storage tank 110 to the collecting tank 130 simply by moving one or both of the sealing plates 230 of the adjusting unit 140A and the adjusting unit 140B, which have different sized solid particle outlets (lower opening 212, opening 222), from the sealing position to the retracted position. Furthermore, the moving unit 150 can stop the supply of solid particles from the storage tank 110 to the collecting tank 130 by positioning all of the sealing plates 230 of the adjusting unit 140A and the adjusting unit 140B in the sealing position. Furthermore, the flow control device 100 can adjust the flow rate of high-temperature solid particles of 500°C or higher simply by moving the sealing plates 230 to the sealing position or the retracted position.

[0041] Incidentally, if foreign matter larger than the solid particles is mixed in with the solid particles contained in the storage tank 110, the foreign matter may clog the through hole 214, the lower opening 212, and the opening 222. To address this, the flow control device 100 according to this embodiment includes an inclined portion 250.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the inclined portion 250 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 6, white circles represent solid particles. In FIG. 6, cross-hatched circles represent foreign matter. In FIG. 6, solid arrows represent the flow of solid particles pushed out of the foreign matter storage portion 120. In FIG. 6, dashed arrows represent the flow of foreign matter guided from the inclined surface 254 to the foreign matter storage portion 120.

[0043] As shown in Figure 6, the inclined portion 250 is provided at the upper end of the delivery tube 210. In this embodiment, the inclined portion 250 has a conical shape. That is, the inclined portion 250 has an apex 252 and an inclined surface 254. The apex 252 of the inclined portion 250 is disposed on the central axis of the delivery tube 210. The inclined surface 254 is a surface that slopes downward from the apex 252 toward the lower end.

[0044] The foreign matter storage section 120 is provided in an area of ​​the bottom surface 112 of the storage tank 110 facing the edge 256 of the lower end of the inclined portion 250 (the lower end of the inclined surface 254). In other words, the foreign matter storage section 120 is provided in an area of ​​the bottom surface 112 of the storage tank 110 that includes a position facing the edge 256 of the lower end of the inclined portion 250. The foreign matter storage section 120 is provided at least in a position facing the edge 256 of the lower end of the inclined portion 250 on the bottom surface 112 of the storage tank 110 and further outward from the inclined portion 250 (outward from the delivery pipe 210) than that position. The foreign matter storage section 120 is provided below the through-hole 214 of the delivery pipe 210.

[0045] As described above, a portion of the delivery pipe 210 and the inclined portion 250 are buried in solid particles in the storage tank 110. The foreign matter storage portion 120 is also filled with solid particles.

[0046] When the sealing plate 230 is in the retracted position, the solid particles in the storage tank 110 pass through the delivery pipe 210 (through-hole 214, lower opening 212) and move to the collection tank 130. Therefore, the solid particles in the storage tank 110 move from top to bottom. Furthermore, foreign matter mixed in with the solid particles also moves from top to bottom along with the movement of the solid particles. At this time, the solid particles and foreign matter that collide with the inclined surface 254 of the inclined portion 250 move downward along the inclined surface 254.

[0047] As described above, the foreign matter storage section 120 is provided in the region facing the edge 256 at the lower end of the inclined surface 254. Therefore, the solid particles and foreign matter that have moved to the lower end of the inclined surface 254 move downward and are guided to the foreign matter storage section 120. As a result, the solid particles and foreign matter are stored in the foreign matter storage section 120.

[0048] The foreign matter has a particle size larger than that of solid particles. Therefore, when the foreign matter is guided into the foreign matter storage section 120 by the inclined section 250 as shown by the dashed arrow in Fig. 6, the guided foreign matter pushes the solid particles in the foreign matter storage section 120 into the holding tank 110 as shown by the solid arrow in Fig. 6. Therefore, the foreign matter is preferentially stored in the foreign matter storage section 120 over the solid particles. The foreign matter stored in the foreign matter storage section 120 is discharged to the outside by a screw feeder or the like (not shown).

[0049] As described above, the flow control device 100 according to this embodiment has the inclined portion 250 and the foreign matter storage portion 120. Therefore, the flow control device 100 can guide foreign matter mixed in with the solid particles to the foreign matter storage portion 120. Therefore, the flow control device 100 can suppress the movement of foreign matter into the through hole 214, and can suppress clogging of the through hole 214 by foreign matter.

[0050] On the other hand, as shown by the solid arrow in FIG. 6, solid particles pushed out from the foreign matter storage section 120 into the storage tank 110 by the foreign matter pass through the through-hole 214 and are guided into the delivery pipe 210 .

[0051] 7 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the inclined portion 250 and the through hole 214. As shown in FIG. 7 , in this embodiment, the inclined portion 250 and the through hole 214 have a relationship in which a virtual line VL extending upward from the central axis of the through hole 214 passes through the inclined portion 250.

[0052] This makes it possible to prevent foreign matter that has moved to the lower end of the inclined surface 254 from moving directly into the through-hole 214. Therefore, the flow control device 100 can further prevent foreign matter from moving into the through-hole 214.

[0053] As described above, the flow control device 100 according to this embodiment includes the inclined portion 250 and the foreign matter storage portion 120. This allows the flow control device 100 to suppress clogging of the delivery tube 210 (through hole 214) by foreign matter.

[0054] Furthermore, as described above, the through holes 214 are inclined upward from the inside to the outside of the delivery pipe 210. This allows the through holes 214 to smoothly guide the solid particles into the delivery pipe 210. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the through holes 214 from being blocked by the solid particles.

[0055] As described above, the inclined portion 250 has the top 252 provided on the central axis of the delivery pipe 210 and the inclined surface 254 that slopes downward from the top 252 toward the lower end. This makes it possible to prevent the through holes 214 from being blocked by solid particles even when a plurality of through holes 214 face each other in the delivery pipe 210.

[0056] Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0057] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the flow control device 100 includes a plurality of adjustment units 140A and 140B. However, the flow control device 100 may include only one adjustment unit. In this case, the flow control device 100 functions as an on / off valve that turns the flow of solid particles on and off.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the case has been described where the inner diameter of the delivery pipe 210 of the adjustment unit 140A and the inner diameter of the delivery pipe 210 of the adjustment unit 140B are substantially equal, and the orifice plate 220 is provided only in the delivery pipe 210 of the adjustment unit 140B. However, the inner diameter of the delivery pipe 210 of the adjustment unit 140A may be different from the inner diameter of the delivery pipe 210 of the adjustment unit 140B. Furthermore, the delivery pipes 210 of the adjustment units 140A and 140B may have at least a portion of a different flow path cross-sectional area. The delivery pipes 210 of the adjustment units 140A and 140B may have different inner diameters at their narrowest points.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the delivery pipe 210 is a pipe extending in the vertical direction, but the delivery pipe 210 may be inclined.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the moving unit 150 rotates the sealing plate 230. However, the moving unit 150 is not limited to a specific direction as long as it can move the sealing plate 230 between the sealing position and the retracted position. For example, the moving unit 150 may move the sealing plate 230 linearly in the horizontal direction.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the moving unit 150 rotates the sealing plate 230 in the vertical direction. However, the moving unit 150 may rotate the sealing plate 230 in a substantially horizontal direction. In this case, the rotation axis extends in a substantially vertical direction. In either case, it is sufficient for the moving unit 150 to be able to move the sealing plate 230 between the sealing position and the retracted position.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the through-hole 214 is inclined upward from the inside to the outside of the delivery tube 210. However, the through-hole 214 may extend horizontally.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the inclined portion 250 and the through hole 214 have a relationship in which the imaginary line VL extending upward from the central axis of the through hole 214 passes through the inclined portion 250. However, the inclined portion 250 and the through hole 214 may have a relationship in which the imaginary line VL extending upward from the central axis of the through hole 214 does not pass through the inclined portion 250.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the inclined portion 250 has a conical shape. However, the shape of the inclined portion 250 is not limited as long as it slopes downward toward the inner wall of the storage tank 110. For example, the inclined portion 250 may have a shape having an apex and an inclined surface that slopes downward from the apex to the bottom, such as a hemispherical or polygonal pyramid shape. Alternatively, the inclined portion 250 may be a flat plate having an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the inner wall of the storage tank 110. Alternatively, the inclined portion 250 may be spherical.

[0065] VL: Virtual line 100: Flow rate regulator 110: Storage tank 112: Bottom surface 120: Foreign matter storage section 210: Delivery pipe 214: Through hole 250: Inclined section 252: Top 254: Inclined surface 256: Edge

Claims

1. A flow control device comprising: a storage tank for storing solid particles; a delivery pipe that penetrates the bottom surface of the storage tank and has an upper end disposed within the storage tank; a through-hole that penetrates the side surface of the delivery pipe and guides the solid particles stored in the storage tank into the delivery pipe; a sloped section that is provided at the upper end of the delivery pipe and slopes downward toward the inner wall of the storage tank; and a foreign matter storage section that is provided in an area on the bottom surface of the storage tank facing the edge of the lower end of the sloped section and is recessed downward.

2. The flow control device according to claim 1, wherein the through hole is inclined upward from the inside to the outside of the delivery pipe.

3. A flow control device according to claim 2, wherein the inclined portion and the through hole have a relationship such that an imaginary line extending upward from the central axis of the through hole passes through the inclined portion.

4. A flow control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inclined portion has an apex provided on the central axis of the delivery pipe, and an inclined surface that slopes downward from the apex toward the lower end.

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