Powder cleaning device for adsorption columns and control method

Abstract

The present application relates to a powder cleaning device for an adsorption tower, the adsorption tower comprising a tank body, an upper flower plate, a coil pipe, an air inlet pipeline, a control system, the upper flower plate being provided with a water cap for filtering water, liquid material being fed from the bottom of the tank body, filled with an adsorbent filling area, and then passing through the water cap of the upper flower plate and being discharged from the top of the tank body; the coil pipe is arranged along the inner side wall of the tank body and the upper side surface of the upper flower plate, close to the area where the adsorbent powder accumulates, the air inlet pipeline is connected with an air compressor outside the tank body to introduce high-pressure air into the coil pipe; the coil pipe is provided with flushing nozzles and stirring nozzles, high-pressure air is sprayed from the flushing nozzles and the stirring nozzles on the coil pipe to flush the adsorbent powder and push the liquid material to rotate, and the adsorbent powder flows out of the tank body along with the liquid material through the drainage pipeline on the upper side of the tank body. The powder cleaning device for the adsorption tower can save the labor for cleaning the adsorbent powder, the cleaning process does not need to stop production and empty the tank body, and is safe and efficient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to adsorption towers used in chemical production, and more specifically to a powder cleaning device and control method for adsorption towers. Background Technology

[0002] An adsorption tower is a device that uses adsorbents packed inside to adsorb components in a liquid and separate the components from the liquid. It is widely used in wastewater treatment, chemical production and other fields, and is a key piece of equipment in the adsorption method for lithium extraction.

[0003] An adsorption tower is a bottom-in, top-out tank. Its interior is enclosed by a perforated plate and the inner wall of the tank, forming a filling area for the adsorbent. The adsorbent is confined within this area by the perforated plate. Liquid material is fed from the bottom of the adsorption tower, passes through the filling area, then through a water cap on the perforated plate, and exits from the top of the adsorption tower.

[0004] However, because the adsorbent is suspended in the brine and in a state of random motion, it frequently collides and rubs, thus generating adsorbent powder. This adsorbent powder disperses in the brine, passes through the water caps of the perforated plate, and loses kinetic energy upon contact with the inner wall of the tank, settling on the upper edge of the perforated plate (at the tower wall). Over time, the adsorbent powder accumulates, burying the water caps and reducing their permeability, thereby increasing the pressure difference between the upper and lower parts of the perforated plate. In this situation, the control system will frequently alarm, or even shut down the equipment. Technicians cannot quickly handle the situation, thus forcing a production halt and severely reducing production efficiency.

[0005] Cleaning adsorbent powder is difficult. It requires draining the liquid from the adsorption tower and then having technicians enter the tank to clean it manually. This is not only inconvenient but also prone to safety accidents. Furthermore, the adsorbent powder is difficult to recover. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an adsorption tower that can clean the adsorbent powder on the tube sheet without draining the liquid inside the adsorption tower, thereby saving manpower for cleaning the adsorbent powder, avoiding frequent alarms or even shutdowns of the equipment by the PLC system, and improving production efficiency.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a powder cleaning device for an adsorption tower. The adsorption tower includes a tank body 1 and an upper perforated plate 2 disposed inside the tank body 1. The interior of the tank body 1 is divided into two spaces by the upper perforated plate 2. The space below the upper perforated plate 2 serves as a filling area 10, which is filled with adsorbent. The space above the upper perforated plate 2 is connected to an outlet pipe 12. An inlet pipe 11 is provided at the bottom of the tank body 1, which is connected to the filling area 10. The raw material liquid enters the filling area 10 through the inlet pipe 11, comes into contact with the adsorbent, and then enters the space above the upper perforated plate 2 through a water cap in the upper perforated plate 2, and exits through the outlet pipe 12.

[0008] The powder cleaning device for the adsorption tower includes a coil 3 and an air inlet pipe 4. The liquid inlet pipe 11 of the adsorption tower has a branch pipe as a water inlet pipe 110 connected to an industrial water tank. A water inlet valve 1101 is installed on the branch pipe 110.

[0009] The top view of coil 3 is annular, closed at both ends, close to the inner wall of tank 1 and the upper surface of upper perforated plate 2, wherein the axis L2 coincides with the central axis L1 of tank 1.

[0010] The intake pipe 4 connects the air compressor 40 and the coil 3, supplying high-pressure air into the coil 3. The high-pressure air is ejected from flushing nozzles 31a…n and multiple agitating nozzles 32a…n mounted on the coil 3. The flushing nozzles 31a…n are spaced apart and point towards the inner wall of the tank 1 and the central axis of the coil 3, perpendicular to the tangent at their connection point with the coil 3. The agitating nozzles 32a…n are located within the intervals of the flushing nozzles 31a…n, and their ejection direction forms an angle θ with the clockwise tangent at their connection point with the coil 3, where the angle θ < 90°.

[0011] The side wall of the tank body 1 is provided with a drain pipe 13 that communicates with the tank body 1. The drain port 130 at the connection between the drain pipe 13 and the tank body 1 is located on the upper side of the upper tube plate, and the lower end of the drain port 130 is flush with the coil 3.

[0012] The liquid inlet pipe 11 is equipped with a liquid inlet valve 111, the water inlet pipe 110 is equipped with a water inlet valve 1101, the liquid outlet pipe 12 is equipped with a liquid outlet valve 121, and the air inlet pipe 4 is equipped with an air inlet valve 41.

[0013] Therefore, when the adsorbent powder covers the edge of the upper perforated plate, causing an excessive pressure difference between the upper and lower parts of the plate, the operator closes the outlet pipe 12 and opens the drain pipe 13, allowing the liquid to continue pumping into the tank 1. The rotating liquid inside the tank 1 carries the adsorbent powder that has been flushed up and flows out through the drain pipe 13, eliminating the need for manual cleaning. This means that the equipment does not need to be shut down or the tank 1 emptied to clean the adsorbent powder. This device has a simple structure and can efficiently clean the adsorbent powder located at the edge of the upper perforated plate. High-pressure air provides power to the liquid material on the upper perforated plate, and the resulting negative pressure promotes the rotation and discharge of the liquid. The high-pressure air does not affect the ionic composition ratio in the brine and has minimal impact on product quality. The liquid material located on the upper perforated plate, having been adsorbed, is discharged from the drain port 130 above the tank 1, resulting in material waste.

[0014] Preferably, the drain pipe 13 is connected to the recovery tank 132 containing the filter screen 1321.

[0015] Filter 1321 is used to filter and collect adsorbent powder so that workers can recover the adsorbent powder.

[0016] Preferably, a water inlet flow meter 110F is installed on the branch pipe 110. The powder cleaning device for the adsorption tower also has a control system 5. When the control system 5 determines that the pressure value of the pressure transmitter 21 installed on the upper tube plate 2 is greater than the preset value, it closes the liquid inlet valve 111 and the liquid outlet valve 121, opens the water inlet valve 1101, pumps industrial water into the tank 1 through the branch pipe 110, and adjusts the flow rate of the industrial water according to the measurement value of the water inlet flow meter 110F.

[0017] Therefore, by pumping industrial water into tank 1 through inlet pipe 11, the liquid material inside tank 1 can be diluted. This reduces the amount of liquid material discharged from the drain port, thus reducing material waste.

[0018] Preferably, the air inlet pipe 4 passes through the wall of the liquid outlet pipe 12, extends along the inner wall of the liquid outlet pipe 12 into the tank body 1, is fixed to the upper inner wall of the tank body 1 by clamps, and then extends downward to the middle section of the coil 3. The liquid outlet pipe 12 is welded to the air inlet pipe 3 to form a seal for the liquid outlet pipe 12.

[0019] Therefore, the structure of tank 1 is simple, with only two openings at the upper and lower ends. By utilizing the pipeline design, a structure can be formed that connects the coil 3 inside tank 1 with the air compressor 40 outside tank 1, which saves on the manufacturing process and cost of the adsorption tower, and also facilitates the modification, installation and maintenance by the staff.

[0020] Preferably, it also includes a vertical baffle 6, which extends from the side wall of the tank 1 toward the central axis L1 of the tank 1, located on one side of the drain port 130, directly opposite the outlet of the nearest flushing nozzle.

[0021] Therefore, the baffle 6 can guide the rotating liquid on the upper side of the tube sheet into the drain pipe 13, which greatly shortens the time that the adsorbent powder moves with the rotating liquid in the tank 1, resulting in higher cleaning efficiency.

[0022] Preferably, the position of the agitating nozzles 32a…n is higher than that of the flushing nozzles 31a…n.

[0023] Therefore, the flushing nozzles 31a…n are closer to the upper surface of the upper perforated plate, resulting in a better flushing effect on the adsorbent powder. Furthermore, the turbulence formed by the high-pressure gas ejected from the flushing nozzles 31a…n has little impact on the rotating water flow generated by the air jet from the agitator nozzles above, making it easier for the rotating water flow to transport the adsorbent powder to the drain port 130.

[0024] Preferably, the baffle 6 is curved, bending towards the nearest flushing nozzle. A guide structure 61 is formed at the connection between the drain port 130, the upper perforated plate 2, and the baffle 6, to guide the liquid to the drain port 130 in conjunction with the baffle.

[0025] Therefore, the guide structure 61 and the curved baffle 6 form a smooth surface near the drain port 130. The two work together to guide the liquid to the drain port 130, avoiding the angle between the baffle 6, the upper plate, and the side wall of the tank 1 from hindering the adsorbent powder from being discharged with the liquid.

[0026] Preferably, the interface 401 connecting the intake pipe 4 and the coil is located in the middle of the coil 3.

[0027] Therefore, the jet flow rate and pressure of each flushing nozzle 31a...n and agitating nozzle 32a...n on the coil 3 are balanced, avoiding the situation where the local jet pressure is too low, resulting in poor cleaning effect.

[0028] Preferably, the control system 5 includes a differential pressure judgment module 510, a liquid discharge control module 520, a liquid inlet control module 530, a gas source control module 540, and a liquid discharge control module 550.

[0029] The differential pressure judgment module 510 judges at certain time intervals whether the pressure difference of the pressure value of the pressure transmitter 21 is greater than the preset value. If it is greater than the preset value, it sends control commands to the liquid outlet control module 520, the liquid inlet control module 30, the gas source control module 540, and the liquid discharge control module 550, and continues to judge at certain time intervals whether the pressure difference of the pressure value of the pressure transmitter 21 is greater than the preset value. If it is less than the preset value, it sends a recovery command to the liquid outlet control module 520, the liquid inlet control module 30, the gas source control module 540, and the liquid discharge control module 550.

[0030] The liquid discharge control module 520 controls the liquid discharge valve 121 to close according to the control command; and opens the liquid discharge valve 121 according to the recovery command.

[0031] The liquid inlet control module 530 closes the liquid inlet valve 111 and opens the water inlet valve 1101 according to the control command, and adjusts the industrial water flow rate according to the measurement value of the water inlet flow meter 110F; according to the recovery command, it closes the water inlet valve 1101 and opens the liquid inlet valve 111.

[0032] The air source control module 540 opens the intake valve 41 according to the control command and the measurement value of the intake pressure gauge 4PG set on the intake pipe 4; and closes the intake valve 41 according to the recovery command.

[0033] The drain control module 550 opens the drain valve 1311 according to the control command and closes the drain valve 1311 according to the recovery command.

[0034] Therefore, the control module 5 can obtain the accumulation of adsorbent powder on the tube sheet in real time, clean it in time, and resume production in time after cleaning, which further saves manpower and reduces material waste.

[0035] Based on the same inventive concept, the present invention provides a control method for an adsorption tower that cleans powder from a perforated plate. The adsorption tower using this method has the structure of the adsorption tower described above, and its control system 5 includes a differential pressure judgment module 510, a liquid discharge control module 520, a liquid inlet control module 530, a gas source control module 540, and a liquid discharge control module 550.

[0036] The method includes the following steps:

[0037] Differential pressure judgment step S100: Differential pressure judgment module 510 judges whether the difference between the pressure values ​​of pressure transmitter 21 and the preset value is greater than the preset value at a certain time interval. If the difference is greater than the preset value, control commands are sent to liquid outlet control module 520, liquid inlet control module 530, gas source control module 540, and liquid discharge control module 550.

[0038] Discharge control step S200: The discharge control module 520 closes the discharge valve 121 according to the control command.

[0039] Liquid inlet control step S300: According to the control command, the liquid inlet control module 530 first closes the liquid inlet valve 111, turns on the pump connected to the water inlet valve 1101 and the water inlet pipe 110, and then adjusts the flow rate of industrial water within the preset liquid inlet flow rate range according to the measurement value of the water inlet flow meter 110F.

[0040] Air source control step S400: The air source control module 540 opens the intake valve 41 according to the control command and controls the intake pressure within the preset intake pressure range according to the measurement value of the intake pressure gauge 4PG.

[0041] Drainage control step S500: Drainage control module 550 opens drainage valve 1311 according to control command.

[0042] Differential Pressure Reassessment Step S600: The differential pressure assessment module 510 continues to assess whether the pressure difference of the pressure transmitter 21 is greater than a preset value at certain time intervals. If it is less than the preset value, a restoration command is sent to the liquid control module 520, liquid inlet control module 530, gas source control module 540, and liquid outlet control module 550 to restore the adsorption tower to the state before receiving the control command. If the measured value is still greater than the preset value, the assessment continues and the number of times the value is determined to be greater than the preset value is counted. When the number of counts reaches a predetermined number, an alarm is issued.

[0043] Therefore, when the pressure difference between the upper and lower parts of the tube sheet is too large, the control system 5 will close the outlet pipe 12 and open the drain pipe 13, allowing the liquid to continue to be pumped into the tank 1. The rotating liquid inside the tank 1 will carry the adsorbent powder that has been flushed up and will flow out through the drain pipe 13. No manual cleaning is required, meaning that the equipment does not need to be shut down and the tank 1 emptied to clean the adsorbent powder. If the pressure difference between the upper and lower parts of the tube sheet remains too large after a period of time, other malfunctions may exist. In this case, an alarm needs to be issued to remind the staff to inspect and repair the adsorption tower. Attached Figure Description

[0044] Figure 1 This is a front view illustration of the exterior of the adsorption tower equipped with a powder cleaning device;

[0045] Figure 2 This is a top view illustration of the exterior of the adsorption tower equipped with a powder cleaning device;

[0046] Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 A diagram illustrating the internal structure of the adsorption tower after the tank was cut open by AA.

[0047] Figure 4 It is along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a cut-open BB adsorption tower;

[0048] Figure 5 This is a module diagram illustrating the control system;

[0049] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the working process of the powder cleaning device;

[0050] Figure 7 This is an explanatory diagram showing the coil viewed from a 45° angle above.

[0051] Figure 8 This is a top view illustration of the coil;

[0052] Figure 9 This is an explanatory diagram of the coil viewed from a horizontal direction;

[0053] Figure 10 yes Figure 8 Enlarged illustration of the middle coil section. Detailed Implementation

[0054] The preferred embodiment of the powder cleaning device and control method used in the adsorption lithium extraction process is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is a specification of the claims of the present invention.

[0055] Figure 1 This is a front view illustration of the exterior of the adsorption tower; Figure 2 This is a top view illustration of the exterior of the adsorption tower; Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 A diagram illustrating the internal structure of the adsorption tower after the tank was cut open by AA. Figure 4 It is along Figure 2 A diagram illustrating the cutting of a medium-sized BB adsorption tower.

[0056] The following combination Figures 1-4 The adsorption tower is described.

[0057] like Figure 1 As shown, from the outside, the adsorption tower has a tank 1, an air inlet pipe 3, and a control system 5, as follows: Figure 3 , 4 As shown, the adsorption tower has an upper perforated plate 2, a lower perforated plate 20, and a coil 4 inside.

[0058] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 3 As you can see, the interior of tank 1 is hollow, forming a space for containing salt lake brine with a high magnesium-to-lithium ratio (hereinafter referred to as brine).

[0059] like Figure 1 As shown, the bottom of the tank 1 is provided with an inlet pipe 11 that connects to the accommodating space. The inlet pipe 11 is connected to a brine pump 1110, which pumps brine into the tank. The inlet pipe 11 is equipped with an inlet valve 111 and an inlet flow meter 11F. The control system 5 can adjust the inlet valve 111 and the brine pump 1110 according to the measurement value of the inlet flow meter 11F to regulate the flow rate of the brine in the inlet pipe 11.

[0060] The liquid inlet pipe 11 has a branch pipe that serves as a water inlet pipe 110. The water inlet pipe 110 is connected to a water inlet pump 1100, which is used to pump in industrial water (desorption liquid) to rinse the adsorbent, separate lithium ions from the adsorbent, and obtain the product lithium chloride solution (for specific process flow, please refer to invention patent application CN112758961A).

[0061] The inlet pipe 110 is equipped with an inlet valve 1101 connected in parallel with the liquid inlet valve 111, and an inlet flow meter 110F is also provided. The control system 5 can adjust the inlet valve 1101 and the inlet pump 1100 according to the measurement value of the inlet flow meter 1110F to adjust the flow rate of industrial water in the inlet pipe 110. The specific control method is described in the "Explanation of Control System and Control Method" section below.

[0062] The top of the tank body 1 is provided with a liquid outlet pipe 12 that connects to the containing space for liquid outlet. The liquid outlet pipe 12 is provided with a liquid outlet valve 121 and a liquid outlet check valve 122.

[0063] The outlet pipe 12 has a branch pipe that serves as a lithium washing pipe 120 connected to the lithium washing liquid pump. A lithium washing liquid valve 1201 is correspondingly provided for pumping lithium washing liquid into the tank 1 to rinse the adsorbent and remove adsorbed magnesium ions. The lithium washing liquid pump and lithium washing liquid valve 1201 are normally closed and will not be described in detail here.

[0064] like Figure 3 As shown, the upper perforated plate 2 and the lower perforated plate 20 are horizontally arranged within the receiving space, dividing the receiving space into a filling area 10. The filling area 10 is located between the upper perforated plate 2 and the lower perforated plate 20 and is used to fill the adsorbent. Figure 4 As shown, the upper perforated plate 2 and the lower perforated plate 20 have holes, and water caps 22 that fit against the hole walls are installed on the holes. The water caps 22 have a filtering function, so brine can pass through the lower perforated plate 20 and the upper perforated plate 2, but the adsorbent cannot pass through. The perforated plate and water caps are common structures in industrial filtration equipment and will not be elaborated on here.

[0065] Figure 4 The demonstration showed the state of the granular adsorbent floating and moving randomly in the brine within the filling area 10 during production. Adsorbent powder generated by collisions and friction accumulated at the angle between the upper side of the upper perforated plate 2 and the inner wall of the tank body 1.

[0066] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, a pressure transmitter 21 is provided for the tube sheet, namely, an upper pressure transmitter 21a located on the upper side of the upper tube sheet 2 and a lower pressure transmitter 21b located on the lower side of the upper tube sheet 2, which are used to measure the pressure values ​​above and below the tube sheet, and the control system 5 calculates the difference in pressure values ​​of the pressure transmitter 21.

[0067] Combination Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 The coil 3 is located inside the tank 1. Viewed from above, it appears as a broken ring, resembling the letter "C," with both ends closed. Flushing nozzles 31a…n and agitating nozzles 32a…n are located on its inner and outer sides. For details of its structure, please refer to the description of the coil 3 below. The coil 3 is installed along the inner wall of the tank 1 and the upper surface of the upper perforated plate 2, with its middle section connected to the air intake pipe 4.

[0068] like Figure 1 As shown, the air intake pipe 4 connects the air compressor 40 located outside the tank 1 and the coil 3 located inside the tank 1, supplying high-pressure air into the coil 3. The high-pressure air is sprayed out by the flushing nozzles 31a...n and the agitating nozzles 32a...n on the coil 3, and the adsorbent powder deposited on the surface of the upper perforated plate 2 can be flushed out by the sprayed air.

[0069] An intake valve 41, an intake check valve 42, and an intake pressure gauge 4PG are installed on the intake pipe 4. The control system 5 can control the intake valve 41 and the air compressor 40 according to the measured value of the intake pressure gauge 4PG, so as to control the flow rate of gas in the intake pipe 4. The specific control method is described in the section on the control system and control method below.

[0070] like Figure 3 As shown, a drain pipe 13 is provided on the side wall of the tank body 1. The drain port 130 of the drain pipe 13 is located on the upper side of the upper perforated plate, and its lower end is directly opposite the "C"-shaped opening of the coil 3. A vertical baffle 6 is provided on one side of the drain port 130, extending from the side wall of the tank body 1 towards the central axis L1 of the tank body 1, and is used to guide the brine carrying the adsorbent powder into the drain pipe 13. The specific shape of the baffle 6 is described in the following section on the baffle 6.

[0071] like Figure 1 As shown, the drain pipe 13 is connected to the recovery tank 132 via a flange. A filter screen 1321 is installed in the recovery tank 132. The adsorbent powder flows into the recovery tank 132 along with the brine from the drain pipe 13 and is filtered and recovered by the filter screen 1321.

[0072] like Figure 1 As shown, a drain valve 1311 and a drain check valve 1312 are installed on the drain pipe 131. The control system 5 can control the drain valve 1311. The specific control method is explained in the section on the control system and control method below.

[0073] Figure 5 This is a module diagram illustrating the control system. Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the working process of the adsorption tower.

[0074] The following combination Figure 1 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 The control system and control method are described.

[0075] like Figure 5 As shown, it includes a differential pressure judgment module 510, a liquid discharge control module 520, a liquid inlet control module 530, a gas source control module 540, and a liquid discharge control module 550.

[0076] The differential pressure judgment module 510 is used to determine whether the pressure difference of the pressure value of the pressure transmitter 21 is greater than a preset value, and to send control commands and recovery commands to the liquid discharge control module 520, the liquid inlet control module 30, the gas source control module 540, and the liquid discharge control module 550 according to the judgment result.

[0077] The liquid discharge control module 520 is used to control the liquid discharge valve 121 according to the control command and the recovery command.

[0078] The liquid inlet control module 530 is used to control the liquid inlet valve 111, the water inlet valve 1101, the brine pump 1110, and the water inlet pump 1100 according to the control command, the recovery command, and the measured values ​​of the liquid inlet flow meter 11F and the water inlet flow meter 110F.

[0079] The air source control module 540 is used to control the intake valve 41 and the air compressor 40 according to the control command, the recovery command and the measurement value of the intake pressure gauge 4PG.

[0080] The drain control module 550 is used to control the opening and closing of the drain valve 1311 according to control commands and recovery commands.

[0081] like Figure 6 As shown, the control method for the adsorption tower includes the following steps:

[0082] Initial step S001: Set the counter of control system 5, and set n=1.

[0083] Differential pressure judgment step S100: The differential pressure judgment module 510 reads the measured value P1 of the upper pressure transmitter 21a and the measured value P2 of the lower pressure transmitter 21b at a certain time interval t, calculates the difference between the measured values ​​P1 and P2, and determines whether the difference is greater than the preset value U (steps S101, S102). If the difference is greater than the preset value U, a control command is sent to the liquid outlet control module 520, the liquid inlet control module 530, the gas source control module 540, and the liquid discharge control module 550 (step S103).

[0084] Discharge control step S200: The discharge control module 520 closes the discharge valve 121 according to the control command.

[0085] Liquid inlet control step S300: According to the control command, the liquid inlet control module 530 first closes the liquid inlet valve 111 and the brine pump 1110, opens the water inlet valve 1101 and the water pump 1100, and then adjusts the flow rate of industrial water within the preset liquid inlet flow rate range (80m3 / h-100m3 / h) according to the measurement value of the water inlet flow meter 110F.

[0086] Air source control step S400: The air source control module 540 opens the intake valve 41 and the air compressor 40 according to the control command, and controls the intake pressure within the preset intake pressure range (0.5kpa-0.6kpa) according to the measurement value of the intake pressure gauge 4PG.

[0087] Drainage control step S500: Drainage control module 550 opens drainage valve 1311 according to control command.

[0088] Differential pressure re-judgment step S600: After time interval t, the differential pressure judgment module 510 reads the measured value Pa from the upper pressure transmitter 21a. n+1and the downpressure transmitter Pb n+1 The measured values ​​are used to determine whether the difference between the two values ​​is greater than the preset value U (steps S601 and S602).

[0089] If the difference is greater than the preset value U, the counter value of the control system 5 is incremented by 1, and it is determined whether the counter value after incrementing by 1 is greater than the preset number N. If the counter value is less than the preset number N, the process returns to steps S601 and S602. If the counter value is greater than the preset number N, an alarm is issued.

[0090] If the difference is less than the preset value, a restoration command is sent to the liquid outlet control module 520, liquid inlet control module 530, gas source control module 540, and liquid discharge control module 550. Based on the restoration command, the liquid outlet control module 520, liquid inlet control module 530, gas source control module 540, and liquid discharge control module 550 restore the adsorption tower's liquid outlet valve 121, liquid inlet valve 111, brine pump 1110, water inlet valve 1101, water pump 1100, air inlet valve 41, air compressor 40, and drain valve 1311 to their states before each module received the control command.

[0091] If the measured value is still greater than the preset value, continue to judge and count the number of times it is judged to be greater than the preset value. When the number of times reaches the agreed number, an alarm will be issued.

[0092] Therefore, when the adsorbent powder covers the edge of the tube sheet, causing an excessive pressure difference between the upper and lower parts of the tube sheet, the control system 5 closes the liquid outlet pipe 12, opens the liquid drain pipe 13, and allows the liquid to continue to be pumped into the tank 1. So after the tank 1 is full, the excess liquid in the tank 1 will carry the adsorbent powder washed by the flushing nozzles on the coil 3 and flow out from the liquid drain pipe, forming a certain negative pressure, which promotes the rotation and discharge of the liquid above the tube sheet, thus quickly and efficiently cleaning the adsorbent powder.

[0093] The high-pressure air entering the tank 1 from the air inlet pipe 4 will not affect the ratio of ionic components in the brine, and has minimal impact on product quality. Furthermore, the equipment has a simple structure, does not require a separate water tank, and will not cause waste of water resources.

[0094] If the pressure difference between the upper and lower parts of the tube sheet remains too large after a period of time, there may be other malfunctions. In this case, an alarm should be issued to remind staff to inspect and repair the adsorption tower.

[0095] Figure 7 This is an explanatory diagram showing the coil viewed from a 45° angle above. Figure 8 This is a top view illustration of the coil; Figure 9 This is an explanatory diagram of the coil viewed from a horizontal direction; Figure 10 yes Figure 8 Enlarged illustration of the middle coil section.

[0096] The following combination Figure 3 , Figures 7-10 The coil 3 and the baffle 6 are explained.

[0097] like Figures 7-10 As shown, the side wall of the coil 3 is provided with n flushing nozzles 31a, 32b...32n and n agitating nozzles 32a, 32b...32n. High-pressure air supplied to the middle of the coil 3 by the air inlet pipe 4 is ejected from the flushing nozzles 31a, 32b...32n and the n agitating nozzles 32a, 32b...32n.

[0098] like Figure 10 As shown, the flushing nozzles 31a, 32b...32n are evenly arranged along the coil 3, with adjacent flushing nozzles facing the inner and outer sides of the coil 3, respectively. The ejection direction of the flushing nozzles 31a, 32b...32n is perpendicular to the tangent at their connection point with the coil 3. For example, flushing nozzles 31a and 31b are adjacent flushing nozzles, located on the outer and inner sides of the coil 3, respectively. The ejection direction P01a of flushing nozzle 31a is perpendicular to the tangent L01a of the coil 3 at its connection point, and the ejection direction P01b of flushing nozzle 31b is perpendicular to the tangent L01b of the coil 3 at its connection point.

[0099] Agitating nozzles 32a, 32b…32n are evenly arranged along the coil 3, with adjacent nozzles facing the inner and outer sides of the coil 3, respectively. The ejection direction of agitating nozzles 32a…n forms an angle θ with the tangent at their connection point with the coil 3, where θ < 90°. For example, agitating nozzles 32b and 32c are adjacent nozzles, located on the inner and outer sides of the coil 3, respectively. The ejection direction P02b of agitating nozzle 32b forms an angle θ with the tangent at its connection point with the coil 3. b The ejection direction P02c of the agitator nozzle 32c forms an angle θ with the tangent at its connection point with the coil 3. c θ b =θ c =45° < 90°.

[0100] High-pressure gas ejected from flushing nozzles 31a, 32b...32n washes away the adsorbent powder deposited on the upper perforated plate 2, while gas ejected from agitating nozzles 32a, 32b...32n drives the liquid above the upper perforated plate to rotate. Figure 8 As shown, arrows d1, d2, d3, and d4 indicate the direction of liquid rotation.

[0101] like Figure 9As shown, viewed horizontally, the flushing nozzles 31a…n and the agitating nozzles 32a…n are located on different horizontal planes; that is, the agitating nozzles 32a…n are positioned higher than the flushing nozzles 31a…n. Therefore, the flushing nozzles 31a…n are closer to the upper surface of the upper perforated plate, resulting in a better flushing effect on the adsorbent powder. Furthermore, the turbulence formed by the high-pressure gas ejected from the flushing nozzles 31a…n has minimal impact on the rotating water flow generated by the jet ejected from the agitating nozzles above, making it easier for the rotating water flow to deliver the adsorbent powder to the drain port 130.

[0102] like Figure 8 As shown, from a top-down view, baffle 6 is curved, curving towards the nearest flushing nozzle. Figure 3 As shown, a guide structure 61 is formed at the connection between the drain port 130, the upper perforated plate 2, and the baffle 6. The guide structure 61 and the curved baffle 6 form a smooth surface near the drain port 130. The two work together to guide the liquid to the drain port 130, avoiding the angle between the baffle 6, the upper perforated plate, and the side wall of the tank 1 from obstructing the adsorbent powder from being discharged with the liquid.

[0103] in addition:

[0104] like Figure 3 As shown, the air inlet pipe 4 passes through the wall of the liquid outlet pipe 12, extends along the inner wall of the liquid outlet pipe 12 into the tank body 1, and is fixed to the upper inner wall of the tank body 1 by clamps, and then extends downward to the middle section of the coil 3. The liquid outlet pipe 12 is welded to the air inlet pipe 3 to form a seal for the liquid outlet pipe 12.

[0105] Therefore, the structure of tank 1 is simple, with only two openings at the upper and lower ends. By using the pipeline design, a structure can be formed that connects the coil 3 inside tank 1 with the air compressor 40 outside tank 1. This can save on the manufacturing process and cost of the adsorption tower, and also facilitate the modification, installation and maintenance by the staff.

[0106] The adsorbent used in the lithium extraction process is an aluminum-containing adsorbent, which exhibits better adsorption performance for lithium ions compared to chelating resin adsorbents used in wastewater treatment for heavy metal adsorption. However, aluminum-containing adsorbents are more expensive, and their relatively rough surface makes them more prone to producing adsorbent powder due to collisions and friction. Therefore, the technical solution of this invention is more suitable for adsorption towers used in chemical production filled with aluminum-containing adsorbents (or other inorganic adsorbents), demonstrating good practicality.

[0107] It should be noted that the above embodiments are illustrative of the invention and not restrictive, and those skilled in the art can design alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, referring to the desorption tube of the above specific embodiments, the shape of the baffles and arc-shaped guide structures can be designed according to actual conditions, or the number of flushing nozzles and agitating nozzles on the coil can be designed according to the size of the adsorption tower.

[0108] In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims.

Claims

1. A powder cleaning device for an adsorption tower, the adsorption tower comprising a tank (1) and an upper perforated plate (2) disposed within the tank (1), the tank (1) being divided into two spaces by the upper perforated plate (2), the space below the upper perforated plate (2) serving as a filling area (10) filled with adsorbent, the space above the upper perforated plate (2) being connected to an outlet pipe (12), and an inlet pipe (11) connected to the filling area (10) being disposed at the bottom end of the tank (1), the raw material liquid entering the filling area (10) through the inlet pipe (11), contacting the adsorbent, entering the space above the upper perforated plate (2) through a water cap in the upper perforated plate (2), and exiting through the outlet pipe (12), characterized in that, The powder cleaning device shown includes a coil (3) and an air inlet pipe (4). The liquid inlet pipe (11) of the adsorption tower has a branch pipe as a water inlet pipe (110) connected to an industrial water tank. The coil (3) appears as a broken ring in plan view, closed at both ends, close to the inner wall of the tank (1) and the upper surface of the upper perforated plate (2), wherein the axis (L2) coincides with the central axis (L1) of the tank (1). The intake pipe (4) connects the air compressor (40) and the coil (3), supplying high-pressure air into the coil (3). The high-pressure air is ejected from multiple flushing nozzles and multiple agitating nozzles installed on the coil (3). The flushing nozzles alternately point towards the inner wall of the tank 1 and the central axis of the coil (3), perpendicular to the tangent at the connection point with the coil (3). The agitating nozzle is located between adjacent flushing nozzles, and its spray direction forms an angle (θ) with the tangent in the clockwise direction at its connection point with the coil (3), wherein the angle (θ) is < 90°. The side wall of the tank (1) is provided with a drain pipe (13) communicating with the tank (1). The drain port (130) at the connection between the drain pipe (13) and the tank (1) is located on the upper side of the upper perforated plate. The lower end of the drain port (130) is flush with the coil (3). The liquid inlet pipe (11) is equipped with a liquid inlet valve (111), the water inlet pipe (110) is equipped with a water inlet valve (1101), the liquid outlet pipe (12) is equipped with a liquid outlet valve (121), and the air inlet pipe (4) is equipped with an air inlet valve (41).

2. The powder cleaning device for an adsorption tower according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drain pipe (13) is connected to the recovery tank (132) containing a filter screen (1321) for filtering and collecting the adsorbent powder.

3. The powder cleaning device for an adsorption tower according to claim 2, characterized in that, A water inlet flow meter (110F) is installed on the water inlet pipe (110). It also has a control system (5), which determines that when the pressure value of the pressure transmitter (21) set on the upper plate (2) is greater than the preset value, it closes the inlet valve (111) and the outlet valve (121), opens the water inlet valve (1101), pumps industrial water into the tank (1) through the water inlet pipe (110), and adjusts the flow rate of industrial water according to the measurement value of the water inlet flow meter (110F).

4. The powder cleaning device for an adsorption tower according to claim 3, characterized in that, The air inlet pipe (4) passes through the wall of the liquid outlet pipe (12), extends along the inner wall of the liquid outlet pipe (12) into the tank body (1), is fixed to the upper inner wall of the tank body (1) by clamps, and then extends downward to the middle section of the coil (3). The liquid outlet pipe (12) is welded to the air inlet pipe (4) to form a seal for the liquid outlet pipe (12).

5. The powder cleaning device for an adsorption tower according to claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes a vertical baffle (6) that extends from the side wall of the tank (1) toward the central axis (L1) of the tank (1) and is located on one side of the drain port (130), directly opposite the nearest flushing nozzle.

6. The powder cleaning device for an adsorption tower according to claim 5, characterized in that, The position of the agitating nozzle is higher than that of the flushing nozzle.

7. The powder cleaning device for an adsorption tower according to claim 5, characterized in that, The baffle (6) is curved and bends toward the nearest flushing nozzle; A guide structure (61) is formed at the connection between the drain port (130), the upper perforated plate (2) and the baffle (6) to guide the liquid to the drain port (130) in conjunction with the baffle.

8. The powder cleaning device for an adsorption tower according to claim 5, characterized in that, The interface (401) connecting the air intake pipe (4) to the coil is located in the middle of the coil.

9. The powder cleaning device for an adsorption tower according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that, The control system (5) includes a differential pressure judgment module (510), a liquid discharge control module (520), a liquid inlet control module (530), a gas source control module (540), and a liquid discharge control module (550). The differential pressure judgment module (510) judges at certain time intervals whether the pressure difference of the pressure transmitter (21) is greater than a preset value. If it is greater than the preset value, it sends control commands to the liquid discharge control module (520), liquid inlet control module (530), gas source control module (540), and liquid discharge control module (550), and continues to judge at certain time intervals whether the pressure difference of the pressure transmitter (21) is greater than the preset value. If it is less than the preset value, it sends recovery commands to the liquid discharge control module (520), liquid inlet control module (530), gas source control module (540), and liquid discharge control module (550). The liquid discharge control module (520) controls the liquid discharge valve (121) to close according to the control command; and opens the liquid discharge valve (121) according to the recovery command. The liquid inlet control module (530) closes the liquid inlet valve (111) and opens the water inlet valve (1101) according to the control command, and adjusts the industrial water flow rate according to the measurement value of the water inlet flow meter (110F); and closes the water inlet valve (1101) and opens the liquid inlet valve (111) according to the recovery command. The gas source control module (540) opens the intake valve (41) according to the control command and the measurement value of the intake pressure gauge (4PG) set on the intake pipe (4); and closes the intake valve (41) according to the recovery command. The drain control module (550) opens the drain valve (1311) according to the control command and closes the drain valve (1311) according to the recovery command.

10. A control method for a powder cleaning device used in an adsorption tower, characterized in that, The adsorption tower is equipped with the powder cleaning device for the adsorption tower as described in claim 9; include: Differential pressure judgment step S100: The differential pressure judgment module (510) judges whether the difference in pressure values ​​of the pressure transmitter (21) is greater than a preset value at a certain time interval. If the difference in pressure values ​​is greater than the preset value, it sends control commands to the liquid discharge control module (520), liquid inlet control module (530), gas source control module (540), and liquid discharge control module (550). Discharge control step S200: The discharge control module (520) closes the discharge valve (121) according to the control command. Liquid inlet control step S300: The liquid inlet control module (530) first closes the liquid inlet valve (111) according to the control command, turns on the pump connected to the water inlet valve (1101) and the water inlet pipe (110), and then adjusts the flow rate of industrial water within the preset liquid inlet flow rate range according to the measurement value of the water inlet flow meter (110F). Gas source control step S400: The gas source control module (540) opens the intake valve (41) according to the control command and controls the intake pressure within the preset intake pressure range according to the measurement value of the intake pressure gauge (4PG). Drainage control step S500: The drainage control module (550) opens the drainage valve (1311) according to the control command. Differential pressure re-judgment step S600: The differential pressure judgment module (510) continues to judge whether the difference between the pressure values ​​of the pressure transmitter (21) is greater than a preset value at certain time intervals; If the value is less than the preset value, a restoration command is sent to the liquid discharge control module (520), liquid inlet control module (530), gas source control module (540), and liquid discharge control module (550) to restore the adsorption tower to the state before the control command was received. If the measured value is still greater than the preset value, continue to judge and count the number of times it is judged to be greater than the preset value. When the number of times reaches the agreed number, an alarm will be issued.

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