Equipment for wood processing

Abstract

Apparatus (1) for wood processing, comprising:-a plurality of user points (2) having respective exhaust ducts (3) of flue gas (F1) to be filtered; -at least one device (4) comprising at least one hollow filtration chamber (5) defining at least one internal volume (5a) and comprising filtration means (7) of the flue gas (F1) to be filtered to obtain a filtered flue gas (F2) at least partially contained in the internal volume (5a), the filtration chamber (5) being provided with:-an inlet (8) and an outlet (9) of wood material (M); -at least one inlet (6) for the flue gas (F1) to be filtered, which inlet (6) communicates with the flue gas discharge duct (3); -at least one outlet opening (10) of the filtered flue gas (F2), which outlet opening (10) leads to the outside; the flue gas (F1, F2) dries the wood material (M) in the passage of the wood material (M) from the inlet (8) to the outlet (9).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device for wood processing. Background Art

[0002] Particularly with regard to the wood supply chain, there is a particular need to minimize the amount of polluting compounds released into the atmosphere as a result of handling and processing this material.

[0003] In fact, it is well known that many stages of wood processing (e.g. drying, resin coating, firing, etc.) produce as by-products a certain amount of toxic fumes containing unburned powders and gases (e.g. carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds abbreviated as "VOCs").

[0004] The chemical composition and density of pollutants in this flue gas do not allow them to be released directly into the atmosphere, so they need to be properly treated and filtered first.

[0005] For this purpose, filtering devices of the centrifugal powder collector type (commonly called "cyclones") are widely used.

[0006] In particular, the device makes it possible to purify these fumes, at least in part due to the centrifugal action of the device and the subsequent separation of the solid particles and powders suspended therein.

[0007] However, it should be noted that the filtering effect exerted by the cyclone separator can only remove a limited amount of pollutants in the flue gas.

[0008] This therefore means that even if the flue gas is treated by a cyclone separator, most of the powder and pollutants are still suspended in the flue gas and the flue gas is still highly toxic. Summary of the invention

[0009] The main object of the present invention is to design an apparatus for wood processing which can effectively filter the fumes generated at various stages of wood processing while recovering heat from the fumes themselves.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to devise an apparatus for wood processing which makes it possible to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art within the framework of a simple, rational, easy to use and efficient and cost-effective solution.

[0011] This object is achieved by a device for wood processing having the features of claim 1 . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an apparatus for wood processing, which is illustrated by way of schematic and non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] With particular reference to the drawings, reference numeral 1 generally designates an apparatus for wood working.

[0015] Firstly, a plant 1 for wood processing comprises a plurality of user points 2 separated from one another, wherein one or more user points 2 are suitable for processing wood materials.

[0016] The user point 2 is therefore provided with an associated inlet gap for the wood material to be treated and an associated outlet gap for the treated wood material, which are not shown in detail in the figure.

[0017] In this case, each user point 2 is provided with a respective smoke exhaust duct 3 for the smoke F1 to be filtered.

[0018] In this respect, provision is made for the flue gas F1 to be filtered to have a temperature substantially between 10° C. and 150° C.

[0019] Likewise, it is defined that the term "user point" refers to any equipment, device and / or machine intended to perform one or more processing stages (e.g. drying, resin coating, shaping, pressing, trimming, sanding, etc.) on wood material and, for example, to produce the aforementioned flue gas F1 to be filtered.

[0020] However, it cannot be excluded that the term "point of user" may also refer to equipment, devices and / or machines used for other purposes than those just described, but which nevertheless generate the fumes F1 to be filtered.

[0021] According to the invention, the device 1 comprises at least one device 4 for filtering the fumes F1 to be filtered, connected to the fumes extraction duct 3 .

[0022] In particular, the equipment 4 comprises at least one filter chamber 5 defining at least one internal volume 5a for treating the fumes F1 to be filtered.

[0023] The filter chamber 5 is provided with at least one inlet 6 for the smoke F1 to be filtered which is connected to the smoke exhaust duct 3 .

[0024] After the smoke gas F1 to be filtered is conveyed from the user point 2 toward the filter chamber 5 , the smoke gas F1 to be filtered is then guided into the internal volume 5 a through the introduction port 6 .

[0025] Therefore, as the smoke F1 to be filtered is introduced into the internal volume 5a, the smoke F1 to be filtered can be properly filtered, thereby obtaining filtered smoke F2 to be released into the atmosphere.

[0026] In this sense, the filter chamber 5 comprises a filter device 7 installed in the inner volume 5a.

[0027] Preferably, the filtering device 7 is arranged below the inlet 6 .

[0028] As expected, the filtering device 7 is suitable for filtering the smoke F1 to be filtered so as to obtain filtered smoke F2.

[0029] The filter device 7 is suitable for allowing the gaseous components in the flue gas F1 to be filtered to pass through and retaining the solid pollutant particles or microparticles contained therein (for example, volatile organic compounds abbreviated as "VOCs").

[0030] However, before describing the filter device 7 in further detail, it should be added that the filter chamber 5 is provided with at least one inlet 8 and at least one outlet 9 for the wood material M (in the form of flakes and / or powder).

[0031] In particular, flakes and / or powder (often referred to as "wood chips" or shavings) from wood material M can be produced, for example, by preliminary processing of the wood material itself (by chipping and / or chopping).

[0032] The flue gases F1 , F2 are suitable for drying the wood material M, thereby at least partially removing its wet components during its transfer from the inlet 8 to the outlet 9 .

[0033] In this regard, it is important to note that the inlet 8 and the outlet 9 are separate and do not communicate with the user point 2 .

[0034] Therefore, the device 1 has no pipes or conduits connecting the inlet 8 , the outlet 9 and the user point 2 .

[0035] In other words, the wood material that passes through the filter chamber 5 and is traversed by the fumes F1 and F2 is separated from the material processed in the user point 2 .

[0036] Therefore, the entrance 8 is separated from the exit of the user point 2 by a gap, and the exit 9 is separated from the entrance of the user point 2 by a gap.

[0037] Therefore, the device 1 has no connection between the inlet 8 and the outlet gap of the user point 2 and between the outlet 9 and the inlet gap of the user point 2.

[0038] Therefore, the wooden material M introduced into the filter chamber 5 does not come from the user point 2 , and similarly, the wooden material M extracted from the filter chamber 5 is not transported within the user point 2 .

[0039] In detail, the inlet 8 and the outlet 9 are arranged at positions opposite to each other on the filter chamber 5 .

[0040] Likewise, the filter device 7 is located between the inlet 8 and the outlet 9 .

[0041] Regarding the outlet 9 , it is important to specify that the outlet 9 is independent and does not communicate with the introduction port 6 outside the filtration chamber 5 .

[0042] This means that the outlet 9 and the inlet 6 are never connected to the filter chamber 5 from the outside, and therefore, the outlet 9 and the inlet 6 are exclusively connected to each other in a fluid-operated manner within the filter chamber 5 (see in this regard Figure 1 ).

[0043] In other words, the device 1 has no pipes, conduits or similar connection fittings to allow the outlet 9 to be arranged to communicate with the inlet 6 outside the filter chamber 5 .

[0044] The insertion of the wood material M through the inlet 8 may be done manually by one or more operators.

[0045] Or, according to Figure 1 In the preferred embodiment shown, one or more conveying devices 8a may be provided to convey the wood material M to the inlet 8 in an automatic manner.

[0046] In the latter case, the wood material M may be stored in a suitable storage container 8 b , and the conveying device 8 a takes out the wood material M from the storage container 8 b and conveys it to the inlet 8 by quantitatively measuring.

[0047] The conveying device 8a may be of various types; for example, the conveying device 8a may be of a conveyor belt type, or of an auger type, or of a "Redler" chain conveyor type, or of other types known to those skilled in the art.

[0048] Similarly, the wooden material M coming out of the outlet 9 can be transported in an automatic manner from the outlet itself to a designated destination (not shown in the figure for simplicity).

[0049] This can be achieved, for example, by using one or more auxiliary conveying devices 9a located between the exit 9 and the destination.

[0050] Like the conveying device 8a, the auxiliary conveying device 9a can also be of various types; for example, the auxiliary conveying device 9a can be of a conveyor belt type, or of an auger type, or of a "Redler" chain conveyor type, or of other types known to those skilled in the art.

[0051] As for the filtering device 7, Figure 1In the preferred embodiment shown, they comprise at least one conveying plane for the wood material M.

[0052] In particular, the conveying plane 7 defines a conveying direction T of the wood material M from the inlet 8 to the outlet 9 .

[0053] Suitably, the conveying plane 7 is permeable to air and is suitable for retaining solid particles (and / or microparticles). Thus, the conveying plane 7 mechanically filters the fumes F1 to be filtered. More specifically, the conveying plane 7 is provided with a plurality of grids intended to be passed through by the fumes F1, F2.

[0054] Preferably, the conveying plane 7 is of the belt filter type.

[0055] Specifically, the conveying plane 7 is located between the inlet 8 and the outlet 9 .

[0056] As expected, the filter device 7 is arranged below the intake 6; this results in the wood material M conveyed on the conveying plane 7 being enveloped by the smoke F1 to be filtered and ultimately impregnated with the solid pollutant particles constituting the smoke F1 to be filtered.

[0057] Therefore, the smoke F1 to be filtered will transfer at least a part of the solid polluting particles to the wood material M, and in doing so, the wood material M works together with the conveying plane 7 to filter out the toxic components in the smoke F1 to be filtered.

[0058] Therefore, the filtering effect of the smoke F1 to be filtered is achieved by the combined effect of the filtering device (specifically, the conveying plane 7) and the wood material M arranged thereon.

[0059] Therefore, the flue gas F1 to be filtered passing through the conveying plane 7 also dries the wood material M arranged thereon.

[0060] In fact, since the fumes F1 to be filtered are characterized by a high temperature, as a secondary effect, the fumes F1 to be filtered cause the wood material M to dry during its forward movement from the inlet 8 to the outlet 9 .

[0061] After passing through the filter device 7, the resulting filtered flue gas F2 can conveniently be discharged from the filter chamber 5 and thus enter the outdoor environment.

[0062] In this respect, the filter chamber 5 comprises at least one discharge opening 10 for discharging the filtered smoke F2 to the outside.

[0063] Specifically, the discharge port 10 is arranged at a position on the filter chamber 5 opposite to the introduction port 6 , and the filter device 7 is placed between the introduction port 6 and the discharge port 10 .

[0064] In practice, the filtering device 7 is placed between the inlet 6 and the outlet 10 and between the inlet 8 and the outlet 9 .

[0065] Preferably, the discharge opening 10 is arranged below the conveying plane 7 .

[0066] Therefore, the discharge opening 10 and the inlet opening 6 are arranged below and above the conveying plane 7 , respectively.

[0067] It can be seen here that the fumes F1 , F2 pass through the inner volume 5a from top to bottom.

[0068] However, the opposite situation cannot be excluded, in which the outlet 10 and the inlet 6 are arranged above and below the conveying plane 7, respectively; in this case, therefore, the fumes F1, F2 pass through the inner volume 5a from the bottom to the top.

[0069] In order to promote the discharge of the filtered smoke F2 from the internal volume 5a, the filter chamber 5 comprises at least one suction device 11 associated with the discharge opening 10 and suitable for sucking the filtered smoke F2 and forcing it to be discharged to the outside through the discharge opening 10.

[0070] In detail, according to Figure 1 In the preferred embodiment shown, the filter chamber 5 comprises two suction devices 11 .

[0071] Preferably, the suction device 11 is of the pneumatic fan type or of another type known to a person skilled in the art.

[0072] Usefully, the equipment 4 comprises pre-filtering means 12 associated with at least one of the smoke exhaust duct 3 or the intake 6 and suitable for pre-filtering the smoke F1 to be filtered before it enters the internal volume 5a.

[0073] Obviously, this method can further reduce the percentage of solid pollution particles present in the flue gases F1 and F2, thereby purifying the flue gases more effectively.

[0074] In this case, the pre-filtering device 12 comprises at least one mesh filter.

[0075] In this regard, it should be noted that the pre-filter device 12 may include, in addition to or instead of a mesh filter, a filter of a different type than a mesh filter, such as one or more bag filters or other filters known to those skilled in the art.

[0076] Advantageously, the filter chamber 5 is provided with at least one passage gap 13 communicating with the outside for introducing ambient air into the inner volume 5a.

[0077] It is important to point out that the passage gap 13 is separate from the introduction opening 6 .

[0078] This means that, in actual operation, the channel gap 13 and the introduction port 6 are separated from each other and are not communicated with the outside of the filter chamber 5 .

[0079] Regarding the meaning of "not connected to the outside", similar considerations previously made regarding the relationship between the outlet 9 and the inlet 6 should be considered to be equally applicable to the channel gap 13 and the inlet 6, and therefore will not be repeated.

[0080] Therefore, only when both the flue gas F1 to be filtered and the ambient air enter the inner volume 5a will they mix with each other.

[0081] In this respect, the channel gap 13 is placed in the vicinity of the inlet opening 6 so that the ambient air can be effectively mixed with the flue gas F1 to be filtered.

[0082] Advantageously, the channel gap 13 is arranged downstream of the inlet 6 with respect to the conveying direction T. This can optimize the energy efficiency and / or the filtering efficiency inside the filter chamber 5. In fact, this promotes the mixing between the smoke F1 to be filtered that has been introduced into the filter chamber 5 and the ambient air introduced through the channel gap 13.

[0083] Conveniently, the device 1 comprises air heating means 14 associated with the passage gap 13 .

[0084] In particular, the heating means 14 are preferably of the radiator 14 type, but it is not excluded that they may be of other types known to a person skilled in the art.

[0085] In this respect, it should be noted that the filter chamber 5 may comprise a plurality of channel gaps 13 and a corresponding plurality of radiators 14 , each radiator 14 being associated with a respective channel gap 13 .

[0086] For example, the number of channel gaps 13 and thus the number of radiators 14 may be proportional to the drying temperature of the wood material M (ie the amount of water in the wood material M to be evaporated).

[0087] In other words, as the temperature increases and the amount of wood material M increases, more channel gaps 13 and therefore more radiators 14 may be provided in the device 1, and vice versa.

[0088] In this way, the flue gas F1 to be filtered can be mixed with an amount of heated ambient air specifically calculated according to the amount of wood material M to be dried and / or the amount of water to be evaporated, which obviously makes it possible to dry the wood material M more effectively.

[0089] Conveniently, the device 1 comprises barrage means 15a, 15b between the conveying plane 7 and the wall of the filter chamber 5, which are suitable for subdividing the internal volume 5a into:

[0090] at least one first area A1 communicating with the inlet 6 and adapted to contain the fumes F1 to be filtered; and

[0091] - at least one second area A2 communicating with the exhaust opening 10 and intended to contain the filtered fumes F2.

[0092] Specifically, the first area A1 is arranged below the second area A2.

[0093] In this way, the smoke F1 to be filtered can be effectively guided through the filter device 7 , while the filtered smoke can be easily discharged from the discharge port 10 .

[0094] Specifically, the blocking device 15 a , 15 b includes a first partition wall 15 a and a second partition wall 15 b arranged from opposite sides of the conveying plane 7 .

[0095] Specifically, the first partition wall 15 a is located upstream of the second partition wall 15 b with respect to the conveying direction T.

[0096] Conveniently, the first partition wall 15 a is arranged above the conveying plane 7 and the second partition wall 15 b is arranged below the conveying plane 7 .

[0097] This prevents the smoke F1 to be filtered from escaping through the outlet 10 without passing through the conveying plane 7 and prevents the filtered smoke F2 from recirculating in the first area A1. In this way, the smoke F1 to be filtered is forced to pass through the conveying plane 7.

[0098] Specifically, the first partition wall 15 a is arranged near the inlet 8 , and the second partition wall 15 b is arranged near the outlet 9 .

[0099] Likewise, the partition walls 15a, 15b are arranged at an angle and with opposite slopes to each other.

[0100] The particular arrangement of the partition walls 15a, 15b is such that the conveying plane 7 is situated between the two areas A1, A2; therefore, in order to pass from the first area A1 to the second area A2, the smoke F1 to be filtered must pass through the conveying plane itself and be filtered in this way.

[0101] From what has been described so far, it is easy to understand how the barrier means 15a, 15b prove to be particularly useful in ensuring effective treatment of the filtered smoke F2 and at the same time proper filtration of the smoke F1 to be filtered.

[0102] In fact, due to the fact that the fumes F1 , F2 are isolated in their respective areas A1 , A2 , it is ensured that only the filtered fumes F2 are discharged to the outside, while the fumes F1 still to be filtered remain in the filter chamber 5 .

[0103] This fact makes it possible to avoid undesired discharge of the flue gases F1 to be filtered from the outlet 9 , thus significantly improving the efficiency and performance of the device 1 .

[0104] According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention also relates to a process for wood processing.

[0105] Specifically, the process used for wood processing includes at least the following stages:

[0106] - processing of the wood material in one or more user points 2 to obtain the flue gas F1 to be filtered;

[0107] - introducing flake and / or powdered wood material M into the filter chamber 5;

[0108] - introducing the smoke F1 to be filtered into the filter chamber 5;

[0109] - filtering the smoke F1 to be filtered in the filter chamber 5 to obtain filtered smoke F2;

[0110] - The wood material M is taken out from the filter chamber 5, and the flue gases F1 and F2 dry the wood material M introduced into the filter chamber 5;

[0111] - Exhausting the filtered smoke F2 to the outside of the filter chamber 5;

[0112] Therein, the wood material M introduced into and taken out of the filter chamber 5 is separated from the wood material processed in the user point 2 .

[0113] In this regard, to say that the wood material M is not transported from the user point 2 to the filter chamber 5 means that the wood material located in the user point 2 is retained in the user point 2 and is therefore not transported to the filter chamber 5, but a different wood material M is introduced into the filter chamber 5 for drying.

[0114] Conveniently, the filtering comprises at least one conveying step of the wood material M on a conveying plane 7 of the filtering chamber 5 .

[0115] The transport on the transport plane 7 can transfer at least part of the polluting compounds in the smoke F1 to be filtered into the wood material M, thereby producing filtered smoke F2, which is filtered out of their toxic components and can be discharged to the outside of the filter chamber 5.

[0116] Practice has shown that the described invention achieves the intended purpose.

[0117] In particular, emphasis is placed on the fact that providing a special means for filtering the smoke to be filtered allows efficient filtering of the smoke generated by the user point, recovering its heat for drying the wood material.

[0118] In this way, the dried wood material can be used in various technical applications, for example in plants for the production of OSB boards, PB boards, pellets, pallets or as fuel for boilers.

Claims

1. A device (1) for wood processing, comprising a plurality of user points (2) separated from one another, wherein: One or more of the user points (2) are suitable for processing wood materials, each of the user points (2) being provided with a respective inlet gap for the wood material to be processed, a respective outlet gap for the processed wood material and a respective exhaust duct (3) for the smoke (F1) to be filtered; The device (1) is characterized in that the device (1) comprises at least one equipment (4), the equipment (4) is used to filter the smoke to be filtered (F1), the equipment (4) is connected to the smoke exhaust duct (3) and comprises: At least one hollow filter chamber (5), the filter chamber (5) defining at least one internal volume (5a) and comprising filtering means (7) for filtering the smoke (F1) to be filtered, so as to obtain filtered smoke (F2) at least partially contained in the internal volume (5a), the filter chamber (5) being provided with: at least one inlet (8) and at least one outlet (9) for flake and / or powdered wood material (M), The inlet (8) and the outlet (9) are separate and not connected to the user point (2); at least one inlet (6) for the smoke (F1) to be filtered, the at least one inlet (6) being in communication with the smoke exhaust duct (3); at least one outlet (10) for the filtered smoke (F2), the at least one outlet (10) leading to the outside; The flue gases (F1, F2) dry the wood material (M) in its passage from the inlet (8) to the outlet (9).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that There is no connection between the entry (8) and the exit gap of the user point (2) and between the exit (9) and the entry gap of the user point (2).

3. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The filtering device (7) comprises at least one conveying plane (7) for wood material (M), the conveying plane (7) being along a conveying direction (T) from the inlet (8) towards the outlet (9), the conveying plane (7) being permeable to air and suitable for retaining solid particles and being located between the inlet (6) and the outlet (10) for the smoke (F1) to be filtered to pass through, the wood material (M) being dried during its forward movement towards the outlet (9).

4. The device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The conveying plane (7) is of the belt filter type.

5. The device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that The introduction port (6) and the discharge port (10) are arranged above and below the conveying plane (7), respectively.

6. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The equipment (4) comprises a pre-filtering device (12), which is associated with at least one of the smoke exhaust duct (3) or the inlet (6) and is suitable for pre-filtering the smoke (F1) to be filtered.

7. The device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that The pre-filtering device (12) comprises at least one mesh filter.

8. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The filter chamber (5) is provided with at least one channel gap (13), the channel gap (13) being in communication with the outside and used for introducing ambient air into the inner volume (5a), and the channel gap (13) being separated from the introduction port (6).

9. The device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that The device (1) comprises an air heating device (14) which is associated with the channel gap (13).

10. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The channel gap (13) is arranged downstream of the introduction opening (6) with respect to the conveying direction (T).

11. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The filter chamber (5) comprises at least one suction device (11) which is associated with the exhaust port (10) and is suitable for sucking the filtered smoke (F2) and forcing it to be discharged to the outside through the exhaust port (10).

12. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The device (1) comprises blocking means (15a, 15b) situated between the conveying plane (7) and the wall of the filter chamber (5) and adapted to subdivide the inner volume (5a) into at least a first area (A1) communicating with the inlet (6) and at least a second area (A2) communicating with the outlet (10).

13. The device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that The first area (A1) is arranged above the second area (A2).

14. The device (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that The blocking device (15a, 15b) comprises at least a first partition wall (15a) and at least a second partition wall (15b) arranged from opposite sides of the conveying plane (7).

15. Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that One of the partition walls (15a, 15b) is arranged near the inlet (8), and the other of the partition walls (15a, 15b) is arranged near the outlet (9).

16. The device (1) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The partition walls (15a, 15b) are arranged at an angle and with opposite slopes to each other.

17. Device (1) according to one or more of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that The first partition wall (15a) is arranged above the conveying plane (7), and the second partition wall (15b) is arranged below the conveying plane (7).

18. The device (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that The first partition wall (15a) is located upstream of the second partition wall (15b) with respect to the conveying direction (T).

19. A process for wood processing, characterized in that It includes at least the following stages: Processing of the wood material in one or more user points (2) to obtain smoke (F1) to be filtered; Introducing flake and / or powdered wood material (M) into the filter chamber (5); Introducing the smoke to be filtered (F1) into the filter chamber (5); filtering the smoke to be filtered (F1) into the filter chamber (5a) to obtain filtered smoke (F2); The wood material (M) is taken out from the filter chamber (5), and the smoke (F1, F2) dries the wood material (M) introduced into the filter chamber (5); discharging the filtered smoke (F2) to the outside of the filter chamber (5); Therein, the wood material (M) introduced into the filter chamber (5) and removed from the filter chamber (5) is separated from the wood material processed in the user point (2).

20. The process according to claim 19, characterized in that The wood material (M) introduced into the filter chamber (5) does not come from the user point (2), and the wood material (M) taken out of the filter chamber (5) is not transported within the user point (2).

21. The process according to claim 19, characterized in that The filtration comprises at least one conveying step of the wood material (M) on a conveying plane (7) of the filter chamber (5).

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