Method and device for producing plant fibers

Abstract

The invention provides a plant fiber production method and device, and relates to the technical field of fiber manufacturing methods or equipments.The method comprises the steps that raw materials are conveyed into a softening container after being cleaned; adding a liquid medium into the softening container in proportion; heating the liquid-containing raw material in the softening container to enable the inside of the softening container to reach specified pressure and temperature and form saturated steam; keeping constant temperature and constant pressure for specified time under the conditions; compressed gas is introduced into the softening container, unsaturated steam is formed, and the specified pressure is reached; quickly releasing the pressure in the softening container to enable the material to present a fibrous structure; separating the material from the steam; the materials enter the next procedure, and steam is recycled and stored. The problems that in the prior art, energy consumption is high, product quality is unstable, and materials are prone to carbonization are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of methods or equipment for manufacturing fibers, and more particularly to a method and device for producing plant fibers. Background Art

[0002] In the field of plant fiber production, extracting cellulose from plant materials and preparing fiber products is an important technology. Currently, the mainstream production process mainly relies on high-temperature and high-pressure and thermal explosion methods to disassemble cellulose in biomass. This method places biomass raw materials in a high-temperature and high-pressure environment, and uses the action of heat energy and pressure to change the internal structure of the raw materials, thereby achieving the separation and extraction of cellulose. However, the existing technology has obvious problems in practical applications, especially high energy consumption and difficult product quality control. The formation of a high-temperature and high-pressure environment requires a large amount of energy, resulting in high production costs. At the same time, too high a temperature is likely to cause local carbonization of the material, affecting the quality of the final product. This carbonization phenomenon not only reduces the purity and performance of the fiber, but also limits its application in high-end fields. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for producing plant fibers, which solves the problems of high energy consumption, unstable product quality and easy carbonization of materials in the existing technology.

[0004] Technical Solution of the Present Invention The present invention provides a method for producing plant fibers, including feeding the raw material into a softening container after cleaning; adding a liquid medium into the softening container in proportion; heating the liquid-containing raw material in the softening container to reach a specified pressure, temperature and form saturated steam in the softening container; maintaining a constant temperature and pressure for a specified duration under the above conditions; introducing compressed gas into the softening container to form unsaturated steam and reach a specified pressure; quickly releasing the pressure in the softening container to make the material present a fibrous structure; separating the material from the steam; the material enters the next process, and the steam is recovered and stored.

[0005] Further, the ratio range between the raw material and the liquid medium is 1:1.2 to 1:1.6.

[0006] Further, when introducing compressed gas into the softening container, a low-temperature and high-pressure environment is formed in the softening container, and its pressure range is 1.8 - 2.2 Mkpa, and the temperature range is 130 - 170 °C.

[0007] Further, the raw materials are fed into the softening container through a conveying and feeding system.

[0008] Further, compressed gas is introduced into the softening container through an air compressor.

[0009] Further, the liquid-containing raw materials in the softening container are softened by electromagnetic heating.

[0010] Further, the materials are separated from the steam through a steam-solid separation device.

[0011] On the other hand, the present invention provides a device for producing plant fibers, including: a cylinder body, both sides of the top of the cylinder body are connected with connecting seats, a skirt support is connected to the outside of the bottom of the cylinder body, a discharge port is opened at the bottom of the cylinder body, parallel support plates and rib plates are connected inside the cylinder body, a cap is connected to the rib plate, and the rib plate is located above the support plate; the cylinder body is connected with a working pipe, one end of the working pipe extends outside the cylinder body, and the other end sequentially passes through the support plate and the rib plate and then communicates with the inner cavity of the cylinder body, and a plurality of air outlet holes are opened on the working pipe, and the air outlet holes are located inside the cylinder body.

[0012] According to the above technical features, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: A method for producing plant fibers provided by the present invention realizes an effective reduction in energy consumption through the application of a low-temperature and high-pressure environment. Compared with traditional methods, the energy-saving effect can reach more than 30%; through precise temperature and pressure control, the phenomenon of material carbonization can be effectively avoided, making the quality of the final product more stable; the introduction of the steam-solid separation device and the recycling and reuse of steam not only improve the resource utilization rate but also reduce environmental pollution; the overall process is simple and easy to implement, suitable for large-scale industrial production, and has high economic value and social benefits. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic flow chart of the method provided by the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the device provided by the present invention; Figure 3 is a top view of the device provided by the present invention.

[0014] In the figure: 1 - skirt support; 2 - support plate; 3 - working pipe; 4 - cylinder body; 5 - rib plate; 6 - cap; 7 - connecting seat. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0015] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Components of the embodiments of the present invention usually described and illustrated in the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0016] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed present invention, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0017] Embodiment 1 Please refer to Figures 1 - 3 , an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for producing plant fibers, the method comprising: Clean the raw materials and feed them into a softening container; Add a liquid medium into the softening container in proportion; Heat the liquid-containing raw materials in the softening container to reach a specified pressure, temperature, and form saturated steam; Maintain a constant temperature and pressure for a specified duration under the foregoing conditions; Introduce compressed gas into the softening container to form unsaturated steam and reach a specified pressure; Quickly release the pressure in the softening container to make the material present a fibrous structure; Separate the material from the steam; The material enters the next process, and the steam is recovered and stored.

[0018] It is worth noting that the applicant found through experiments that the main reasons for the problems of high energy consumption, unstable product quality, and easy carbonization of materials are that cellulose and lignin in biomass are prone to uncontrollable thermal degradation under high-temperature environments, thus causing carbonization phenomena. In addition, traditional equipment lacks an effective energy recovery mechanism during the pressure release process, further exacerbating energy waste. In view of the above problems, the present invention proposes a new method for producing plant fibers: firstly, reducing the occurrence of thermal degradation through low-temperature and high-pressure softening technology, fundamentally avoiding material carbonization, and improving the quality stability of products; secondly, introducing a steam recovery system to achieve efficient energy utilization and reduce production energy consumption; finally, optimizing the pressure release process to ensure the integrity of the fiber structure and improve product quality, thereby solving the problems of high energy consumption, unstable product quality, and easy carbonization of materials in the prior art.

[0019] Further, the ratio range between the raw material and the liquid medium is from 1:1.2 to 1:1.6. It should be noted that through multiple experimental verifications by the applicant, the ratio between the raw material and the liquid medium is 1:1.4. This ratio can ensure that the raw material fully absorbs moisture while avoiding an excessive amount of liquid increasing the burden of subsequent steam recovery.

[0020] Further, compressed gas is introduced into the softening container, creating a low-temperature and high-pressure environment inside the softening container, with a pressure range of 1.8 - 2.2 Mkpa and a temperature range of 130 - 170 °C. Preferably, the pressure value of the low-temperature and high-pressure environment is 2.0 Mkpa and the temperature value is 160 °C.

[0021] Further, the raw material is fed into the softening container through a conveying and feeding system.

[0022] Further, compressed gas is introduced into the softening container through an air compressor.

[0023] Further, the liquid-containing raw material in the softening container is softened by electromagnetic heating.

[0024] Further, the material and steam are separated through a vapor-solid separation device.

[0025] Specifically, this embodiment provides an exemplary method, including: S1. After cleaning the raw material, it is fed into the softening container. Specifically: Biomass raw materials such as bamboo and wood are cleaned to remove surface impurities and dirt, and then the cleaned raw material is fed into the softening container through a conveying and feeding system; S2. Add the liquid medium into the softening container in proportion. Specifically, the liquid medium is added at a material-liquid ratio of approximately 1:1.4; S3. Heat the liquid-containing raw material in the softening container to reach the specified pressure and temperature and form saturated steam. Specifically: Start the electromagnetic heating device to heat the raw material and the liquid medium in the softening container. During the heating process, the temperature and pressure inside the softening container gradually increase to reach the target values, forming a saturated steam environment; S4. Under the conditions of S3, maintain a constant temperature and pressure for a specified duration, which can be 30 - 120 minutes, to soften the raw material; S5. Introduce compressed gas into the softening container to form unsaturated steam and reach the specified pressure. Specifically: Close all valves, start the air compressor, and introduce compressed gas into the softening container to increase the pressure inside the container, so as to form a low-temperature and high-pressure unsaturated steam environment inside the softening container. The pressure value of the softening container is preferably 2.0 Mkpa and the temperature is about 160 °C, so that the raw materials are fully softened and meet the discharge requirements. The real-time monitoring system dynamically adjusts the heating power and the flow rate of compressed air through high-precision sensors to ensure that the environment inside the tank always remains within the target range, thereby effectively improving the stability and controllability of the production process. The working pressure range of the air compressor is set to 1.8 - 2.2 Mkpa, which can meet the requirements under different process conditions. After the compressed air enters the softening container through the pipeline, it mixes with the water and raw materials inside the tank. S6. Quickly release the pressure inside the softening container to make the material present a fibrous structure. Specifically: When the softening is completed, open the discharge port of the softening container and instantaneously release the pressure. By instantaneously releasing the pressure, the material forms a fibrous structure during the rapid expansion process. Specifically, when the pressure suddenly drops, the moisture inside the softened material will quickly vaporize and generate an expansion force, thereby breaking the connection between the fibers and forming a loose fibrous structure. To ensure the efficiency and controllability of the pressure release process, the discharge port of the softening container is designed as a porous structure to ensure the uniformity of pressure release. At the same time, the strict control of the pressure release time also avoids the problem of incomplete fibrous structure caused by too slow pressure release.

[0026] S7. Separate the material from the steam, and the material enters the next process. Specifically: Separate the material from the steam through a gas-solid separation device. The separated material enters the next process through the conveying system, and finally a dry fiber product without obvious water is obtained. This step realizes the formation of a fibrous shape by taking advantage of the physical properties of the material when the pressure drops suddenly, causing its structure to deform. S8. Recover and store the steam. Specifically: The separated water vapor is stored in a storage tank through a steam recovery device for next use.

[0027] Optionally, the electromagnetic heating device adopts high-frequency electromagnetic induction technology, which can quickly and evenly heat the material, thereby reducing energy loss and forming a low-temperature and high-pressure environment.

[0028] It should be noted that when heating the liquid-containing raw materials in the softening container, the pressure value of the compressed air inside it needs to be precisely controlled to ensure the stability of the subsequent low-temperature and high-pressure environment.

[0029] Optionally, the pressure release time is controlled to be completed within 2 to 5 seconds.

[0030] Optionally, the gas-solid separation device is internally provided with a spiral separation structure, which can efficiently separate the material from the steam and reduce material loss at the same time.

[0031] Optionally, the conveying and feeding system is designed as a screw conveyor, which can smoothly feed the raw materials into the softening container, avoiding breakage or blockage of the raw materials during transportation.

[0032] Optionally, the steam recovery equipment adopts a multi-stage condensation technology. The first-stage condenser preliminarily condenses the steam into liquid water through cooling water, adopting an indirect cooling method. The second-stage condenser further reduces the steam temperature, adopting a direct cooling method, further reducing the steam temperature to ensure its complete condensation. This multi-stage condensation technology not only reduces the environmental impact of steam emissions, but also realizes the efficient recovery and reuse of thermal energy, significantly reducing production energy consumption and saving operation costs. The designed capacity of the storage tank is determined according to the actual production requirements and can meet the needs of multiple cycles of use.

[0033] Furthermore, the gas injection equipment is connected to the softening container through a sealed pipeline to ensure that the compressed gas can be evenly distributed inside the container. The electromagnetic heat source is installed on the outer wall of the container and contacts the inner wall of the container through a heat-conducting material, thereby realizing efficient heat transfer. The gas-solid separation device is installed at the discharge port of the softening container and relies on the action of gravity and air flow to separate the material from the steam. The steam recovery equipment is connected to the storage tank through a condensate pipe, and the inner wall of the condensate pipe is coated with a corrosion-resistant coating to extend its service life.

[0034] It should be noted that the production method provided in this embodiment realizes precise control of temperature, pressure, and time, and solves the problems of high energy consumption and easy carbonization of materials existing in the prior art. The low-temperature and high-pressure softening process effectively reduces energy consumption and production costs; it avoids the risk of material carbonization in a high-temperature environment and ensures the quality stability and consistency of fiber products; the application of the multi-stage condensation technology realizes the efficient recovery and reuse of steam and reduces resource waste. It realizes an efficient and environmentally friendly method for producing biofibers. Moreover, the operation process of the entire production process is clear and definite, the equipment structure is simple and reliable, and it is easy to operate and maintain. For example, in actual production, the operator only needs to start the equipment according to the preset process parameters to complete the whole process from raw material input to fiber product output, and the automatic control system can monitor and adjust various parameters in real time to ensure the stability and consistency of the production process. In addition, the introduction of the steam recovery equipment not only reduces energy consumption, but also conforms to the concept of green environmental protection and reduces resource waste.

[0035] Embodiment 2 Please refer to Figures 1 - 3, based on Embodiment 1, a device for producing plant fibers is provided. The device includes: a cylinder body 4, with connecting seats 7 connected to both sides of the top of the cylinder body 4, a skirt support 1 connected to the outside of the bottom of the cylinder body 4, a discharge port opened at the bottom of the cylinder body 4, parallel support plates 2 and rib plates 5 connected inside the cylinder body 4, a cap 6 connected to the rib plate 5, and the rib plate 5 is located above the support plate 2; the cylinder body 4 is connected to a working pipe 3, one end of the working pipe 3 extends outside the cylinder body 4, and the other end sequentially passes through the support plate 2 and the rib plate 5 and then communicates with the inner cavity of the cylinder body 4. A number of air outlet holes are opened on the working pipe 3, and the air outlet holes are located inside the cylinder body 4. It should be noted that the cylinder body 4 is the softening container. Further, a discharge pipe is detachably connected to the discharge port, and a transition hole for passing through the discharge pipe is opened on the skirt support 1. It should be noted that the cap 6 is sleeved on the end of the working pipe 3, and this end is located at one end of the cylinder body 4. The bottom of the cylinder body 4 has a head. The top of the cylinder body 4 has a feeding port.

[0036] In some embodiments, the cylinder body 4 is further connected with a temperature gradient control module, a multi-layer heat insulation and reflection screen, a dynamic gas distributor, and a steam-assisted softening system. The temperature gradient control module is arranged on the inner wall of the cylinder body 4 and consists of a plurality of embedded thermocouples and resistance heating wires. The thermocouples are arranged at equal intervals along the axial direction of the cylinder body 4 for real-time monitoring of the temperature distribution in different regions inside the cylinder body 4. The resistance heating wires adjust the heating power in sections according to the data fed back by the thermocouples, so as to form a temperature gradient gradually decreasing from the top to the bottom of the cylinder body 4, ensuring that the plant fibers are heated more evenly during the softening process and avoiding the occurrence of carbonization caused by local overheating. The multi-layer heat insulation and reflection screen is installed between the inner wall of the cylinder body 4 and the rib plate 5 and is made of multi-layer ceramic fiber materials. A high-reflectivity metal coating is coated between each layer, which can effectively reduce heat loss and reflect the excess heat back to the inner cavity of the cylinder body 4, further improving the energy utilization rate and reducing the influence of the external environment on the internal temperature field of the cylinder body 4. The dynamic gas distributor is integrated inside the working pipe 3 and is used in cooperation with the air outlet holes on the working pipe 3, so that the gas entering the cylinder body 4 can evenly cover all areas of the inner cavity of the cylinder body 4, and at the same time avoid local drying or overheating problems caused by uneven gas flow. The steam-assisted softening system is arranged at the top of the cylinder body 4 and is used to evenly disperse high-temperature steam into tiny droplets, which fully contact with the plant fibers and penetrate into their internal structures, thereby effectively enhancing the softening effect.

[0037] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features and advantages of the present invention. For a person skilled in the art, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the details of the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments, and without departing from the spirit or basic characteristics of the present invention, the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms. Therefore, from any point of view, the embodiments should be regarded as exemplary and non-restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the above description. Therefore, it is intended to embrace all changes that fall within the meaning and scope of the equivalent elements of the claims in the present invention. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the claims concerned.

[0038] In addition, it should be understood that although this specification is described in terms of embodiments, not every embodiment only contains an independent technical solution. This narrative manner of the specification is only for clarity. A person skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A method for producing plant fibers, characterized in that, Including: Send the raw materials into the softening container after cleaning; Add a liquid medium into the softening container in proportion; Heat the liquid-containing raw materials in the softening container to reach the specified pressure and temperature in the softening container and form saturated steam; Maintain the specified duration at constant temperature and pressure under the above conditions; Introduce compressed gas into the softening container to form unsaturated steam and reach the specified pressure; Quickly release the pressure in the softening container to make the material present a fibrous structure; Separate the material from the steam; The material enters the next process, and the steam is recovered and stored.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The proportion range between the raw materials and the liquid medium is 1:1.2 to 1:1.

6.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein When introducing compressed gas into the softening container, a low-temperature and high-pressure environment is formed in the softening container, and its pressure range is 1.8 - 2.2 Mkpa and the temperature range is 130 - 170 °C.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein Send the raw materials into the softening container through a conveying and feeding system.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein Introduce compressed gas into the softening container through an air compressor.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein Heat the liquid-containing raw materials in the softening container by electromagnetic heating.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein Separate the material from the steam through a vapor-solid separation device.

8. A device for producing plant fibers, characterized in that, Including: A cylinder body (4), both sides of the top of the cylinder body (4) are connected with connecting seats (7), the outside of the bottom of the cylinder body (4) is connected with a skirt support (1), a discharge port is opened at the bottom of the cylinder body (4), parallel support plates (2) and rib plates (5) are connected inside the cylinder body (4), a cap (6) is connected to the rib plate (5), and the rib plate (5) is located above the support plate (2); the cylinder body (4) is connected with a working pipe (3), one end of the working pipe (3) extends outside the cylinder body (4), and the other end sequentially passes through the support plate (2) and the rib plate (5) and then communicates with the inner cavity of the cylinder body (4), and a plurality of air outlet holes are opened on the working pipe (3), and the air outlet holes are located inside the cylinder body (4).

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