Solar energy-saving vertical drying tower

Abstract

The invention discloses a solar energy-saving vertical drying tower, and relates to the technical field of mineral material drying. A 3m * 3m * 10m vertical square structure is adopted, a 3mm-thick steel plate is directly rolled and welded, and a simple hoop, an inner wall aluminum foil and an outer wall heat preservation cotton are arranged outside the steel plate, so that light weight, low cost, easy construction and good heat insulation are achieved; six groups of Z-shaped labyrinth air ducts are arranged inside, each group comprises 13 flow guide straight plates which are 75 degrees and 10cm long, and Z-shaped slow falling of materials is realized; a large-area solar heat collection plate of 2000m is configured, low-temperature hot air of 150 DEG C is preferentially provided, natural gas temperature compensation is automatically started in cloudy days, insufficient illumination and rainy days, and the hot air is stabilized at 120-180 DEG C; double-section heat compensation air inlet, hot air internal circulation, material circulation backflow, aluminum fin waste heat recovery, refrigerant deep dehumidification heat exchange and an intelligent control system are adopted, and efficient, energy-saving, stable and automatic drying is achieved. Zero fuel gas consumption in sunny days is achieved, the comprehensive energy-saving rate is 70-90%, the heat utilization rate is larger than 95%, drying is uniform and free of dead corners, material blocking is avoided, the yield is stable, the occupied area is small, and the device is environmentally friendly and suitable for efficient and energy-saving drying of mineral raw materials such as gravel, potassium feldspar powder and iron powder. The problems that traditional equipment is high in energy consumption, incomplete in drying, low in automation degree, waste in energy, uneven in temperature, complex in tower body structure and high in cost are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mineral material drying technology, specifically to a high-efficiency and energy-saving vertical drying equipment that utilizes a large-area solar collector to provide low-temperature hot air, supplemented by natural gas for heating, internal hot air circulation, labyrinthine material descent, dual-stage supplementary heating air intake, material recirculation, aluminum fin waste heat recovery, deep dehumidification and heat exchange with refrigerant, and intelligent control. It is suitable for the efficient, energy-saving, stable, and automated drying of mineral raw materials with a moisture content of about 8%, such as sand, gravel, potassium feldspar powder, and iron powder. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional drying equipment often uses high-temperature hot air (above 600℃), resulting in high energy consumption, low thermal efficiency, and large footprint. Conventional vertical drying towers suffer from rapid material descent, insufficient heat exchange, and incomplete drying. Existing solar drying equipment has low and unstable hot air temperatures, lacks systems that prioritize large-area heat collection (2000m² level), can meet drying needs with low-temperature hot air (150℃), and can automatically supplement heating with natural gas on cloudy days. Direct exhaust of hot air leads to significant waste of waste heat. There is a lack of aluminum finned waste heat recovery devices for humid and hot exhaust gases and deep dehumidification and heat exchange devices for refrigerant, resulting in low energy utilization. Single air inlet leads to uneven temperature inside the tower. Feeding is crude, prone to blockage, and results in unstable output. There is a lack of intelligent control and automated operation mechanisms. Traditional tower bodies are often reinforced with thick steel plates and angle iron, which is costly, complex to construct, and unfavorable for insulation construction. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a solar-powered energy-saving vertical drying tower, using a 2000m² solar collector as the main heat source and prioritizing the use of 150℃ low-temperature hot air for drying. On cloudy days, days with insufficient sunlight, or rainy days, natural gas is automatically activated to supplement the heat, stabilizing the hot air temperature at 120-180℃. The tower features a lightweight structure with 3mm thin steel plates directly rolled and welded, reinforced with simple external hoops, internal aluminum foil for heat dissipation, and external insulation cotton. Combined with a Z-shaped labyrinth air duct, internal hot air circulation, dual-stage supplementary heating air intake, material circulation and recirculation, aluminum fin waste heat recovery, deep dehumidification and heat exchange with refrigerant, and an intelligent control system, it achieves efficient, energy-saving, stable, low-cost, and all-weather automated drying.

[0004] Technical solution

[0005] A solar-powered energy-saving vertical drying tower includes a square drying tower, an automated feeding device, a Z-shaped labyrinth air duct, a dual-stage heat replenishment air intake system, a hot air internal circulation device, a material circulation return device, a 2000m² solar thermal collection system, a natural gas heat replenishment system, an aluminum fin waste heat recovery device, a refrigerant deep dehumidification heat exchange device, and an intelligent control system.

[0006] 1. Square drying tower (3mm steel plate structure, new key feature)

[0007] Vertical rectangular structure, internal cavity dimensions 3m × 3m, total height 10m;

[0008] It is made of 3mm thick Q235 thin steel plate directly rolled and welded, without the need for angle iron reinforcement;

[0009] A simple steel hoop is installed every 1.5-2m on the outside to ensure structural strength and sealing.

[0010] The inner wall is lined with an aluminum foil reflective layer to prevent heat loss;

[0011] The outer wall is wrapped with 100-150mm thick insulation cotton for further heat insulation and energy saving;

[0012] A feeding interface is provided at the top;

[0013] The bottom is equipped with a main hot air inlet and a material outlet;

[0014] A mid-section supplemental heating air inlet is installed at a height of 5m;

[0015] Hot air exhaust vents are located on the top side;

[0016] A recirculating air return port is provided on the side of the middle section.

[0017] 2. Automated feeding device

[0018] Installed at the top feeding interface, it includes a roller-type quantitative feeder (diameter 300-400mm, length 1.5-2m), a variable frequency speed control motor, a material level sensor and a computer control module;

[0019] It achieves dual-mode feeding, combining manual intervention and automatic computer control, precisely controlling the feeding speed, avoiding material accumulation and blockage, and stabilizing output.

[0020] 3. Z-shaped maze-like air duct

[0021] The air ducts are evenly distributed along the height of the tower, with a total of 6 independent air ducts and a spacing of 50cm between the air ducts.

[0022] Each air duct is equipped with 13 straight guide plates with a 75° inclination and a length of 10cm.

[0023] Adjacent straight plates are installed alternately on the left and right, and the material slowly slides down the straight plates in a Z-shaped path, extending the residence time to 8-10 minutes to achieve full heat exchange.

[0024] 4. Dual-stage supplemental heating air intake system

[0025] This includes the main hot air inlet at the bottom (lower section 0-5m), the supplementary heating air inlet in the middle section (upper section 5-10m), and the hot air distribution valve;

[0026] The system automatically adjusts the ratio of the two air intake sections to ensure uniform temperature inside the tower and eliminates any drying dead zones.

[0027] 5. Hot air internal circulation device

[0028] Includes internal circulation fan, circulation duct, moisture sensor and circulation control valve;

[0029] When the moisture content of the hot air does not meet the standard, it automatically circulates internally and exchanges heat with the material multiple times;

[0030] After meeting the standards, the waste heat is sent to the aluminum fin waste heat recovery device to improve the heat utilization rate.

[0031] 6. Material circulation return device

[0032] Includes bucket elevator, return pipeline and diversion valve;

[0033] The system automatically switches based on the material's moisture content: materials that meet the standard are discharged directly, while those that do not meet the standard are returned to the top of the tower for further drying, ensuring stable dryness.

[0034] 7. 2000m² solar thermal system

[0035] Equipped with a 2000m² large-area high-efficiency solar collector array;

[0036] Prioritize the generation of 150℃ low-temperature hot air;

[0037] On sunny days with ample sunlight, the drying needs can be met entirely by solar-powered hot air, with zero gas consumption.

[0038] 8. Natural gas heating system

[0039] Configure a natural gas combustion supplementary heating device;

[0040] The intelligent control system monitors the temperature of the solar hot air and the intensity of sunlight in real time.

[0041] On cloudy days, days with insufficient sunlight, or rainy days, the natural gas will automatically start to supplement the temperature, keeping the hot air stably at 120-180℃;

[0042] Natural gas is automatically shut off on sunny days, achieving an energy-saving operation mode that prioritizes clean energy and compensates for fossil fuel consumption.

[0043] 9. Aluminum finned waste heat recovery device

[0044] It adopts an aluminum high-efficiency finned heat exchanger;

[0045] The hot and humid exhaust gas (100-120℃) extracted from the top of the tower enters the heat exchanger and exchanges heat with the cold outdoor air;

[0046] The sensible and latent heat in the exhaust gas is recovered to preheat the cold air to 60-80℃;

[0047] The exhaust gas is cooled to 50-60℃, and some of the water vapor condenses into water and is discharged, achieving preliminary dehumidification.

[0048] 10. Refrigerant deep dehumidification heat exchanger

[0049] The heat exchanger unit is a refrigerant compression type.

[0050] Air preheated by aluminum fins enters the refrigerant heat exchanger;

[0051] The refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat, lowering the air temperature to 30-40℃, and deep condensation removes residual moisture from the air;

[0052] The refrigerant condenses and releases heat, reheating the dehumidified air to 80-100℃;

[0053] The hot air after deep dehumidification is circulated to the inlet of the solar / natural gas heating system to achieve cascade utilization of thermal energy.

[0054] 11. Intelligent Control System

[0055] It integrates a moisture content sensor, a temperature sensor, a light sensor, a frequency converter, and a touch screen display.

[0056] Automatically controls feeding speed, hot air flow rate, air intake ratio, number of cycles, heating mode switching, and heat exchange parameters between aluminum fins and refrigerant;

[0057] It achieves fully automated operation without human intervention.

[0058] Working principle

[0059] Mineral materials with a moisture content of 8% are fed into the top of the square drying tower at a uniform speed by an automated feeding device and then slowly slide down along the Z-shaped labyrinth air duct.

[0060] On sunny days: 2000m² solar collectors generate 150℃ hot air, which enters the tower through a dual-stage supplementary heating air intake system. The hot air is circulated internally multiple times for drying, and the material is discharged after meeting the standards.

[0061] Cloudy / Rainy Days: Insufficient sunlight will trigger the automatic activation of natural gas to supplement the temperature, with hot air maintained at a stable 120-180℃ to continue drying;

[0062] The hot and humid exhaust gas recovers heat through an aluminum finned waste heat recovery device, then removes moisture through a refrigerant deep dehumidification heat exchange device and is reheated.

[0063] The hot air after deep dehumidification is circulated to the inlet of the heating system to realize the cascade utilization of heat energy;

[0064] Substandard materials are automatically returned to ensure stable dryness.

[0065] Fully intelligent control ensures high efficiency, energy saving, and stable operation.

[0066] Beneficial effects

[0067] 1. Priority use of large-area solar energy: 2000m² solar collectors can be dried with 150℃ hot air on sunny days, with zero gas consumption;

[0068] 2. Automatic natural gas heating on cloudy days: Automatic heating is provided when sunlight is insufficient, with hot air maintained at a stable temperature of 120-180℃, operating around the clock;

[0069] 3. Low-temperature, high-efficiency drying: 150℃ hot air is sufficient to meet the requirements, saving 70-90% more energy than traditional high-temperature drying;

[0070] 4. Hot air internal circulation + waste heat recovery: heat utilization rate > 95%, zero heat waste;

[0071] 5. Aluminum finned heat exchanger + refrigerant: dual waste heat recovery, deep dehumidification, and cascade utilization of thermal energy, further saving 20-30% of energy;

[0072] 6. Z-shaped maze + dual-stage heating: long material residence time, uniform temperature, thorough drying, and no dead corners;

[0073] 7. Lightweight 3mm steel plate structure: low cost, fast construction, airtight, good insulation, inner wall aluminum foil + outer wall insulation cotton, excellent heat insulation effect;

[0074] 8. Automated feeding + material return: no material blockage, stable output, and controllable dryness;

[0075] 9. Intelligent control: Fully automatic operation, reducing labor costs and improving production stability;

[0076] 10. Vertical structure with small footprint: only 1 / 4 the size of a traditional drum dryer, suitable for scenarios with limited space;

[0077] 11. Green and environmentally friendly: mainly using clean energy, with low emissions and low energy consumption, meeting the requirements of green industrial production. Attached Figure Description

[0078] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the Z-shaped labyrinth air duct structure of the solar energy-saving vertical drying tower described in this invention. The air duct is arranged along the height of the drying tower, and a Z-shaped path for the material to descend is formed by staggered guide baffles, which is used to extend the residence time of the material in the tower and achieve full heat exchange and drying.

Claims

1. A solar-powered energy-saving vertical drying tower, characterized in that, It includes a square drying tower, an automated feeding device, a Z-shaped labyrinth air duct, a dual-stage supplementary heating air intake system, a hot air internal circulation device, a material circulation return device, a 2000m² solar thermal collection system, a natural gas supplementary heating system, an aluminum fin waste heat recovery device, a refrigerant deep dehumidification heat exchange device, and an intelligent control system.

2. The drying tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The square drying tower is a vertical square structure of 3m×3m×10m, made of 3mm thick Q235 steel plate directly rolled and welded, with a simple steel hoop on the outside, an aluminum foil reflective layer on the inner wall, and insulation cotton on the outer wall.

3. The drying tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The Z-shaped maze air duct consists of 6 groups, each with 13 75°, 10cm long straight guide plates that are staggered left and right.

4. The drying tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The system prioritizes using 150°C low-temperature hot air generated by 2000m² solar collectors for drying, eliminating the need for natural gas on sunny days.

5. The drying tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: On cloudy days, days with insufficient sunlight, or rainy days, natural gas will automatically be activated to supplement the temperature, and the hot air temperature will be stable at 120-180℃.

6. The drying tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hot air internal circulation device automatically circulates or discharges hot air based on its moisture content.

7. The drying tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material recycling device automatically recycles and re-dries the material based on its moisture content.

8. The drying tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The aluminum finned waste heat recovery device recovers heat from humid waste gas and preheats fresh air; the refrigerant deep dehumidification heat exchange device deeply removes moisture from the air and reheats the circulating hot air.

9. The drying tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The intelligent control system enables fully automatic feeding, temperature control, humidity control, production control, energy control, and heat exchange control.

Images