Distributor, feeding system and method of use and control thereof

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of aquaculture technology, specifically to a distributor, a feeding system, and their usage and control methods. The distributor includes a distribution disc with several discharge ports, all located on the same circumference and evenly distributed. Each discharge port connects to a terminal. It also includes a diverter with an inlet and several outlets, smoothly transitioning between the inlet and each outlet. The inlet connects to a conveying pipe, and each outlet section has a valve. The outlets connect to the discharge ports. The number of outlets is less than the number of discharge ports, and the outlets are configured to rotate and connect to different discharge ports; alternatively, the number of outlets is equal to the number of discharge ports, with each outlet connecting to one discharge port. This invention enables independent, stable, and uniform feeding from multiple terminals during the same feeding cycle, improving feeding efficiency, reducing feeding intervals and polling frequency, and minimizing mechanical wear on the distributor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of aquaculture technology, and in particular to a dispenser, a feeding system, and methods for using and controlling the same. Background Technology

[0002] In large-scale deep-sea cage aquaculture, pneumatic conveying automatic feeding systems are core equipment for achieving large-scale, intelligent aquaculture (e.g., Chinese patent application CN102550466A). In existing technologies, the distributor is a key mechanical component located at the end of the conveying pipeline, responsible for distributing pneumatically conveyed pelleted feed to the target cages as needed. Current mainstream feeding systems typically employ a single-channel design within the distributor, relying on a rotating S-shaped feed pipe to sequentially switch the inlet's two-phase flow of feed and air to different outlets, feeding only one cage at a time. Taking an aquaculture scenario with eight cages as an example, traditional systems require eight rounds of polling to complete feeding all cages, resulting in extremely low feeding efficiency. The traditional approach to simultaneously feeding multiple cages involves adding multiple independent pneumatic conveying automatic feeding systems to operate synchronously, but this contradicts the trend towards cost reduction and efficiency improvement through intensification.

[0003] This traditional polling and feeding method has the following technical drawbacks:

[0004] 1. Low feeding efficiency: A distributor system with 8 discharge holes requires 8 switching and feeding operations to complete feeding of all net cages. The feeding cycle is long and it is difficult to meet the time window requirements for rapid and concentrated feeding in high-density farming scenarios. 2. Uneven feeding intervals between net cages: There is a significant time difference between the net cages that are fed first and the net cages that are fed later, which leads to asynchronous feeding rhythms in different net cages, affecting the uniformity of aquaculture management and the uniformity of fish growth. 3. Severe mechanical wear of the distributor: The distribution plate needs to be rotated and switched frequently (8 cages need to be switched 8 times). The mechanical wear and failure rate of the rotating mechanism increase with the number of switching times, which reduces the reliability and service life of the system. 4. Low blower utilization: During the intermittent period of polling switching, the blower is in an idling or low-load state, resulting in low effective utilization of power equipment and significant energy waste. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to address the problems of low feeding efficiency, uneven feeding intervals, and severe mechanical wear of distributors in existing pneumatic conveying automatic feeding systems, and to provide a distributor, a feeding system, and their usage and control methods.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a distributor, including a distribution disc having a plurality of discharge ports located on the same circumference and evenly distributed, each discharge port being used to connect to a terminal, and a diverter; the diverter includes an inlet and a plurality of outlets, with a smooth transition between the inlet and each outlet, the inlet being used to connect to a conveying pipe, each outlet having a valve on its pipe section, and the outlet being used to connect to the discharge port; the number of outlets is less than the number of discharge ports, and the outlets are configured to be rotatable and able to connect to different discharge ports; or, the number of outlets is equal to the number of discharge ports, and each outlet is connected to one discharge port.

[0007] The distributor described in this invention, by setting the diverter, can achieve one inlet and multiple outlets, distributing the material conveyed by the conveying pipeline to different outlets. Through the docking of the outlets with the discharge port, a feeding method in which a single feed is simultaneously distributed to multiple terminals can be achieved. By controlling the opening degree of the valve corresponding to the outlet, the flow rate of the corresponding outlet can be adjusted, meeting the needs of different terminals under different feeding requirements to carry out multiple independent, stable, and uniform conveying in the same feeding, improving feeding efficiency, reducing feeding intervals and polling times, thereby reducing the mechanical wear of the distributor. The distributor has a simple structure, is easy to use, and has good performance.

[0008] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the diverter further includes a housing, in which a bearing, a rotating bracket and a driver are provided. The pipe section where the inlet is located is connected to the bearing, and all the pipe sections where the outlet is located are connected to the rotating bracket. The driver is connected to and drives the rotating bracket to rotate.

[0009] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the valve is an electric proportional ball valve or an electric eccentric rotary valve.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outlet includes two outlets, and the number of discharge ports is an even number greater than two; the two outlets are connected to two discharge ports arranged in symmetrical positions; or, the two outlets are connected to two discharge ports arranged adjacent to each other, and the outlets rotate two discharge port positions in each rotation.

[0011] Secondly, the present invention also provides a feeding system, including a gas source device, a gas transmission pipeline, an automatic feeder, a conveying pipeline, a terminal, and a distributor as described in any one of the above. The gas source device is connected to the automatic feeder through the gas transmission pipeline. The automatic feeder is connected to the inlet of the distributor through the conveying pipeline. The outlet of the distributor is connected to the terminal through the discharge port of the distribution plate.

[0012] The feeding system described in this invention, by setting up the diverter, can achieve one inlet and multiple outlets, distributing the material conveyed by the conveying pipeline to different outlets. Through the docking of the outlets with the discharge port, a feeding method in which a single feed is simultaneously distributed to multiple terminals can be achieved. By controlling the opening degree of the valve corresponding to the outlet, the flow rate of the corresponding outlet can be adjusted, meeting the needs of different terminals under different feeding requirements to carry out independent, stable, and uniform conveying in the same feeding cycle. This improves feeding efficiency, reduces feeding intervals and polling times, thereby reducing the mechanical wear of the distributor. The feeding system has a simple structure, is easy to use, and has good performance.

[0013] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the air source equipment is a blower or an air compressor.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the automatic feeder includes a rotary feeder and a hopper, the hopper being connected to the rotary feeder, and the rotary feeder being connected to the air supply pipe and the conveying pipe respectively.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the feeding system further includes a control system, which is electrically connected to the gas source equipment, the automatic feeder, the rotary drive of the distributor, and the valve.

[0016] Thirdly, the present invention also provides a method of using the feeding system as described in any of the above claims, comprising the following steps: the air source device is activated to generate airflow, which drives the automatic feeder to discharge material through the air delivery pipeline, and the material is delivered to the inlet through the conveying pipeline; the material is distributed from the outlet to different discharge ports and transported to the corresponding terminals; when the number of outlets is less than the number of discharge ports, the outlets rotate to connect to different discharge ports, and the material is transported to different terminals, and the valve controls the flow rate of each outlet; or, when the number of outlets is equal to the number of discharge ports, the valve controls the opening and closing and / or flow rate of each outlet.

[0017] The feeding system described in this invention, by setting up the diverter, enables a single inlet to multiple outlets, distributing the material conveyed by the pipeline to different outlets. Through the connection between the outlets and the discharge port, a feeding method where a single feed is simultaneously distributed to multiple terminals is achieved. By controlling the opening degree of the valve corresponding to each outlet, the flow rate at that outlet is adjusted, satisfying different feeding needs by allowing for independent, stable, and uniform feeding of multiple terminals during the same feeding cycle. This improves feeding efficiency, reduces feeding intervals and polling frequency, thereby reducing mechanical wear on the distributor. The method is simple to operate, convenient, and effective.

[0018] Fourthly, the present invention also provides a vessel on which a feeding system as described in any of the preceding claims is installed.

[0019] Fifthly, the present invention also provides a control method for a feeding system as described in any of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: The host computer sends the single expected feed amount W_set1, W_set2, W_set3...W_setn for all the terminals currently connected to the splitter; Establish a flow-pressure drop-opening digital model for the valve-controlled channel, and establish the material volumetric flow rate Q_s with the control variable u and the inlet-outlet pressure difference ΔP_valve for each outlet pipe segment:

[0020] Where C_v(u) is the flow coefficient of the valve as the opening degree changes, and SG_mix is ​​the relative density of the gas-material mixture; The expected volumetric flow rate is calculated and distributed based on the total feeding cycle and W_set1, W_set2, W_set3...W_setn, and the average expected material volumetric flow rate Q_exp1, Q_exp2, Q_exp3...Q_expn of each outlet is calculated. The valve opening is optimized and controlled through cross-iteration. The control system optimizes the valve opening in real time using the following cost function: u_cmd1,u_cmd2,u_cmd3……u_cmdn=argminJ=||Q_est1(u1,ΔP)–Q_exp1||²+||Q_est2(u2,Δ P)–Q_exp2||²+||Q_est3(u3,ΔP)–Q_exp3||²……+||Q_estn(un,ΔP)–Q_expn||²+γ·||u1–u2– u3……–un_last|| Where J is the objective cost function, γ is the penalty factor for suppressing frequent fluctuations in valve opening, and the command openings u_cmd1, u_cmd2, u_cmd3...u_cmdn of the valve are obtained and issued for execution; Simultaneously, the actual solid flow rates Q_real1 and Q_real2 of each outlet are obtained to form an integral separation PI feedback correction in the outer loop, ensuring that the total actual feed amount entering the outlet is accurately equal to W_set. Feeding of all terminals is accomplished by rotating the outlet and controlling the valve opening; or, feeding of all terminals is accomplished by opening and closing the valve and / or controlling the valve opening.

[0021] The control method of the feeding system described in this invention, based on the feedforward opening calculation model of the target feeding amount and system pressure difference and the multi-channel flow feedback collaborative control algorithm, realizes differentiated material conveying for multiple terminals. The system has extremely high flexibility and can be configured to feed multiple terminals simultaneously or a single terminal, or to set differentiated feeding amounts for multiple terminals, greatly improving the precision of pneumatic conveying feeding. Through independent valve opening control, the feeding amount ratio of each terminal can be flexibly adjusted according to the actual needs of multiple terminals while feeding synchronously, achieving precise differentiated feeding. The independent valve control of multiple outlet channels, coupled with the cross-optimization algorithm based on digital model and flow feedback, realizes the digital, precise, and independent adjustment of the feeding amount and feeding rate of multiple terminals, solving the problem that the flow rate of each branch cannot be accurately controlled when the flow divider channel is passively diverted.

[0022] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, a digital model of flow-pressure drop-opening degree of the valve control channel is established through experimental calibration.

[0023] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, SG_mix estimates the concentration of the feed at the corresponding time.

[0024] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, ΔP_valve is calculated by the difference between the pressure sensor installed in the delivery pipeline and the back pressure at the terminal outlet.

[0025] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the commanded opening degree of the valve is solved by the Newton-Raphson method or the interior point method.

[0026] As a preferred technical solution of the present invention, a solid mass flow sensor is connected to each of the pipe sections where the outlet is located.

[0027] Sixthly, the present invention also provides a distributor as described in any of the above claims, a feeding system as described in any of the above claims, a method of using the feeding system as described in any of the above claims, and a control method of the feeding system as described in any of the above claims, for application in the production, loading and unloading, and / or transportation of fly ash, bottom ash, cement, mineral powder, metal powder, machine-made powder, sintering powder, coke powder, plastic granules, fertilizer granules, chemical raw material granules, waste incineration fly ash, dust removal, grain granules, pharmaceutical raw material granules, and powder-granule mixtures.

[0028] In a seventh aspect, the present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the control method of the feeding system as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0029] Eighthly, the present invention also provides an electronic device, including a memory and a processor; the memory stores a computer program; the processor is configured to execute the program in the memory to implement the control method of the feeding system as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0030] In summary, due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. Feeding efficiency is doubled: Traditional polling methods require feeding as many times as there are terminals. This application adopts a one-in-multiple-out synchronous feeding strategy (for example, if one-in-two-out is used, all eight terminals only need four feedings to complete the feeding). Without adding the gas source equipment and main pipeline, the feeding efficiency is improved and the operation cycle is greatly shortened. 2. The feeding time difference between the terminals is greatly reduced: the terminals that feed synchronously complete the feeding at the same time, the number of switching between groups is reduced, and the feeding time difference between the terminals is significantly reduced, which is conducive to realizing the synchronization of aquaculture management and the unification of the feeding rhythm of fish. 3. Reduce the number of mechanical switching operations of the distributor: The number of rotation switching operations of the distribution disc is reduced by more than half compared with the traditional method, which significantly reduces the mechanical wear and failure risk of the distributor and improves the reliability and service life of the system; 4. Improve the effective utilization rate of gas source equipment: Synchronous feeding reduces intermittent waiting time, and the gas source equipment is in a more continuous and effective working state during the feeding cycle, thereby improving the utilization rate and energy efficiency of the gas source equipment. 5. Independent Adjustment of Multiple Feeding Rates: The system is highly flexible and can be configured to simultaneously feed multiple terminals or a single terminal, or to set differentiated feeding rates for multiple terminals, greatly improving the precision of pneumatic conveying feeding. Through independent valve opening control, the feeding rate ratio of each terminal can be flexibly adjusted according to the actual needs of multiple terminals while feeding synchronously, achieving precise differentiated feeding. The independent valve control of multiple outlet channels, coupled with the cross-optimization algorithm based on digital models and flow feedback, realizes the digital, precise, and independent adjustment of the feeding rate and feeding rate of multiple terminals, solving the problem of inaccurate control of the flow rate of each branch when the flow divider is passively diverted. 6. Compact structure and strong compatibility: The pipeline is made of corrosion-resistant and wear-resistant materials, which can adapt to the harsh environment of high salt and high humidity at sea and has a long service life; the multi-outlet distributor is based on the existing single-outlet distributor with structural improvement. The configuration of the diverter and the valve does not significantly increase the system volume. It can be well compatible with the existing feeding system, is easy to upgrade and modify, and is suitable for the limited space of the offshore aquaculture platform. 7. High cost performance: Compared with traditional multi-channel feeding systems that can only achieve one-to-one feeding, this application does not require adding too much equipment. It only improves efficiency by optimizing the structure of the distributor and the feeding strategy. The equipment procurement and maintenance costs are low, and the cost performance is high. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the feeding system; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged diagram of section A in the middle; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a distributor structure; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of one possible arrangement of the distributor.

[0032] Marked in the image: 1-Gas source equipment; 2-Gas pipeline; 3-Automatic feeder; 31-Rotary feeder; 32-Booth; 4-Transportation pipeline; 5-Diverter, 51-Inlet, 52-Outlet, 53-Bearing, 54-Housing, 55-Rotating bracket, 56-Driver; 6-Valve; 7-Distribution plate, 71-Discharge port; 8-Terminal. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to experimental examples and specific embodiments. However, this should not be construed as limiting the scope of the above-mentioned subject matter of the present invention to the following embodiments; all technologies implemented based on the content of the present invention fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0034] Unless otherwise specified, the use of terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "center," "inner," and "outer" to indicate orientation or positional relationships in the description of specific embodiments of the present invention is based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the product / equipment / device is typically placed during use. These terms are merely for the purpose of facilitating the description of the present invention or simplifying the description in specific embodiments, enabling those skilled in the art to quickly understand the solution, and do not indicate or imply that a particular device / component / element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific positional relationship. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention.

[0035] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "horizontal," "vertical," "suspended," and "parallel" does not imply that the corresponding device / component / element must be absolutely horizontal, vertical, suspended, or parallel, but rather that it can be slightly tilted or have a deviation. For example, "horizontal" merely means that its direction is more horizontal relative to "vertical," not that the structure must be completely horizontal, but that it can be slightly tilted. Alternatively, it can be simplified to mean that the corresponding device / component / element, when set in a "horizontal," "vertical," "suspended," or "parallel" direction, can have an error / deviation of ±10% relative to the corresponding direction, more preferably within ±8%, more preferably within ±6%, more preferably within ±5%, and more preferably within ±4%. As long as the corresponding device / component / element is within the error / deviation range, it can still achieve its function in the present invention.

[0036] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first," "second," and "third" in terminology is merely for distinguishing descriptions of identical or similar components and should not be interpreted as emphasizing or implying the relative importance of a particular component.

[0037] Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments of the present invention, "several", "more than", and "a number of" represent at least two. The number can be any number, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, and can even exceed nine.

[0038] Furthermore, in the description of the technical solution of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified / limited / restricted, the terms "set up," "install," "connect," "link," "provided with," "laid out," and "arranged" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to common connection methods in the art, such as welding, riveting, bolting, and threaded connections. Such connections can be mechanical, electrical, or communication connections; they can be direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components.

[0039] In related technologies, existing pneumatic conveying automatic feeding systems suffer from problems such as low feeding efficiency, uneven feeding intervals, severe mechanical wear of the distributor, and low blower utilization. Therefore, the technical solution of this application was developed, which is described below in conjunction with... Figures 1 to 4 To elaborate.

[0040] Example 1 like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the distributor of the present invention includes a distributor 5 and a distribution disk 7.

[0041] like Figures 1 to 4As shown, the distribution plate 7 is provided with a plurality of discharge ports 71, all of which are located on the same circumference and are evenly distributed. Each discharge port 71 is used to connect to a terminal 8.

[0042] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the diverter 5 includes an inlet 51 and several outlets 52, with a smooth transition between the inlet 51 and each outlet 52. The inlet 51 is used to connect to the conveying pipe 4, and each pipe section where the outlet 52 is located is provided with a valve 6. The outlet 52 is used to connect to the discharge port 71. In some optional embodiments, the valve 6 is an electric proportional ball valve or an electric eccentric rotary valve.

[0043] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the number of outlets 52 is less than the number of discharge ports 71, and the outlets 52 are configured to rotate and dock with different discharge ports 71.

[0044] Alternatively, not shown, the number of outlets 52 is equal to the number of discharge ports 71, with each outlet 52 connected to one discharge port 71.

[0045] In some alternative implementations, such as Figure 3 As shown, the diverter 5 also includes a housing 54, which contains a bearing 53, a rotating bracket 55 and a driver 56. The pipe section where the inlet 51 is located is connected to the bearing 53, and all pipe sections where the outlet 52 is located are connected to the rotating bracket 55. The driver 56 is connected to and drives the rotating bracket 55 to rotate.

[0046] In some alternative implementations, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the diverter 5 includes two outlets 52, corresponding to two valves 6 numbered V1 and V2. The number of discharge ports 71 is an even number greater than two. In this embodiment, as shown... Figure 1 and Figure 2 An example of a diversion and conveying mode is provided, wherein there are eight discharge ports 71, numbered I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII, which are respectively connected to the eight terminals 8 numbered I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII; wherein, the discharge ports 71 numbered I and V are symmetrically arranged on the distribution plate 7, the discharge ports 71 numbered II and VI are symmetrically arranged, the discharge ports 71 numbered III and VI are symmetrically arranged, and the discharge ports 71 numbered IV and VIII are symmetrically arranged, for a total of four sets of discharge ports 71. The two outlets 52 corresponding to V1 and V2 are connected to one set of discharge ports 71 at a time. Figure 2An example is given where two outlets 52 are simultaneously connected to the discharge ports 71 numbered I and V. When material is transported to the two terminals 8 at one time, the driver 56 only needs to drive the rotating bracket 55 to rotate the outlet 52 four times, which doubles the efficiency compared to the existing technology of one-to-one polling eight times, halves the number of switching times, and reduces mechanical wear.

[0047] In this embodiment, as shown Figure 4 Another diversion conveying mode is illustrated, in which the two outlets 52 are connected to two adjacent discharge ports 71. Each time the outlet 52 rotates, the positions of the two discharge ports 71 are changed. The two outlets 52 corresponding to V1 and V2 are first connected to the discharge ports 71 numbered I and II, and then rotate to connect to the discharge ports 71 numbered III and IV, V and VI, and VII and VIII respectively. Compared with the previous diversion conveying mode, the material is still conveyed to the two terminals 8 at one time. The driver 56 only needs to drive the rotating bracket 55 to rotate the outlet 52 four times (but the angle of rotation is large each time). The efficiency is doubled compared with the prior art, the number of switching times is halved, and the mechanical wear is reduced.

[0048] Of course, based on the above-mentioned diverter 5 dividing the outlet of the conveying pipe 4 into two, those skilled in the art can easily conceive of structural forms such as dividing into three or four, and their respective diversion and conveying modes can be derived by referring to the above-mentioned diversion and conveying mode of dividing into two.

[0049] In some optional embodiments, not shown, the number of outlets 52 is equal to the number of discharge ports 71. Each outlet 52 is fixedly connected to one discharge port 71. Instead of setting the rotating bracket 55 and the driver 56, a fixed bracket is used to support the pipeline where the outlet 52 is located. The opening and closing and / or flow rate of each outlet 52 are controlled by the valve 6. For example, each of the eight discharge ports 71 corresponds to one of the eight terminals 8. When one of the terminals 8 does not need to transport materials (e.g., when no aquaculture operation is being carried out or when cleaning of the terminal 8 is being carried out), the corresponding valve 6 can be closed, keeping the other seven valves 6 unobstructed. At the same time, the opening degree of the seven valves 6 is adjustable to achieve different conveying volumes corresponding to the needs of the seven terminals 8.

[0050] The distributor described in this embodiment, by setting the diverter 5, can achieve one inlet and multiple outlets, distributing the material conveyed by the conveying pipe 4 to different outlets 52. Through the docking of the outlet 52 with the discharge port 71, a feeding method in which a single feed is simultaneously distributed to multiple terminals 8 is realized. By controlling the opening degree of the valve 6 corresponding to the outlet 52, the flow rate of the corresponding outlet 52 is adjusted, so as to meet the needs of different terminals 8 under different feeding requirements to carry out multiple independent, stable and uniform conveying in the same feeding, thereby improving feeding efficiency, reducing feeding interval and polling number, and thus reducing mechanical wear of the distributor. The distributor has a simple structure, is easy to use and has good effect.

[0051] Example 2 like Figure 1 As shown, the feeding system of the present invention includes a control system, a gas source device 1, a gas pipeline 2, an automatic feeder 3, a conveying pipeline 4, a terminal 8, and a distributor as described in Embodiment 1. The control system is electrically connected to the rotary drive of the gas source device 1, the automatic feeder 3, the distributor 5, and the valve 6, and controls the coordinated operation of each component.

[0052] An air source device 1 serves as the sole air pressure power source for the system, used to generate the air pressure required for pneumatic conveying; in some optional embodiments, the air source device 1 is a blower or an air compressor.

[0053] The gas source device 1 is connected to the automatic feeder 3 through the gas supply pipe 2. The automatic feeder 3 includes a rotary feeder 31 and a hopper 32. The hopper 32 is connected to the rotary feeder 31 and is used to store materials and supply them to the rotary feeder 31. The rotary feeder 31 is used to feed materials into the corresponding gas supply pipe 2 at a set speed. The gas supply pipe 2 is connected to the rotary feeder 31. The rotary feeder 31 is connected to the conveying pipe 4. The conveying pipe 4 is connected to the distributor 5. The distributor 5 is connected to the distribution plate 7. The distribution plate 7 is connected to each terminal 8. That is, the automatic feeder 3 is connected to the inlet 51 of the distributor 5 through the conveying pipe 4. The outlet 52 of the distributor 5 is connected to the terminal 8 through the discharge port 71 of the distribution plate 7. The gas supply pipe 2 and the conveying pipe 4 have the same inner diameter.

[0054] The pneumatic feeding system can be used for large-scale cage aquaculture in deep sea. The material conveyed by the automatic feeder 3 is fish feed, and the terminal 8 is a cage. For the demand for offshore dilute phase positive pressure pneumatic conveying, the air source device 1 can be a screw blower. The feeding system can also be used for feed conveying in pig farming, poultry farming, or feed processing plants.

[0055] The feeding system described in this embodiment, by setting the diverter 5, can achieve one inlet and multiple outlets, distributing the material conveyed by the conveying pipe 4 to different outlets 52. Through the docking of the outlet 52 with the discharge port 71, a feeding method in which a single feed is simultaneously distributed to multiple terminals 8 is achieved. By controlling the opening degree of the valve 6 corresponding to the outlet 52, the flow rate of the corresponding outlet 52 is adjusted, so as to meet the needs of different terminals 8 under different feeding requirements to carry out multiple independent, stable and uniform conveying in the same feeding, thereby improving feeding efficiency, reducing feeding interval and polling number, and thus reducing mechanical wear of the distributor. This feeding system has a simple structure, is easy to use and has good effect.

[0056] Example 3 The method of using the feeding system as described in Example 2 of this invention includes the following steps: The gas source device 1 generates airflow when it is activated, and drives the automatic feeder 3 to feed material through the gas pipeline 2. The material is then conveyed through the conveying pipeline 4 to the inlet 51.

[0057] The material is distributed from the outlet 52 to different discharge ports 71 and transported to the corresponding terminal 8.

[0058] When the number of outlets 52 is less than the number of discharge ports 71, the outlets 52 rotate to connect with different discharge ports 71, and the material is transported to different terminals 8. The valve 6 controls the flow rate of each outlet 52.

[0059] Alternatively, when the number of outlets 52 is equal to the number of discharge ports 71, the valve 6 controls the opening and closing and / or flow rate of each of the outlets 52.

[0060] The feeding system described in this embodiment, by setting the diverter 5, can achieve one inlet and multiple outlets, distributing the material conveyed by the conveying pipe 4 to different outlets 52. Through the docking of the outlet 52 with the discharge port 71, a feeding method in which a single feed is simultaneously distributed to multiple terminals 8 is achieved. By controlling the opening degree of the valve 6 corresponding to the outlet 52, the flow rate of the corresponding outlet 52 is adjusted, meeting the needs of different terminals 8 under different feeding requirements to carry out multiple independent, stable, and uniform conveying in the same feeding, improving feeding efficiency, reducing feeding intervals and polling times, thereby reducing the mechanical wear of the distributor. This method is simple to operate, convenient, and effective.

[0061] Example 4 The present invention also provides a vessel on which a feeding system as described in Example 2 is installed.

[0062] The vessel is also equipped with a belt conveyor, which is connected to the silo 32 and is used to load external materials into the silo 32.

[0063] Example 5 The control method of the feeding system as described in Embodiment 2 of the present invention includes the following steps: The host computer sends the single expected feed amount W_set1, W_set2, W_set3...W_setn for all terminals 8 currently connected to the splitter 5.

[0064] Through experimental calibration, a digital model of flow rate-pressure drop-opening degree of the valve-controlled channel was established. For each pipe section containing outlet 52, the material volumetric flow rate Q_s, control quantity u (valve opening degree, 0-100%), and inlet / outlet pressure difference ΔP_valve were established as physical property relationships.

[0065] Wherein, C_v(u) is the flow coefficient of valve 6 as the opening degree changes, which is a specific nonlinear function. It is an inherent flow capacity index of valve 6 and is strongly related to the structure and opening degree of valve 6; SG_mix is ​​the relative density of the material-air mixture, that is, the ratio of the density of the mixture to the density of the reference medium (usually air or water), which can be estimated based on the material concentration at the corresponding time; ΔP_valve can be calculated by the difference between the pressure sensor installed in the conveying pipeline 4 and the back pressure at the outlet of the terminal 8.

[0066] The expected volumetric flow rate is calculated and distributed based on the total feeding cycle and W_set1, W_set2, W_set3...W_setn, and the expected average material volumetric flow rate Q_exp1, Q_exp2, Q_exp3...Q_expn of each outlet 52 is calculated.

[0067] The valve opening is optimized and controlled through cross-iteration. The control system optimizes the valve opening in real time using the following cost function: u_cmd1,u_cmd2,u_cmd3……u_cmdn=argminJ=||Q_est1u1,ΔP–Q_exp1||²+||Q_est2u2, ΔP–Q_exp2||²+||Q_est3u3,ΔP–Q_exp3||²…+||Q_estnun,ΔP–Q_expn||²+γ·||u1–u2– u3……–un_last|| Where J is the objective cost function, which comprehensively reflects the weighted sum of flow tracking error and valve action stability. The smaller J is, the closer the actual flow distribution of the multi-channel is to the expected value, and the more stable the valve action is. argminJ represents the value or set of independent variables that minimize the objective function J. γ is the penalty factor for suppressing frequent fluctuations in valve opening. The command openings u_cmd1, u_cmd2, u_cmd3...u_cmdn of valve 6 are obtained online and quickly solved using the Newton-Raphson method or the interior point method and then issued for execution.

[0068] Meanwhile, solid mass flow sensors are connected to each of the pipe sections where the outlet 52 is located to obtain the actual solid flow rates Q_real1 and Q_real2 of each outlet 52, forming an integral separation PI feedback correction in the outer loop to ensure that the total actual feed amount entering the outlet 71 is accurately equal to W_set.

[0069] Feeding of all terminals 8 is accomplished by rotating the outlet 52 and controlling the opening of the valve 6; or, feeding of all terminals 8 is accomplished by opening and closing the valve 6 and / or controlling its opening.

[0070] The control method of the feeding system described in this embodiment, based on the feedforward opening calculation model of the target feeding amount and system pressure difference and the multi-channel flow feedback collaborative control algorithm, realizes differentiated material conveying of multiple terminals 8. The system has extremely high flexibility and can be configured to feed multiple terminals 8 simultaneously or a single terminal 8 through the algorithm, or to set differentiated feeding amounts for multiple terminals 8, greatly improving the precision of pneumatic conveying feeding. Through the independent opening control of the valve 6, the feeding amount ratio of each of the multiple terminals 8 can be flexibly adjusted according to the actual needs of the multiple terminals 8 while feeding synchronously, so as to achieve precise differentiated feeding. The independent control of the valve 6 of multiple outlet channels, coupled with the cross-optimization algorithm based on digital model and flow feedback, realizes the digital, precise and independent adjustment of the feeding amount and feeding rate of multiple terminals 8, and solves the problem that the flow of each branch cannot be accurately controlled when the flow channel of the diverter 5 is passively diverted.

[0071] Example 6 The present invention provides a distributor as described in Example 1, a feeding system as described in Example 2, a method for using the feeding system as described in Example 3, and a control method for the feeding system as described in Example 5, applicable to the production, loading, unloading, and / or transportation of fly ash, bottom ash, cement, mineral powder, metal powder, machine-made powder, sintering powder, coke powder, plastic granules, fertilizer granules, chemical raw material granules, waste incineration fly ash, dust removal, grain granules, pharmaceutical raw material granules, and powder-granule mixtures.

[0072] Example 7 The present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the control method of the feeding system as described in Embodiment 5.

[0073] Computer-readable storage media are used to store various types of data to support the operation of the electronic device. This data may include, for example, instructions for any application or method used to operate on the electronic device, as well as application-related data. The computer-readable storage medium may be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), magnetic storage, flash memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk.

[0074] Example 7 An electronic device according to the present invention includes a memory and a processor; the memory stores a computer program; the processor is used to execute the program in the memory to implement the control method of the feeding system as described in Embodiment 5.

[0075] As a preferred embodiment of this invention, the electronic device may include a processor, a memory, and may also include one or more of a multimedia component, an input / output (I / O) interface, and a communication component.

[0076] The processor controls the overall operation of the electronic device to complete all or part of the steps in the control method of the feeding system described above.

[0077] Memory is used to store various types of data to support the operation of the electronic device. This data may include, for example, instructions for any application or method used to operate on the electronic device, as well as application-related data. Memory can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), magnetic storage, flash memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk.

[0078] The multimedia component may include a screen and an audio component, wherein the screen may be, for example, a touch screen, and the audio component is used to output and / or input audio signals; for example, the audio component may include a microphone for receiving external audio signals, the received audio signals may be further stored in memory or transmitted via a communication component; the audio component may also include at least one speaker for outputting audio signals.

[0079] I / O interfaces provide interfaces between the processor and other interface modules, such as keyboards, mice, buttons, etc.; these buttons can be virtual buttons or physical buttons.

[0080] The communication component is used for wired or wireless communication between the electronic device and other devices; wireless communication, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, 5GA or 6G, or one or more combinations thereof, and the corresponding communication component may include: Wi-Fi module, Bluetooth module, Star Flash module, NFC module, mobile communication module.

[0081] As a preferred embodiment, the electronic device may be implemented by one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, or other electronic components to execute the control method of the feeding system described above.

[0082] In addition, the computer-readable storage medium provided in this embodiment can be the memory including program instructions mentioned above, which can be executed by the processor of the electronic device to complete the control method of the feeding system.

[0083] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A distributor comprising a distribution disc (7) having a plurality of discharge ports (71) located on the same circumference and evenly distributed, each discharge port (71) being used to connect to a terminal (8), characterized in that, It also includes a splitter (5); The diverter (5) includes an inlet (51) and several outlets (52). There is a smooth transition between the inlet (51) and each outlet (52). The inlet (51) is used to connect to the conveying pipe (4). Each outlet (52) is provided with a valve (6) on the pipe section. The outlet (52) is used to connect to the discharge port (71). The number of outlets (52) is less than the number of discharge ports (71), and the outlets (52) are configured to rotate and dock with different discharge ports (71); Alternatively, the number of outlets (52) is equal to the number of discharge ports (71), with each outlet (52) connected to one discharge port (71).

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diverter (5) also includes a housing (54), which contains a bearing (53), a rotating bracket (55), and a driver (56). The pipe section where the inlet (51) is located is connected to the bearing (53), and all pipe sections where the outlet (52) is located are connected to the rotating bracket (55). The driver (56) is connected to and drives the rotating bracket (55) to rotate.

3. The dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve (6) is an electric proportional ball valve or an electric eccentric rotary valve.

4. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The outlet (52) includes two, and the number of the discharge ports (71) is an even number greater than two; The two outlets (52) are connected to the two discharge ports (71) arranged in symmetrical positions; Alternatively, the two outlets (52) are connected to two adjacent discharge ports (71), and the outlets (52) rotate to the positions of the two discharge ports (71) in each rotation.

5. A feeding system, characterized in that, The device includes a gas source (1), a gas pipeline (2), an automatic feeder (3), a conveying pipeline (4), a terminal (8), and a distributor as described in any one of claims 1-4. The gas source (1) is connected to the automatic feeder (3) through the gas pipeline (2). The automatic feeder (3) is connected to the inlet (51) of the distributor (5) through the conveying pipeline (4). The outlet (52) of the distributor (5) is connected to the terminal (8) through the discharge port (71) of the distribution plate (7).

6. The feeding system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The gas source equipment (1) is a blower or an air compressor.

7. The feeding system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The automatic feeder (3) includes a rotary feeder (31) and a hopper (32). The hopper (32) is connected to the rotary feeder (31), and the rotary feeder (31) is connected to the air supply pipe (2) and the conveying pipe (4).

8. The feeding system according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a control system electrically connected to the gas source device (1), the automatic feeder (3), the rotary drive of the distributor (5), and the valve (6).

9. A method of using the feeding system as described in any one of claims 5-8, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: The gas source device (1) generates airflow when it is started, and drives the automatic feeder (3) to feed material through the gas pipeline (2). The material is conveyed through the conveying pipeline (4) to the inlet (51). The material is distributed from the outlet (52) to different discharge ports (71) and transported to the corresponding terminal (8); When the number of outlets (52) is less than the number of discharge ports (71), the outlets (52) rotate to connect with different discharge ports (71), and the material is transported to different terminals (8). The valve (6) controls the flow rate of each outlet (52). Alternatively, when the number of outlets (52) is equal to the number of discharge ports (71), the valve (6) controls the opening and closing and / or flow rate of each of the outlets (52).

10. A ship, characterized in that, It is equipped with a feeding system as described in any one of claims 5-8.

11. A control method for a feeding system as described in any one of claims 5-8, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: The host computer sends the single expected feed amount W_set1, W_set2, W_set3...W_setn of all terminals (8) currently connected to the splitter (5); Establish a flow-pressure drop-opening digital model for the valve-controlled channel, and establish the material volumetric flow rate Q_s with the control quantity u and the inlet-outlet pressure difference ΔP_valve for each pipe segment where the outlet (52) is located: Wherein, C_v(u) is the flow coefficient of the valve (6) as the opening degree changes, and SG_mix is ​​the relative density of the gas-material mixture; The expected volumetric flow rate is calculated and distributed based on the total feeding cycle and W_set1, W_set2, W_set3...W_setn, and the expected average material volumetric flow rate Q_exp1, Q_exp2, Q_exp3...Q_expn of each outlet (52) is calculated. The valve opening is optimized and controlled through cross-iteration. The control system optimizes the valve opening (6) in real time using the following cost function: u_cmd1,u_cmd2,u_cmd3……u_cmdn=argminJ=||Q_est1(u1,ΔP)–Q_exp1||²+||Q_est2(u2,Δ P)–Q_exp2||²+||Q_est3(u3,ΔP)–Q_exp3||²……+||Q_estn(un,ΔP)–Q_expn||²+γ·||u1–u2– u3……–un_last|| Where J is the objective cost function, γ is the penalty factor for suppressing frequent fluctuations in the valve opening, and the command openings u_cmd1, u_cmd2, u_cmd3...u_cmdn of the valve (6) are obtained and sent out for execution; At the same time, the actual solid flow rates Q_real1 and Q_real2 of each outlet (52) are obtained to form an integral separation PI feedback correction of the outer loop, ensuring that the total actual feed amount entering the outlet (71) is accurately equal to W_set; Feeding of all terminals (8) is accomplished by rotating the outlet (52) and controlling the opening of the valve (6); or, feeding of all terminals (8) is accomplished by opening and closing the valve (6) and / or controlling the opening.

12. The control method for the feeding system according to claim 11, characterized in that, Through experimental calibration, a digital model of flow rate, pressure drop, and opening degree of the valve-controlled channel was established.

13. The control method for the feeding system according to claim 11, characterized in that, SG_mix estimates the concentration based on the material concentration at the corresponding time.

14. The control method for the feeding system according to claim 11, characterized in that, ΔP_valve is calculated by the difference between the pressure sensor installed on the delivery pipeline (4) and the back pressure at the outlet of the terminal (8).

15. The control method for the feeding system according to claim 11, characterized in that, The commanded opening degree of the valve (6) is determined by the Newton-Raphson method or the interior point method.

16. The control method for the feeding system according to any one of claims 11-15, characterized in that, Each of the outlets (52) is connected to a solid mass flow sensor on the pipe section.

17. A dispenser as described in any one of claims 1-4, a feeding system as described in any one of claims 5-8, a method of using the feeding system as described in claim 9, and a control method for the feeding system as described in any one of claims 11-16, characterized in that, Applications in the production, loading, unloading and / or transportation of fly ash, bottom ash, cement, mineral powder, metal powder, machine-made powder, sintering powder, coke powder, plastic granules, fertilizer granules, chemical raw material granules, waste incineration fly ash, dust removal, grain granules, pharmaceutical raw material granules, and powder-granule mixtures.

18. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When executed by the processor, the program implements the control method of the feeding system as described in any one of claims 11-16.

19. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: A memory on which computer programs are stored; A processor for executing the program in the memory to implement the control method of the feeding system as described in any one of claims 11-16.

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