Fluidized bed cooler

Abstract

A fluidized bed cooler includes an inlet for receiving a material to be cooled into the fluidized bed cooler, a first cooling chamber disposed downstream of the inlet for cooling a flow of material received in the fluidized bed cooler via the inlet, and an outlet disposed downstream of the first cooling chamber for discharging the material cooled in the fluidized bed cooler. The fluidized bed cooler further includes a pre-chamber disposed downstream of the inlet and upstream of the first cooling chamber, the pre-chamber for collecting agglomerates and coarse particles exceeding a first predetermined particle size. The front chamber comprises a front chamber collection box at a lower portion of the front chamber, the front chamber collection box is provided with a fluidization nozzle arrangement, the fluidization nozzle arrangement comprises an opening, and the size of the opening is larger than a first predetermined particle size. Thus, the fluidization nozzle arrangement enables clumps and coarse particles larger than the first predetermined particle size but smaller than the size of the opening in at least two vertical directions of the particles to be discharged from the front chamber through the fluidization nozzle arrangement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to fluidized bed apparatus, and more particularly, to fluidized bed coolers. The present disclosure further relates to a method of cooling a material flow in a fluidized bed cooler. Background Art

[0002] Fluidized bed coolers (FBC) are used in many industrial sectors to cool material from fluidized bed plants and dust collection devices for fluidized bed exhaust gases (e.g. from waste heat boilers).

[0003] One problem with existing fluidized bed cooling equipment is its lifespan and unplanned downtime due to equipment failure, which may be caused by unsatisfactory inlet material outside the specified material property range, particularly unsatisfactory particle size distribution. Summary of the Invention

[0004] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a new method for cooling material in a fluidized bed and a new fluidized bed cooler.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a fluidized bed cooler, comprising: an inlet for receiving material to be cooled into the fluidized bed cooler, a first cooling chamber arranged downstream of the inlet, for cooling the material flow received in the fluidized bed cooler via the inlet, and an outlet arranged downstream of the first cooling chamber, for discharging the material cooled in the fluidized bed cooler, characterized in that the fluidized bed cooler further comprises: an antechamber, which is arranged downstream of the inlet and upstream of the first cooling chamber, for collecting agglomerates and coarse particles exceeding a first predetermined particle size, characterized in that the antechamber comprises an antechamber collecting box located at the lower part of the antechamber, the antechamber collecting box being provided with a fluidizing nozzle arrangement, the fluidizing nozzle arrangement comprising at least one first opening, the size of the at least one first opening being larger than the first predetermined particle size, whereby the fluidizing nozzle arrangement enables agglomerates and coarse particles larger than the first predetermined particle size but smaller than the size of the first opening in at least two vertical directions of the particles to be discharged from the antechamber through the fluidizing nozzle arrangement.

[0006] Preferably, the antechamber collecting box comprises a conical box provided below the fluidising nozzle arrangement for discharging agglomerates and coarse particles discharged through the fluidising nozzle arrangement from the antechamber.

[0007] Preferably, the fluidized bed cooler further comprises a shell, and wherein the inlet and the outlet are provided in the shell, and the front chamber and the first cooling chamber are provided in the shell.

[0008] Preferably, the fluidized bed cooler further comprises one, two or more additional cooling chambers arranged downstream of the first cooling chamber and upstream of the outlet.

[0009] Preferably, the one, two or more further cooling chambers are arranged in the same housing as the front chamber and the first cooling chamber.

[0010] Preferably, a first partial dividing wall is provided between the antechamber and the first cooling chamber, the first partial dividing wall extending only over a portion of the height of the antechamber and the first cooling chamber, thereby providing a second opening between the antechamber and the first cooling chamber, the second opening enabling material to be cooled to pass from the antechamber into the first cooling chamber.

[0011] Preferably, a second partial partition wall is provided between the first cooling chamber and an adjacent further cooling chamber, the second partial partition wall extending only a portion of the height of the first cooling chamber and the further cooling chamber, thereby providing a third opening between the first cooling chamber and the further cooling chamber, the third opening enabling material to be cooled to pass from the first cooling chamber into the further cooling chamber.

[0012] Preferably, the lower portion of the first cooling chamber and one or more of the one or more further cooling chambers comprises a bellows type collecting box capable of collecting particles exceeding a second predetermined particle size in the one or more bellows type collecting boxes.

[0013] Preferably, the fluidizing nozzle arrangement comprises a planar structure extending in a plane on one side of the fluidizing nozzle arrangement, the planar structure being configured to face the material flow, and the fluidizing nozzle and the one or more first openings are provided in the planar structure.

[0014] Preferably, the fluidizing nozzle arrangement comprises a plurality of parallel first fluidizing tubes, each first fluidizing tube being provided with at least one fluidizing nozzle, wherein the first fluidizing tubes are spaced apart from adjacent first fluidizing tubes by a distance greater than the first predetermined particle size.

[0015] Preferably, the fluidizing nozzle arrangement further comprises a plurality of parallel second fluidizing tubes arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the first fluidizing tube, each second fluidizing tube being provided with at least one fluidizing nozzle directed towards the material received in the antechamber via the inlet, wherein the second fluidizing tubes are spaced apart from adjacent second fluidizing tubes by a distance greater than the first predetermined particle size.

[0016] Preferably, the first fluidizing pipe and / or the second fluidizing pipe extend in a horizontal direction.

[0017] Preferably, at least one first fluidizing tube is arranged in fluid connection with at least one other first fluidizing tube and / or second fluidizing tube.

[0018] Preferably, the combination of the fluidization velocity of the air supplied to the antechamber via the fluidizing nozzle arrangement and the height of the first partial partition wall is selected so that material having a particle size smaller than the first predetermined particle size can enter the first cooling chamber, and most of the agglomerates and coarse particles exceeding the first predetermined particle size sink towards the antechamber collecting box.

[0019] Preferably, the antechamber is provided with instrumentation to assess the fluidisation behaviour of the material in the antechamber before the material enters the first cooling chamber or is discharged from the antechamber via the fluidising nozzle arrangement.

[0020] Preferably, the instrument comprises at least one of a pressure instrument and a temperature instrument.

[0021] Preferably, the first predetermined particle size is less than or equal to 100 mm.

[0022] Preferably, the first predetermined particle size is less than or equal to 40 mm.

[0023] Preferably, the first predetermined particle size is less than or equal to 20 mm.

[0024] Preferably, the second predetermined particle size is less than or equal to 300 microns.

[0025] Preferably, the second predetermined particle size is less than or equal to 100 microns.

[0026] Preferably, the fluidized bed cooler comprises a fluidized bed cooler for a fluidized bed apparatus.

[0027] Preferably, the fluidized bed cooler comprises a fluidized bed cooler for a metallurgical roasting plant, a metallurgical calcining plant, or a phosphor rock calcining plant.

[0028] Preferably, the fluidized bed cooler comprises a fluidized bed cooler for cooling calcined material from the fluidized bed apparatus and / or from a dust collection device for exhaust gases of the fluidized bed apparatus, whereby the inlet of the fluidized bed cooler is directly or indirectly connected to the fluidized bed apparatus and / or to a dust collection device for exhaust gases of the fluidized bed apparatus.

[0029] Preferably, the fluidised bed cooler is configured to cool calcined material associated with at least one of the following plants: a tailings and waste treatment plant, a zinc roasting plant, a pyrite roasting plant, a copper roasting plant, a cobalt roasting plant or a gold roasting plant.

[0030] The present disclosure is based on the idea that a prechamber is provided with a fluidising nozzle arrangement comprising at least one opening through which particles outside the normal operating range of the fluidised bed cooler can be discharged.

[0031] One advantage of the method and apparatus of the present disclosure is that it provides a solution for safely discharging agglomerates or coarse particles from the fluidized bed cooler. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in more detail by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a fluidized bed cooler according to a first embodiment;

[0034] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a fluidized bed cooler according to a second embodiment;

[0035] Figure 3 schematically illustrates a fluidized bed cooler according to a third embodiment;

[0036] Figure 4a 、 4b , 4c and 4d schematically show fluidizing nozzle arrangements according to different embodiments, seen from above;

[0037] Figure 5a and 5b Schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the lower section of the antechamber according to two different embodiments, seen from the side;

[0038] Figure 6 schematically illustrates a method for cooling a material in a fluidized bed cooler; and

[0039] Figure 7 A method for cooling a material in a fluidized bed cooler according to one embodiment is schematically shown.

[0040] The accompanying drawings are provided only to illustrate some features of the present disclosure and are not shown to scale. In different figures and embodiments, the same reference numerals are used for similar features. For clarity, not all similar features must be provided with reference numerals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Figure 1 Schematically illustrating a fluidized bed cooler according to a first embodiment, Figure 2 schematically illustrates a fluidized bed cooler according to a second embodiment, and Figure 3 A fluidized bed cooler according to a third embodiment is schematically shown. Figure 4a 、 4b 4c and 4d schematically show fluidizing nozzle arrangements according to different embodiments, as seen from above, and Figure 5a and 5b Schematically shown are cross-sectional views of the lower section of the antechamber according to two different embodiments, seen from the side.

[0042] Fluidized bed cooler 1, such as according to Figure 1-3 The fluidized bed cooler 1 of one embodiment includes an inlet 3 for receiving a material to be cooled into the fluidized bed cooler 1. The fluidized bed cooler 1 also includes a first cooling chamber 4 disposed downstream of the inlet 3 for cooling the material, such as the material stream 28, received into the fluidized bed cooler 1 via the inlet 3. The fluidized bed cooler 1 further includes an outlet 5 disposed downstream of the first cooling chamber 4 for discharging the material cooled in the fluidized bed cooler 1.

[0043] Furthermore, the fluidized bed cooler 1 comprises an antechamber 6, which is arranged downstream of the inlet 3 and upstream of the first cooling chamber 4, for collecting agglomerates and coarse particles exceeding a first predetermined particle size. In other words, the material to be cooled is thus configured to flow from the inlet 3 to the outlet 5 within the fluidized bed cooler 1, i.e., at Figure 1-3 The liquid is configured to flow from right to left in the antechamber 6 as indicated by the inclined arrow 28 , while the agglomerates and coarse particles are configured to flow downwards in the antechamber 6 as indicated by the arrow 23 .

[0044] Antechamber 6 includes an antechamber collection box 8 located in the lower portion 7 of antechamber 6. The lower portion 7 of antechamber 6 refers to the portion of antechamber 6 located below the level of inlet 3. Collection box 8 is provided with a fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9. Fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 includes openings 21, each sized larger than a first predetermined particle size. Fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 includes at least one opening 21, each sized larger than the first predetermined particle size. The size of an opening 21 refers to the dimension of the opening(s) 21 along a plane 22 that is transverse to the direction of flow of material 23 through fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9. In other words, the size of an opening 21, or, if there is more than one opening 21, the size of the largest opening 21, determines the maximum size of at least two perpendicular dimensions of a particle that can pass through fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9. Thus, fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 allows agglomerates and coarse particles that are larger than the first predetermined particle size but smaller than the size of the opening 21 in at least two perpendicular dimensions to be discharged from antechamber 6 through fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9. In other words, the fluidized bed cooler 1 is designed to allow agglomerates and coarse particles, or at least agglomerates and coarse particles that are larger than a first predetermined size and smaller than a grid size defined by the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9, to pass through the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 via the opening(s) 21, which significantly reduces the frequency with which agglomerates and coarse particles collected on the fluidizing nozzles need to be discharged and the adverse effects of the collected particles on the fluidizing operation.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 may include one opening 21. More specifically, the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 may include one opening 21 that enables discharge of agglomerates and coarse particles through the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9. According to one embodiment, the opening 21 may be located in the middle of the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 or close to the middle of the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9, such that the opening 21 overlaps the middle of the plane 22. According to one embodiment, the opening 21 may include a circular, oval, or rectangular cross-section, or any other suitable cross-section. According to one embodiment, the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 may include two or more such openings 21 to enable discharge of agglomerates and coarse particles through the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 may include an open grid design. An open grid design refers to a structure in which gaps are formed between the fluidizing nozzles 14, forming one or more openings 21, thereby enabling the discharge of agglomerates and coarse particles through the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9. These gaps, along a plane 22 transverse to the flow direction of material 23 through the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9, define the size of the openings 21 (or, in this case, the grid size). In such an embodiment, the size of the openings 21 is greater than a first predetermined particle size, thus referring to the grid size as being greater than the first predetermined particle size. In other words, the grid size determines the maximum size of at least two perpendicular dimensions of a particle that can pass through the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9. Thus, the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 including an open grid design forms a grid of fluidizing nozzles for discharging agglomerates and coarse particles through the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9. According to one embodiment, the antechamber 6, more specifically the antechamber collection box 8, may include a conical box disposed below the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 for discharging agglomerates and coarse particles discharged from the antechamber 6. In other words, according to one embodiment, the antechamber collecting box 8 can be formed as a conical box. The conical box, in other words the antechamber collecting box 8, is conical in the sense that the walls of the conical box gradually narrow so that the cross-sectional area of ​​the conical box decreases in the flow direction of the material 23. The cross-section of the conical box may comprise a circular, elliptical, triangular, rectangular, or other rounded or angled shapes. According to one embodiment, a section of the antechamber collecting box 8 may be formed as a conical box. According to another embodiment, the entire antechamber collecting box 8 may be formed as a conical box. According to one embodiment, the antechamber collecting box 8 may comprise any other shape suitable for discharging agglomerates and coarse particles from the antechamber 6.

[0047] According to one embodiment, for example, Figure 2 and 3 In an embodiment, the fluidized bed cooler 1 may further include a housing 2. The inlet 3 and the outlet 5 may be provided in the housing 2. In addition, the antechamber 6 and the first cooling chamber 4 may be provided in the housing 2. This type of structure may be cost-effective, for example. According to another embodiment, the antechamber 6 and the first cooling chamber 4 may be provided in separate housings and connected to each other via a connecting pipe 27, such as in Figure 1 or are connected to each other via another type of pipeline that guides the material to be cooled from the antechamber 6 to the first cooling chamber 4, such as in Figure 1 In the embodiment of .

[0048] According to one embodiment, the fluidized bed cooler 1 further comprises one, two or more additional cooling chambers 10 arranged downstream of the first cooling chamber 4 and upstream of the outlet 5. According to another embodiment, the one, two or more additional cooling chambers 10 are arranged in the same housing 2 as the antechamber 6 and the first cooling chamber 4.

[0049] According to one embodiment, a first partial dividing wall 18 is provided between the antechamber 6 and the first cooling chamber 4. The first partial dividing wall 18 may extend only a portion of the height of the antechamber 6 and the first cooling chamber 4. In other words, the first partial dividing wall 18 does not extend over the entire height of the antechamber. According to one embodiment, the first partial dividing wall 18 may extend at least from the level of the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 of the antechamber 6 to a position spaced apart from the top 24 of the antechamber 6 or the housing 2, thereby leaving an opening above the first partial dividing wall 18. According to another embodiment, an opening may be provided in the first partial dividing wall 18 above the level of the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 and below the top 24 of the antechamber 6 or the housing 2. Thus, the first partial dividing wall is designed to provide an opening between the antechamber 6 and the first cooling chamber 4, said opening enabling the material to be cooled to pass from the antechamber 6 into the first cooling chamber 4.

[0050] According to one embodiment, a second partial partition wall 19 is provided between the first cooling chamber 4 and the adjacent further cooling chamber 10. The second partial partition wall 19 may extend only a portion of the height of the first cooling chamber 4 and the further cooling chamber 10. Thus, the second partial partition wall 19 may provide an opening between the first cooling chamber 4 and the further cooling chamber 10, which allows the material to be cooled to pass from the first cooling chamber 4 into the further cooling chamber 10. The location of the opening and the operating principle of the second partial partition wall 19 may be similar to the first partial partition wall 18, except that it is located between the first cooling chamber 4 and the further cooling chamber 10 rather than between the front chamber 6 and the first cooling chamber 4.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the lower portion 11 of the first cooling chamber 4 and one or more of the further cooling chambers 10 includes a bellows-type collecting box 12, which is capable of collecting particles exceeding a second predetermined particle size in the bellows-type collecting box 12(s). The lower portion 11 of the first cooling chamber 4 and one or more of the further cooling chambers 10 refers to the portion of the cooling chamber 4, 10 in question that is located below the opening for the flow of the material to be cooled between the first cooling chamber 4 and the further cooling chamber 10, or between adjacent further cooling chambers 10. Such bellows are known in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0052] According to one embodiment, for example Figure 4d and5b In an embodiment of the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9, the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 comprises a planar structure 25 extending in a plane 22 on one side of the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9, said planar structure 25 being configured to face the material flow, in other words, e.g. Figure 5b The center surface is upward, and the fluidizing nozzle 14 and the opening(s) 21 are arranged in the planar structure 25. According to one embodiment, fluidizing air can be provided to the fluidizing nozzle 14 via one or more supply lines 26 that are directly connected to the fluidizing nozzle 14 or connected to the fluidizing nozzle 14 via a connecting line. According to an embodiment, such a connecting line can include, for example, a pipe arranged in or below the planar structure 25 (i.e., on the side of the planar structure 25 opposite to the side where the fluidizing nozzle 14 is arranged), or a channel formed in the planar structure 25.

[0053] According to another embodiment, such as Figure 4a 、 4b , 4c and 5a, the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 comprises a plurality of parallel first fluidizing tubes 13. Each first fluidizing tube 13 may be provided with at least one fluidizing nozzle 14. A first fluidizing tube 13 may be spaced apart from an adjacent first fluidizing tube 13 by a distance greater than a first predetermined particle size. This distance defines the gap 21 and the grid size, and thus defines in one dimension the size of the openings 21 discussed in conjunction with the concept of open grid design. According to one embodiment, the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 further comprises a plurality of parallel second fluidizing tubes 15, which are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the first fluidizing tubes 13. Each second fluidizing tube 15 may be provided with at least one fluidizing nozzle 14, which is directed towards the material received in the antechamber 6 via the inlet 3. A second fluidizing tube 15 may be spaced apart from an adjacent second fluidizing tube 15 by a distance greater than the first predetermined particle size. Similar to the first fluidizing tubes 13, the distance between adjacent second fluidizing tubes 15 defines the gap and grid size, and therefore defines the size of the openings 21 in the second dimension (i.e., the dimension perpendicular to the dimension defined by the first fluidizing tubes 13). In such an embodiment, the first fluidizing tubes 13 and / or the second fluidizing tubes 15 can form an open grid design, as discussed in conjunction with the size of the openings 21(s). The various types of fluidizing nozzles 14 used in fluidized bed coolers are known in the art and will not be explained in detail herein.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the first fluidizing tube 13 and / or the second fluidizing tube 15 extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the agglomerates and / or coarse particles in the region of the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9. According to one embodiment, the first fluidizing tube 13 and / or the second fluidizing tube 15 extend in a horizontal direction 16. According to another embodiment, both the first fluidizing tube 13 and the second fluidizing tube 15 extend in a horizontal direction 16, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the direction of acceleration caused by the gravity vector. According to one embodiment, the plane 22 is equal to and / or parallel to the horizontal direction 16.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the air, ie the fluidizing air, is in the range of 100-10000 Nm 3 / h operating range, preferably 500-1500 Nm 3 / h is supplied to the fluidizing nozzle in an operating range.

[0056] According to one embodiment, at least one first fluidizing tube 13 is arranged to be fluidically connected to at least one other first fluidizing tube 13 and / or second fluidizing tube 15. In other words, at least the first fluidizing tubes 13 can be fluidically connected to one another, and / or at least one first fluidizing tube 13 can be fluidically connected to at least one second fluidizing tube 15. According to one embodiment, at least two second fluidizing tubes 15 can be fluidically connected to one another. According to another embodiment, all first fluidizing tubes 13 can be fluidically connected to one another, and / or all second fluidizing tubes 15 can be fluidically connected to one another. According to another embodiment, all fluidizing tubes 13, 15 in the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9, i.e., all first fluidizing tubes 13 and all second fluidizing tubes 15, can be fluidically connected to one another. In such an embodiment, fluidizing air can be centrally supplied to all fluidizing tubes 13, 15 arranged to be fluidically connected to one another. In some embodiments, it may be beneficial to control the air supply to the fluidizing tubes 13, 15 individually. This can be implemented by not connecting the fluidizing tubes 13, 15 or at least not connecting all of the fluidizing tubes 13, 15 to each other, or by providing an air supply control device after the branch point between the connected first fluidizing tubes 13 and / or second fluidizing tubes 15. According to one embodiment, the fluidizing air can be supplied to one or more of the first fluidizing tubes 13 and / or second fluidizing tubes 15 via one or more supply lines 26 connected to the fluidizing tubes 13, 15 and thus to the fluidizing nozzles 14. Figures 4a to 4d In FIG. 1 , the flow of fluidizing air is marked by small arrows inside the fluidizing tubes 13 , 15 .

[0057] According to one embodiment, the fluid flow from the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9, in particular the fluidizing velocity of the fluidizing air, is adjusted to a level at which material having a particle size smaller than a first predetermined particle size can enter the first cooling chamber 4. On the other hand, the fluid flow from the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 can simultaneously be adjusted to a level at which agglomerates and coarse particles exceeding the first predetermined particle size sink toward the antechamber collecting box 8 due to their weight, which is at least predominantly greater than the weight of particles having a particle size smaller than the first predetermined particle size. According to one embodiment, the combination of the fluidizing velocity of the air supplied to the antechamber 6 via the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9, more particularly via the fluidizing nozzles 14, and the height 24 of the first partial partition wall 18 is selected such that material having a particle size smaller than the first predetermined particle size can enter the first cooling chamber 4, i.e., flow through the first partial partition wall 18, and that a majority of the agglomerates and coarse particles exceeding the first predetermined particle size, preferably at least 75%, sink toward the antechamber collecting box 8.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the antechamber 6 is provided with an instrument 20 for evaluating the fluidization behavior of the material in the antechamber before the material enters the first cooling chamber 4 or is discharged from the antechamber 6 via the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9. According to one embodiment, the instrument 20 may include at least one of a pressure instrument and a temperature instrument. The fluidization behavior of the material in the antechamber 6, such as the breakup of particles and / or the separation of particles having a size exceeding or less than a first predetermined particle size, may be evaluated, for example, based on pressure and temperature. For example, if the pressure in the antechamber 6 drops, the material in the antechamber may not be properly fluidized. This may be caused, for example, by agglomerates and coarse particles being collected on the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 and not passing through the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9, thereby blocking the fluidizing nozzle 14 and / or the air flow.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the first predetermined particle size is less than or equal to 100 mm.According to a further embodiment, the first predetermined particle size may be less than or equal to 40 mm, preferably less than or equal to 20 mm, most preferably less than or equal to 10 mm.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the second predetermined particle size is less than or equal to 300 microns. According to a further embodiment, the second predetermined particle size may be less than or equal to 250 microns, preferably less than or equal to 200 microns, most preferably less than or equal to 100 microns.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the fluidized bed cooler 1 comprises a fluidized bed cooler for a fluidized bed plant. According to one embodiment, the fluidized bed cooler 1 comprises a fluidized bed cooler for a metallurgical roasting plant, a metallurgical calcining plant, a phosphor rock calcining plant, or any other fluidized bed application. According to one embodiment, the fluidized bed cooler 1 comprises a fluidized bed cooler for cooling calcined material from a fluidized bed plant and / or a dust collection device from a fluidized bed plant exhaust, whereby the inlet 3 of the fluidized bed cooler 1 can be directly or indirectly connected to the fluidized bed plant and / or the dust collection device from the fluidized bed plant exhaust. According to one embodiment, the fluidized bed cooler 1 can be configured to cool calcined material associated with at least one of a zinc, pyrite, copper, cobalt, or gold roasting plant. In other words, the fluidized bed cooler 1 disclosed in the present disclosure can be used to cool material in a process forming part of a tailings and waste treatment plant, a zinc, pyrite, copper, cobalt, or gold roasting plant, or a process treating a side stream of such a plant.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the feed material for the fluidized bed apparatus may include at least one of tailings, zinc concentrate, pyrite, copper concentrate, cobalt concentrate, and gold ore. According to one embodiment, the feed material for the fluidized bed apparatus may include, for example, 0.5-60% sulfur. According to one embodiment, the feed material for the fluidized bed apparatus may include at least one of the following: tailings containing 20-60% sulfur, zinc concentrate containing 20-50% sulfur, pyrite containing 20-60% sulfur, copper concentrate containing 20-50% sulfur, cobalt concentrate containing 20-50% sulfur, or gold ore containing 0.5-20% sulfur. According to one embodiment, the calcined material in the material flow 28 cooled in the fluidized bed cooler 1, i.e., calcined material from one or more of these fluidized bed apparatus feed materials (e.g., roaster feed material), may include, for example, a sulfur content in the range of 0.01-10%, with the combustible sulfur content in the calcined material preferably being in the range of 0.1-1%.

[0063] According to one embodiment, the dimensions of the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9, more specifically the dimensions of the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 in two perpendicular dimensions on the plane 22, may be in the range of 0.2 m×0.2 m to 5 m×5 m, preferably in the range of 0.5 m×0.5 m to 3 m×3 m. The shape of the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 may be circular, rectangular or any other shape suitable for the antechamber 6 in question.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the fluidized bed apparatus comprises a fluidized bed cooler 1 according to the embodiments disclosed in the present description and / or the appended claims and drawings or a combination of these embodiments.

[0065] Figure 6 A method for cooling a material flow in a fluidized bed cooler is schematically shown.

[0066] A method for cooling a material flow in a fluidized bed cooler 1, such as according to Figure 6 The method comprises cooling 60 a material flow in a fluidized bed cooler 1 according to the embodiments disclosed in the present description and / or the appended claims and drawings or a combination of these embodiments.

[0067] Figure 7 A method for cooling a material in a fluidized bed cooler according to one embodiment is schematically shown.

[0068] According to one embodiment, for example Figure 7 , the method, i.e., a method for cooling a material flow 28 in a fluidized bed cooler 1 according to an embodiment, comprises receiving 70 the material flow 28 to be cooled into the fluidized bed cooler 1 via an inlet 3, and collecting 72 agglomerates and coarse particles exceeding a first predetermined particle size in an antechamber 6 arranged downstream of the inlet 3 and upstream of a first cooling chamber 4. According to an embodiment, the method further comprises discharging 74 agglomerates and coarse particles larger than the first predetermined particle size but smaller than a grid size in at least two perpendicular directions of the particles to be discharged from the antechamber 6 through a fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9, cooling 76 the material flow 28 received from the antechamber 6 in the first cooling chamber 4, and discharging 78 the material flow 28 cooled in the fluidized bed cooler 1 via an outlet 5.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the antechamber 6, more particularly the antechamber collecting box 8, comprises a conical box arranged below the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9, and the method further comprises discharging agglomerates and coarse particles discharged by the fluidizing nozzle arrangement 9 from the antechamber 6 via the antechamber collecting box 8, which can be formed as a conical box.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the fluidized bed cooler 1 further includes a shell 2 , and the inlet 3 and the outlet 5 are provided in the shell 2 , and the front chamber 6 and the first cooling chamber 4 are provided inside the shell 2 .

[0071] According to one embodiment, the fluidized bed cooler 1 may further include one, two or more additional cooling chambers 10 arranged downstream of the first cooling chamber 4 and upstream of the outlet 5, and the method may further include further cooling the material in one, two or more additional cooling chambers 10. According to one embodiment, the one, two or more additional cooling chambers 10 are arranged in the same housing 2 as the antechamber 6 and the first cooling chamber 4.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the inlet temperature of the material to be cooled, such as fine solid calcined, may be in the range of 400-1000 degrees Celsius, and it may be cooled in the fluidized bed cooler 1 to an outlet temperature in the range of 50-300 degrees Celsius.

Claims

1. A fluidized bed cooler comprising: an inlet for receiving material to be cooled into the fluidized bed cooler, a first cooling chamber disposed downstream of the inlet for cooling the flow of material received into the fluidized bed cooler via the inlet, and An outlet is provided downstream of the first cooling chamber for discharging the material cooled in the fluidized bed cooler, wherein the fluidized bed cooler further comprises: an antechamber, which is arranged downstream of the inlet and upstream of the first cooling chamber, for collecting agglomerates and coarse particles exceeding a first predetermined particle size, It is characterized in that the antechamber includes an antechamber collecting box located at the lower part of the antechamber, and the antechamber collecting box is provided with a fluidizing nozzle arrangement, and the fluidizing nozzle arrangement includes at least one first opening, and the size of the at least one first opening is larger than the first predetermined particle size, whereby the fluidizing nozzle arrangement enables agglomerates and coarse particles that are larger than the first predetermined particle size but smaller than the size of the first opening in at least two perpendicular directions of the particles to be discharged from the antechamber through the fluidizing nozzle arrangement.

2. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that The antechamber collecting box comprises a conical box disposed below the fluidizing nozzle arrangement for discharging agglomerates and coarse particles discharged through the fluidizing nozzle arrangement from the antechamber.

3. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The fluidized bed cooler further comprises a housing, and wherein The inlet and the outlet are provided in the housing, and the front chamber and the first cooling chamber are provided in the housing.

4. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that The fluidized bed cooler further comprises one, two or more additional cooling chambers arranged downstream of the first cooling chamber and upstream of the outlet.

5. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 4, characterized in that The one, two or more further cooling chambers are arranged in the same housing as the front chamber and the first cooling chamber.

6. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that A first partial dividing wall is provided between the antechamber and the first cooling chamber, the first partial dividing wall extending only over a portion of the height of the antechamber and the first cooling chamber, thereby providing a second opening between the antechamber and the first cooling chamber, the second opening enabling material to be cooled to pass from the antechamber into the first cooling chamber.

7. The fluidized bed cooler according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that: A second partial partition wall is provided between the first cooling chamber and an adjacent further cooling chamber, the second partial partition wall extending only over a portion of the height of the first cooling chamber and the further cooling chamber, thereby providing a third opening between the first cooling chamber and the further cooling chamber, the third opening enabling material to be cooled to pass from the first cooling chamber into the further cooling chamber.

8. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 4, characterized in that The lower portion of the first cooling chamber and one or more of the one or more further cooling chambers comprises a bellows type collecting box capable of collecting particles exceeding a second predetermined particle size in the one or more bellows type collecting boxes.

9. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that The fluidizing nozzle arrangement includes a planar structure extending in a plane on one side of the fluidizing nozzle arrangement, the planar structure being configured to face the material flow, and the fluidizing nozzle and the one or more first openings are disposed in the planar structure.

10. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that The fluidizing nozzle arrangement comprises a plurality of parallel first fluidizing tubes, each first fluidizing tube being provided with at least one fluidizing nozzle, wherein the first fluidizing tubes are spaced apart from adjacent first fluidizing tubes by a distance greater than the first predetermined particle size.

11. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 10, characterized in that The fluidizing nozzle arrangement further comprises a plurality of parallel second fluidizing tubes arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the first fluidizing tube, each second fluidizing tube being provided with at least one fluidizing nozzle directed towards the material received in the antechamber via the inlet, wherein the second fluidizing tubes are spaced apart from adjacent second fluidizing tubes by a distance greater than the first predetermined particle size.

12. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 11, characterized in that The first fluidizing pipe and / or the second fluidizing pipe extend in a horizontal direction.

13. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that At least one first fluidizing tube is arranged in fluid connection with at least one other first fluidizing tube and / or second fluidizing tube.

14. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 6, characterized in that The combination of the fluidization velocity of the air supplied to the antechamber via the fluidization nozzle arrangement and the height of the first partial partition wall is selected so that material having a particle size smaller than the first predetermined particle size can enter the first cooling chamber and most of the agglomerates and coarse particles exceeding the first predetermined particle size sink towards the antechamber collecting box.

15. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that The antechamber is provided with instrumentation to assess the fluidisation behaviour of the material in the antechamber before the material enters the first cooling chamber or is discharged from the antechamber via the fluidising nozzle arrangement.

16. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 15, characterized in that The instrument includes at least one of a pressure instrument and a temperature instrument.

17. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that The first predetermined particle size is less than or equal to 100 mm.

18. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 17, characterized in that The first predetermined particle size is less than or equal to 40 mm.

19. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that The first predetermined particle size is less than or equal to 20 mm.

20. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 8, characterized in that The second predetermined particle size is less than or equal to 300 microns.

21. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 20, characterized in that The second predetermined particle size is less than or equal to 100 microns.

22. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that The fluidized bed cooler includes a fluidized bed cooler for a fluidized bed device.

23. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that The fluidized bed cooler includes a fluidized bed cooler for a metallurgical roasting device, a metallurgical calcining device, or a phosphor rock calcining device.

24. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 23, characterized in that The fluidized bed cooler comprises a fluidized bed cooler for cooling calcined material from a fluidized bed apparatus and / or from a dust collection device for exhaust gases of a fluidized bed apparatus, whereby the inlet of the fluidized bed cooler is directly or indirectly connected to the fluidized bed apparatus and / or the dust collection device for exhaust gases of the fluidized bed apparatus.

25. The fluidized bed cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that The fluidized bed cooler is configured to cool calcined material associated with at least one of the following plants: a tailings and waste treatment plant, a zinc roasting plant, a pyrite roasting plant, a copper roasting plant, a cobalt roasting plant, or a gold roasting plant.

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