A foaming tank and foaming device suitable for plant fiber slurry

Abstract

The application provides a foaming tank and a foaming device suitable for plant fiber slurry, which comprises a foaming tank and a control device; the foaming tank comprises a tank body and stirring devices, a feeding port, an air inlet and a discharging port arranged on the tank body, the feeding port and the air inlet are located at the top of the tank body, the discharging port is located at the bottom of the tank body, the air inlet is connected with an air inlet pipeline, and the outlet of the air inlet pipeline is located at the bottom of the tank body. A plurality of aeration heads protruding inward are arranged at the bottom of the tank body, and the aeration heads are communicated with a gas compression device through pipelines. The air inlet pipeline is composed of a connecting part and an annular gas releasing part, and a plurality of air outlets are arranged on the gas releasing part. The aeration head is in a spherical, hemispherical or cylindrical structure with holes distributed on the surface. The foaming device improves the preparation efficiency of bubbles by arranging a plurality of air outlets with appropriate diameters and a plurality of small air outlets on the bottom of the device, realizes efficient and uniform mixing of fibers and bubbles, solves the technical problems of low efficiency and high energy consumption in the prior art for preparing plant fiber foaming materials, and enables large-scale popularization and application of plant fiber foaming materials.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of machinery and relates to a foaming device, specifically a fully automatic foaming machine for plant fiber pulp. Background Technology

[0002] A foaming machine is a specialized device used to mix foaming agents with matrix materials (such as plastics, rubber, polyurethane, cement, coatings, etc.) and generate uniform foam through physical or chemical methods. Its core technology lies in producing gas through mechanical stirring, gas injection, or chemical reaction to form a stable microporous structure inside the material, thereby endowing the product with lightweight, heat insulation, sound insulation, and cushioning properties. Currently, commonly used foaming machines mainly include the following based on the foaming principle: (1) Physical foaming machine: inert gas (such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide) or air is injected under high pressure to form bubbles in the material; (2) Chemical foaming machine: gas is generated by the decomposition reaction of foaming agents (such as azo compounds), which is often used in the production of polyurethane (PU) foam; (3) Mechanical stirring foaming machine: foam is generated by the shearing action of a high-speed rotor or stator, which is commonly used in the preparation of lightweight concrete or foam adhesive.

[0003] With the gradual depletion of fossil fuels and increasing emphasis on environmental protection, replacing fossil fuels with natural materials is a major trend in technological development. Plant fiber foam materials have emerged as a result. This technology utilizes agricultural waste (such as straw, bagasse, bamboo fiber, and sawdust) or natural plant fibers as a base material, combined with physical or chemical foaming processes, to prepare lightweight foam materials. The inventors previously conducted research on lignocellulose-based foam materials. Among them, invention patent ZL2022106902282 provides "a lignocellulose-based foam material with high photothermal conversion efficiency." The foam material consists of lignocellulose raw materials, rubber latex, and a foaming agent. The amount of rubber latex is 5-60% of the weight of the lignocellulose raw materials; the amount of foaming agent is 0.5-10% of the weight of the lignocellulose raw materials. The lignocellulose and natural rubber latex used in the foam material are both natural biomass materials, widely available, inexpensive, renewable, and environmentally friendly.

[0004] However, due to the lack of corresponding foaming equipment, the preparation efficiency of the foam material is low and cannot meet the needs of industrial production. In the applicant's previous research, when using existing foaming equipment to prepare plant fiber foam materials, it was found that the foaming effect was poor and the foaming efficiency was insufficient after the plant fibers were ground into a slurry, failing to effectively and quickly form a uniform foam material. This is mainly because the foaming material in existing plastic foam foaming technology gradually hardens during stirring, thus fixing the air bubbles. However, the aqueous slurry used for plant fiber foam materials has a low viscosity and low bubble stability, making it prone to rupture and defoaming, thus affecting the preparation of the foam material. To solve this problem, the only solution is to extend the stirring time so that the number of air bubbles in the slurry gradually accumulates until the required amount is reached.

[0005] Therefore, how to achieve efficient preparation of plant fiber foam materials is a technical problem that needs to be solved by existing technologies. Currently, there are no relevant reports. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the problems of existing foaming machines, this invention provides a fully automated plant fiber foaming device. This foaming device improves bubble preparation efficiency by setting multiple air outlets of appropriate diameters and small-diameter aeration holes at the bottom of the device, achieving efficient and uniform mixing of fibers and bubbles. This solves the technical problems of low efficiency and high energy consumption in the preparation of plant fiber foam materials in existing technologies, enabling the large-scale application of plant fiber foam materials.

[0007] The technical solution of the present invention:

[0008] A foaming tank suitable for plant fiber pulp includes a tank body and a stirring device, a feed inlet, an air inlet, and a discharge outlet mounted on the tank body. The feed inlet and air inlet are located at the top of the tank body, and the discharge outlet is located at the bottom of the tank body. The air inlet is connected to an air inlet pipe, and the outlet of the air inlet pipe is located at the bottom of the tank body. Multiple inwardly protruding aeration heads are provided at the bottom of the tank body, and these aeration heads are connected to a gas compression device via pipelines. The aeration heads are spherical, hemispherical, or cylindrical structures with porous surfaces. The aeration heads increase the path for air to be blown into the foaming tank, increasing the number of bubbles. Furthermore, since the aeration heads are located at the bottom of the foaming tank, the bubbles they generate can directly enter the pulp, maximizing bubble utilization and achieving uniform mixing of the pulp and foaming agent.

[0009] Preferably, the holes are uniformly arranged circles or regular polygons, and the area of ​​each hole is 0.09-2.0 mm. 2By controlling the area of ​​the pores, the bubble size can be controlled. Because the air outlet of the inlet pipe has a relatively large aperture, it generates large bubbles. Although the air intake efficiency is higher, the low viscosity of the aqueous slurry in the plant fiber foaming material leads to low bubble stability and a tendency to break and defoam. In contrast, the bubbles generated through the aeration head pores are small, with a different size than the large bubbles. These two types of bubbles complement each other to a certain extent, minimizing the probability of defoaming and increasing the number of bubbles within the system.

[0010] Preferably, the aeration head is an alloy aeration head made of titanium alloy. The alloy aeration head is detachably fixed to the foaming tank via aeration bolts. Using an alloy aeration head not only provides high strength and corrosion resistance, extending its service life, but also allows for easy disassembly and replacement as needed.

[0011] The air inlet pipe consists of a connecting part and an annular gas release part, the gas release part being provided with multiple air outlets. This application innovatively places the gas outlets on the annular pipe, increasing the number of gas outlets and thus increasing the bubble production rate.

[0012] Preferably, the air vents are evenly distributed, and the diameter of the air vents is 1-5 mm. The even distribution of the air vents helps to ensure uniform distribution of air bubbles within the slurry, while also reducing the likelihood of bubble breakage due to collisions.

[0013] The stirring device comprises a motor, a rotating shaft, and a stirring component. The motor is connected to the stirring component via the rotating shaft. The stirring component includes an upper disc turbine blade and a lower disc turbine blade; the upper disc turbine blade is located in the middle of the tank's inner cavity, and the lower disc turbine blade is located at the bottom of the tank's inner cavity. By setting the upper and lower disc turbine blades, the stirring device achieves uniform stirring of the entire slurry system.

[0014] The foaming tank consists of a top cover and a tank body, and the top cover and the tank body are sealed by a shut-off valve; the air inlet and the motor are located on the top cover.

[0015] Preferably, the foaming tank has an observation hole at the top and a tank support at the bottom. The observation hole allows operators to monitor the inside of the foaming tank in real time, facilitating timely action. The tank support improves the stability of the foaming tank.

[0016] This application also provides a fully automatic plant fiber foaming device, which includes a foaming tank and a control device as described above. The control device is connected to a stirring device, an air inlet, a feed inlet, a discharge outlet, and an aeration head.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0018] (1) This utility model provides a foaming tank suitable for plant fiber pulp. The foaming tank improves the preparation efficiency of bubbles and realizes efficient and uniform mixing of fibers and bubbles. It solves the technical problems of low efficiency and high energy consumption in the preparation of plant fiber foam materials in the prior art, and enables the large-scale promotion and application of plant fiber foam materials.

[0019] (2) The foaming tank of this utility model injects air into the tank by setting multiple large-diameter air outlets and small-diameter air vents at the bottom of the device. This not only increases the rate of bubble generation, but also provides small bubbles and large bubbles through two different air injection methods, so that the two complement each other to a certain extent, minimizes the probability of defoaming, and helps to fully and evenly disperse bubbles and plant fiber pulp.

[0020] (3) This utility model also provides a fully automatic plant fiber foaming device. The foaming device controls the amount of air entering the tank and the stirring time of the slurry to maximize the uniformity of slurry foaming. It can provide the required foaming slurry for the subsequent molding and processing of plant fiber foaming materials, and ensure the uniformity and stability of the quality of plant fiber foaming materials. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Appendix Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fully automatic plant fiber foaming device described in Embodiment 2 of this application.

[0022] Appendix Figure 2 The alloy aeration head used in the foaming tank described in Embodiment 1 of this application.

[0023] 1. Electric motor, 2. Observation hole, 3. Closed valve, 4. Upper disc turbine propeller, 5. Lower disc turbine propeller, 6. Aeration hole, 7. Discharge port, 8. Tank support, 9. Air inlet, 10. Air inlet pipe, 11. Control device, 12. Aeration head, 13. Aeration bolt. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will be further described below with reference to embodiments. It should be noted that any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principle of the present invention are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] Example 1: Fully Automatic Plant Fiber Foaming Device

[0026] A fully automatic plant fiber foaming device includes a foaming tank and a control device 11. The foaming tank includes a tank body and a stirring device, a feed inlet, an air inlet 9, and a discharge outlet 7 disposed on the tank body. The feed inlet and air inlet 9 are located at the top of the tank body, and the discharge outlet 7 is located at the bottom of the tank body. The stirring device consists of a motor 1, a rotating shaft, and a stirring component. The motor 1 is connected to the stirring component via the rotating shaft. The stirring component consists of an upper disc turbine 4 and a lower disc turbine 5; the upper disc turbine 4 is located in the middle of the tank body cavity, and the lower disc turbine 5 is located at the bottom of the tank body cavity. The air inlet 9 is connected to an air inlet pipe 10, and the outlet of the air inlet pipe 10 is located at the bottom of the tank body. The air inlet pipe 10 consists of a connecting part and an annular gas release part, and the gas release part is provided with multiple evenly arranged air outlets, the diameter of which is 1-2 mm. The bottom of the tank is provided with multiple inwardly protruding aeration heads 12, which are connected to a gas compression device via pipelines. The aeration heads are made of titanium alloy and are detachably fixed to aeration holes 6 located at the bottom of the tank via aeration bolts 13. Each aeration head 12 is a cylindrical structure with a surface covered with holes. The holes are evenly arranged circles, and the area of ​​each hole is 0.6-1 mm. 2 The control device 11 is connected to the stirring device, air inlet 9, feed inlet, discharge outlet 7, and aeration head 12, respectively. An observation hole 2 is provided on the top of the foaming tank, and a tank support 8 is provided on the bottom of the foaming tank.

[0027] Foaming process: After the plant fiber pulp is injected into the tank through the inlet, the tank is kept in a sealed working state. The control device 11 is activated, and the motor 1 is started to rotate according to the set working condition program. The motor 1 drives the upper disc turbine 4 and the lower disc turbine 5 to rotate through the rotating shaft, stirring the plant fiber pulp. During the stirring process, air is injected into the tank through the air inlet 9, and the amount of air entering is controlled. The air is injected into the plant fiber pulp at the bottom of the tank through multiple air outlets connected to the air inlet pipe 10, forming large bubbles. At the same time, air is injected into the plant fiber pulp through the holes of the aeration head at the bottom of the tank, forming small bubbles. The degree of foaming of the plant fiber pulp during the stirring process is observed in real time through the observation hole 2. The foaming pulp reaches the required level in about 5 minutes. Then, the pulp is discharged from the tank through the discharge port 7 and transported to the next process.

[0028] Example 2: Fully Automatic Plant Fiber Foaming Device

[0029] Unlike Example 1, the diameter of the gas outlet holes in the gas release section is 2-3 mm. The aeration head 12 is a spherical structure with holes all over its surface. The holes are evenly arranged regular hexagons, and the area of ​​each hole is 0.09-0.6 mm². 2.

[0030] The foaming tank consists of a top cover and a tank body. The top cover and the tank body are sealed by a shut-off valve 3. The air inlet 9 and the motor 1 are located on the top cover.

[0031] Foaming process: In this embodiment, after opening the tank's sealing valve 3, the upper structure of the tank is lifted, the plant fiber slurry is poured into the tank, and then the sealing valve 3 is locked to keep the tank in a sealed working state. The rest is the same as in Embodiment 1.

[0032] Example 3: Fully Automatic Plant Fiber Foaming Device

[0033] Unlike Example 2, the diameter of the gas outlet holes in the gas release section is 3-5 mm. The aeration head 12 is a hemispherical structure with holes covering its surface. The holes are uniformly arranged regular hexagons, and the area of ​​each hole is 1-2 mm². 2 The feed inlet and observation hole 2 are combined into one.

Claims

1. A foaming tank suitable for plant fiber pulp, the foaming tank comprising a tank body and a stirring device, a feed inlet, an air inlet (9), and a discharge outlet (7) disposed on the tank body, wherein the feed inlet and the air inlet (9) are located at the top of the tank body, the discharge outlet (7) is located at the bottom of the tank body, the air inlet (9) is connected to an air inlet pipe (10), and the outlet of the air inlet pipe (10) is located at the bottom of the tank body; characterized in that: The bottom of the tank is provided with multiple inwardly protruding aeration heads (12), which are connected to a gas compression device through pipelines.

2. The foaming tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The aeration head (12) is a spherical, hemispherical or cylindrical structure with holes on its surface.

3. The foaming tank according to claim 2, characterized in that: The holes are uniformly arranged circles or regular polygons, and the area of ​​each hole is 0.09-2.0 mm. 2 .

4. The foaming tank according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: The air intake pipe (10) consists of a connecting part and an annular gas release part, wherein the gas release part is provided with multiple air outlets; the diameter of the air outlets is 1-5 mm.

5. The foaming tank according to claim 4, characterized in that: The stirring device consists of an electric motor (1), a rotating shaft and a stirring component. The electric motor (1) is connected to the stirring component through the rotating shaft.

6. The foaming tank according to claim 5, characterized in that: The stirring component includes an upper disc turbine (4) and a lower disc turbine (5); the upper disc turbine (4) is located in the middle of the inner cavity of the tank, and the lower disc turbine (5) is located at the bottom of the inner cavity of the tank.

7. The foaming tank according to claim 4, characterized in that: The foaming tank consists of a top cover and a tank body. The top cover and the tank body are sealed by a shut-off valve (3). The air inlet (9) and the motor are located on the top cover.

8. The foaming tank according to claim 4, characterized in that: An observation hole (2) is provided at the top of the foaming tank, and a tank support (8) is provided at the bottom of the foaming tank.

9. A foaming device suitable for plant fiber pulp, characterized in that: Includes the foaming tank and control device (11) as described in any one of claims 1-8.

10. The foaming device for plant fiber pulp according to claim 9, characterized in that: The control device (11) is connected to the stirring device, the air inlet (9), the feed inlet, the discharge outlet (7) and the aeration head (12) respectively.

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