A sealing system

Abstract

A sealing system for sealing between a rotary part of a rotary kiln and a stationary part of a kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler, said sealing system comprising one or more graphite sealing members, which are arranged with individual thrust mechanism, said thrust mechanism comprising tension springs configured to thrust the graphite-sealing member against said rotary part; which comprises a guide mechanism configured to enable linear movement of the graphite-sealing member; said guide mechanism comprising a first guide block, a second guide block and guide rods, wherein the first guide and second guide blocks are configured to traverse longitudinally on the guide rods; a stationary sheet metal module coupled to the stationary part of a kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler, configured to house said thrust mechanism a tension adjustment member coupled to the first guide block.

Description

[0001] A sealing system

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to a sealing system for sealing between a rotary part of a rotary kiln and a stationary part of a kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This invention relates to an improved sealing system and more particularly to an improved seal for rotary kilns. The use of sealing systems in rotary kilns is well known in the cement industry. Common kiln seal systems comprise a wire system on the graphite seal, which is unreliable and requires intensive maintenance. In case of wire failure, numerous graphite members are affected causing the seal to leak.

[0006] In order to mitigate the above-mentioned problems, it is desired to improve reliability of the mechanism that creates the thrust for the graphite blocks to rest on the rotating parts.

[0007] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least alleviate one or more of the above problems of the prior art and / or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sealing system and more particularly to an improved seal for rotary kilns. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing system for sealing between a rotary part of a rotary kiln and a stationary part of a kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler.

[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the prior art.

[0011] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In a first aspect, the invention relates to a sealing system for sealing between a rotary part of a rotary kiln and a stationary part of a kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler. The sealing system preferably comprises

[0013] - one or more graphite sealing members, said graphite-sealing member being arranged with individual thrust mechanism,

[0014] - said thrust mechanism comprising tension springs configured to thrust the graphite-sealing member against said rotary part;

[0015] - said thrust mechanism comprising a guide mechanism configured to enable linear movement of the graphite-sealing member;

[0016] - said guide mechanism comprising a first guide block, a second guide block and guide rods, wherein the first guide block and the second guide block are configured to traverse longitudinally on the guide rods;

[0017] - a stationary sheet metal module coupled to the seal casing which takes part of the stationary part of a kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler, configured to house said thrust mechanism, wherein the stationary sheet metal module comprises a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein ends of said guide rods are connected to said top portion and bottom portion, respectively; - a tension adjustment member coupled to the first guide block, said tension adjustment member comprising pairs of slots for adjusting the spring force position of one end of the tension springs, wherein the pairs of slots are offset from each other in a vertical direction;

[0018] - said tension adjustment member arranged between the first and the second guide blocks configured to transmit tension from the springs to the graphite-sealing members.

[0019] Preferably, one end of said tension spring is coupled to said stationary sheet metal module and another end of the tension spring is coupled to the tension adjustment member and wherein said second guide block is connected to said graphite-sealing members and wherein the bottom portion of the stationary sheet metal module comprises a protrusion extending longitudinally towards the top portion, wherein the protrusion and a flange module wall act as support and guide for the graphite-sealing members.

[0020] The advantage of this setup is that the sealing system does not comprise a wire system. The seal system according to the present invention creates an alternative spring actuated thrust for each graphite-sealing member to secure seal efficiency. It also increases functionality, reliability and maintenance of the sealing system and with the linear movement, the graphite-sealing member adapts fast and controlled to variations in kiln runout.

[0021] The functionality of the spring module will increase the rotary kiln sealing efficiency and thereby for the overall process saving fuel and power.

[0022] This invention relates to a sealing system that prevents exchange of hot process gasses and ambient air across the interface between a rotary part of a rotary kiln and the stationary part of a kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler. The thrust mechanism may be configured to operate independently of thrust mechanisms of the remaining graphite sealing members.

[0023] The sealing system may be used to seal between a rotary part of a rotary kiln and a stationary part of said kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler in a process plant, e.g. cement factory, using rotary kilns.

[0024] In a second aspect, the invention relates to a process plant using rotary kilns, e.g cement factory, comprising the sealing system according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0025] In a third aspect, the invention relates to the use of the sealing system according to the first aspect of the invention in a sealing process.

[0026] The first, second and third aspects of the present invention may be combined.

[0027] In the present context, a number of terms are used in a manner being ordinary to the skilled person. Some of these terms are detailed below: kiln is preferably used to mean a part which is rotating with the rotary kiln at the interface to the down- or upstream stationary equipment in the process plant (e.g. a stationary part of said kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler).

[0028] First and second blocks are preferably used to mean linear guide bearings, the latter expression is used by the skilled person in the art.

[0029] Guide rods are preferably used to mean shafts in which the tension adjustment member is suspended by the guide block. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] The figures show one way of implementing the present invention and are not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

[0031] Embodiments of the invention, by way of example only, will be described with reference to the accompanying figure in which:

[0032] Figure 1 schematically illustrates the sealing system according to the present invention.

[0033] Figure 2 schematically illustrates the sheet metal module being attached to the seal casing.

[0034] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Figure 1 schematically illustrates the sealing system according to the present invention. Figure 1 schematically illustrates a sealing system for sealing between a rotary part of a rotary kiln and a stationary part of a kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler. The sealing system comprises one graphite sealing member 5. The graphite-sealing member 5 is arranged with an individual thrust mechanism 1 . The thrust mechanism 1 comprises two tension springs 3, configured to thrust the graphite-sealing member 1 against the rotary part. The thrust mechanism 1 further comprises a guide mechanism configured to enable linear movement of the graphite-sealing member 5. The guide mechanism comprises two first guide blocks 9, two second guide blocks 10 and two guide rods 2. The two first guide blocks 9 and the two second guide blocks 10 are configured to traverse longitudinally on the two guide rods.

[0036] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a stationary sheet metal module 6 coupled to the stationary part of a kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler. The stationary sheet metal module 6 is configured to house the thrust mechanism 1 , wherein the stationary sheet metal module 6 comprises a bottom portion and a top portion. The ends of the two guide rods 2 are connected to the top portion and bottom portion, respectively.

[0037] Turning back to figure 1 , where it is schematically illustrated that the sealing system further comprises a tension adjustment member 4 coupled to the two first guide blocks 9. The tension adjustment member 4 comprises pairs of slots 8 for adjusting position of one end of the tension springs 3, wherein the pairs of slots 8 are offset from each other in a vertical direction. The tension adjustment member 4 is arranged between the first 9 and the second 10 guide blocks configured to transmit tension from the springs 3 to the graphite-sealing members 5.

[0038] One end of the tension spring 3 is coupled to the stationary sheet metal module 6 and another end of the tension spring 3 is coupled to the tension adjustment member 4. The second guide block 10 is connected to the graphite-sealing members 5 and the bottom portion of the stationary sheet metal module 6 comprises a protrusion 11 extending longitudinally towards the top portion.

[0039] The protrusion 11 and a flange module wall 7 act as support and guide for the graphite-sealing members 5.

[0040] In a rotary kiln, multiple sealing systems according to the present invention may be implemented. Each sealing system comprises its own thrust mechanism 1 , which may be configured to operate independently of thrust mechanisms 1 of the remaining graphite sealing members 5.

[0041] A sealing system according to the present invention may be used to sealing between a rotary part of a rotary kiln and a stationary part of the kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler in a cement factory.

[0042] In a second aspect of the present invention, a cement factory may comprise the sealing system according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0043] In a third aspect of the invention, the use of the sealing system according to the first aspect of the invention may be used in a sealing process. Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. It should also be understood that the form of this invention as shown is merely a preferred embodiment. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of parts; equivalent means may be substituted for those illustrated and described; and certain features may be used independently from others without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

[0044] List of references:

[0045] 1 : Thrust mechanism

[0046] 2: Guide rods

[0047] 3: Tension springs

[0048] 4: Tension adjustment member

[0049] 5: Graphite-sealing member

[0050] 6: Stationary sheet metal module

[0051] 7: Flange module wall

[0052] 8: Pairs of slots

[0053] 9: First guide block

[0054] 10: Second guide block

[0055] 11 : Protrusion

Claims

CLAIMS1 : A sealing system for sealing between a rotary part of a rotary kiln and a stationary part of a kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler, said sealing system comprising- one or more graphite sealing members, said graphite-sealing member (5) being arranged with individual thrust mechanism (1 ),- said thrust mechanism (1 ) comprising tension springs (3) configured to thrust the graphite-sealing member (1 ) against said rotary part;- said thrust mechanism (1 ) comprising a guide mechanism configured to enable linear movement of the graphite-sealing member (5);- said guide mechanism comprising a first guide block (9), a second guide block (10) and guide rods (2), wherein the first guide block (9) and the second guide block (10) are configured to traverse longitudinally on the guide rods (2);- a stationary sheet metal module (6) coupled to the stationary part of a kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler, configured to house said thrust mechanism (1 ), wherein the stationary sheet metal module (6) comprises a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein ends of said guide rods (2) are connected to said top portion and bottom portion, respectively;- a tension adjustment member (4) coupled to the first guide block (9), said tension adjustment member (4) comprising pairs of slots (8) for adjusting position of one end of the tension springs (3), wherein the pairs of slots (8) are offset from each other in a vertical direction;- said tension adjustment member (4) arranged between the first (9) and the second (10) guide blocks configured to transmit tension from the springs (3) to the graphite-sealing members (5), wherein one end of said tension spring (3) is coupled to said stationary sheet metal module (6) and another end of the tension spring (3) is coupled to the tension adjustment member (4), and wherein said second guide block (10) is connected to said graphite-sealing members (5) and wherein the bottom portion of the stationary sheet metal module (6) comprises a protrusion (11 ) extending longitudinally towards the top portion, wherein the protrusion (11 ) and a flange module wall (7) act as support and guide for the graphite-sealing members (5).2: A sealing system according to claim 1 , wherein said thrust mechanism (1 ) is configured to operate independently of thrust mechanisms (1 ) of the remaining graphite sealing members (5).3: A sealing system according to claims 1 or 2, for use to sealing between a rotary part of a rotary kiln and a stationary part of said kiln riser transition piece and / or stationary parts of grate cooler in a cement factory.4: A cement factory, comprising the sealing system according to claims 1 or 2.5: Use of the sealing system according to claims 1 or 2 in a sealing process.

Images