Self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system for cylindrical rotating reactors.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TECHNORED DESENVOLVIMENTO TECHNOLOGICO SA
- Filing Date
- 2021-09-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing cylindrical rotary reactors face challenges in sealing and compensating for thermal expansion due to temperature fluctuations, which affect the airtightness and integrity of the reactor, especially in processes involving temperature changes and moving parts.
A self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system is implemented, comprising first and second self-compensating parts with ring-shaped bearing races and sliding housing rings, supported by rollers, to accommodate axial and radial movements of the reactor, ensuring sealing and hermeticity across a wide temperature range.
The system effectively compensates for thermal expansion, maintaining airtightness and sealing integrity of the reactor, even with significant temperature variations, enhancing the operational reliability and efficiency of cylindrical rotary reactors.
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Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001]
[0001] The present invention relates to a self-compensating thermal expansion system, and more particularly to a self-compensating thermal expansion system in a cylindrical rotating reactor. [Background technology]
[0002]
[0002] The most common applications of cylindrical rotating reactors are the drying of organic matter and food products, the torrefaction and pyrolysis of biomass, and the processing of mineral coal. Generally, these processes require a closed reactor with a sealing system to prevent the ingress of atmospheric air or the unintentional escape of reaction gases. In all these applications, sealing the reactor is difficult in view of the temperature fluctuations to which the reactor is subjected, the thermal expansion of the reactor, and the fact that the reactor has moving parts.
[0003]
[0003] Several techniques for thermal expansion compensation in cylindrical rotating reactors are known today. Below are some of the literature highlighting such mechanisms:
[0004]
[0004] Brazilian Patent No. 112013008504-5 discloses a system for torrefaction comprising: (i) an inlet for receiving biomass particles; (ii) a reactor drum configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the reactor drum having a plurality of vanes disposed at a plurality of locations along the longitudinal length of the reactor drum, the vanes being disposed within the drum at selected positions and densities to improve the properties of particles resulting from biomass subjected to torrefaction; (iii) a heat source upstream of the drum reactor for heating gas contained in the system to a temperature sufficient to torrefy the biomass particles during operation; and (iv) a system for torrefaction. (v) a fan device coupled to the drum reactor, which, when the system is in operation, generates a flow of heated gas through the drum reactor sufficient to intermittently transport biomass particles along the longitudinal length of the drum reactor as the biomass particles are lifted through the vanes and poured through the flow of heated gas while the drum reactor rotates; and (v) a gas pipeline coupled to at least the drum reactor, the heat source, and the blower device, which recirculates at least a portion of the gas exiting the drum reactor back to the heat source and reheats the gas for reintroduction into the drum reactor. However, Brazilian Patent No. 112013008504-5 makes no mention of a thermal expansion self-compensating sealing mechanism for a cylindrical reactor.
[0005]
[0005] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20090007484 describes an apparatus and process for producing carbonaceous and / or hydrocarbonaceous materials from a biomass composition, the apparatus including (i) a fill port, (ii) a reactor having an inner hollow cylinder and an outer hollow cylinder, one of which is rotatable relative to the other hollow cylinder, and both heated hollow cylinders supply heat to the feed composition to convert the feed composition into a vapor fraction and a solid residue fraction, (iii) vanes attached to the inner hollow cylinder and the outer hollow cylinder to move the biomass composition through the pyrolysis assembly, (iv) at least one steam port for removing the vapor fraction containing hydrocarbonaceous materials, and (v) at least one solid gate for removing the solid fraction containing carbonaceous materials. However, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20090007484 does not mention any thermal expansion self-compensating sealing mechanism for a cylindrical reactor.
[0006]
[0006] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20030202756 discloses a rotary heat treatment drum having a toothed edge disposed within a drum housing and supported at various peripheral points within the drum housing by evenly distributed bridge members. Each bridge member includes two clips axially spaced from one another and welded to the drum shell, and a cross plate connecting the clips and radially spaced from the drum shell. Each cross plate is rigidly connected to one clip and axially slidably connected to the other clip, thereby compensating for different degrees of thermal expansion and resulting deformation of the cross plate, as well as increased stress on the cross plate, clips, and connection points. However, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20030202756 does not address the issue of ensuring a gas seal to prevent gas from entering or leaving the rotating drum.
[0007]
[0007] U.S. Patent No. 5,890,814 describes a rotating drum assembly in which a drum is mounted to a support ring so that circumferential expansion and contraction of the drum relative to the support ring does not adversely affect the assembly. In a preferred embodiment, a drum block is mounted to the drum and a corresponding ring block is mounted to the support ring. Adjacent drum blocks and ring block side surfaces support the weight of the drum within the ring. This assembly allows for expansion and contraction of the drum by maintaining a gap between the drum and the support ring. In a preferred embodiment, there is also a drive sprocket mounted to the drum using a sprocket mounting assembly that accommodates expansion and contraction of the drum. Furthermore, the document in U.S. Patent No. 5,890,814 does not discuss the issue of airtightness of the rotating drum.
[0008]
[0008] Thus, while U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20030202756 and U.S. Patent No. 5,890,814 disclose mechanisms that allow for thermal expansion of cylindrical reactors, those mechanisms have temperature gradient limitations that do not allow for large expansion of the cylinder.
[0009]
[0009] Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problem, since there is no self-compensating thermal expansion system adapted to cylindrical rotating reactors in the prior art, which ensures sealing between the moving and stationary parts of the equipment and therefore ensures the tightness of the reaction means having a wide operating temperature range, ultimately resulting in large expansion fluctuations. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0010] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system for a wide temperature range cylindrical rotating reactor that allows for higher thermal expansion compared to the prior art. [Means for solving the problem]
[0011]
[0011] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system for a cylindrical rotating reactor, comprising: (a) a first self-compensating portion disposed at a first end of the cylindrical rotating reactor, the first self-compensating portion including: (a.1) a guide ring fixed to a support structure of the cylindrical rotating reactor; (a.2) an axially sliding housing ring adjacent to the guide ring, the axially sliding housing ring sliding axially relative to the guide ring; and (a.3) a first ring-shaped bearing race fixed to the rotating cylindrical reactor housing and supported on a first support roller, the first ring-shaped bearing race sliding radially relative to the axially sliding housing ring, the first ring-shaped bearing race being fixed to the rotating cylindrical reactor housing and supported on a first support roller. A self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system is provided, comprising: (a) a first self-compensating portion having a first ring-shaped bearing race integrated with an axially sliding housing ring in the axial direction of the rotating reactor; and (b) a second self-compensating portion arranged at a second end of the cylindrical rotating reactor opposite the first end, the second self-compensating portion comprising: (b.1) a housing ring fixed to a support structure of the cylindrical rotating reactor; and (b.2) a second ring-shaped bearing race fixed to a housing of the cylindrical rotating reactor and supported on a second support roller, the second ring-shaped bearing race rotatably sliding relative to the fixed housing ring.
[0012] The detailed description presented below refers to the accompanying drawings and their respective reference numerals. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a cylindrical reactor equipped with a self-compensating sealing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a first portion of a self-compensating sealing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a second portion of a self-compensating sealing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014]
[0016] It should be emphasized that the following description begins with preferred embodiments of the invention, but as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to these particular embodiments.
[0015]
[0017] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems by realizing a self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system for a cylindrical rotating reactor 2. For the purposes of this description, a cylindrical rotating reactor 2 is defined as a cylindrical rotating body with openings at the ends of the cylindrical rotating body.
[0016]
[0018] According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the system of the present invention comprises a first self-compensating section 8 arranged at a first end of the rotating cylindrical reactor 2 and a second self-compensating section 9 arranged at a second end of the rotating cylindrical reactor 2, the second end of the rotating cylindrical reactor 2 being opposite the first end.
[0017]
[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first self-compensating part 8 further comprises a first ring-shaped bearing race 22 fixed to the housing of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2, the first ring-shaped bearing race 22 being supported on first support rollers 32 which serve to slidably and rotatably support the first end of the rotating cylindrical reactor 2 as shown in Figure 1. At the opposite end, the second self-compensating part 9 further comprises a first ring-shaped bearing race 23 attached to the housing of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2, the first ring-shaped bearing race 23 being supported on first support rollers 33 which serve to slidably and rotatably support the first end of the rotating cylindrical reactor 2.
[0018]
[0020] 2 and 3, the corresponding bearing races 22 and 23 in the self-compensating parts 8 and 9 have a fundamental difference: the bearing race 23, in contrast to the smooth runway 22, has a serration, designated by the number 23a. In this so-called serration 23a of the bearing race 23, the bearing rollers 33 are accommodated. In this way, no axial displacement is allowed for the bearing race 23, and the expansion (or contraction) of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2, due to heating (or cooling) of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2, is completely transmitted to the self-compensating part 8, causing the bearing rollers 32 to slide axially on the bearing race 22.
[0019]
[0021] Additionally, the first self-compensating section 8 comprises a guide ring 80 attached to the support structure of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2. The guide ring 80 is a stationary ring.
[0020]
[0022] The first self-compensating part 8 also comprises an axially sliding housing ring 84 which surrounds the guide ring 80, the axially sliding housing ring 84 sliding axially relative to the guide ring 80 and being rotationally stationary relative to the cylindrical rotating reactor 2. The fact that the axially sliding housing ring 84 is axially movable relative to the guide ring 80 allows for compensation of the axial expansion of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2. The axially sliding housing ring 84 houses first dancing rollers 85 on which at least one first side sealing gasket 86 is installed.
[0021]
[0023] The second self-compensating part 9 also comprises a housing ring, which is a fixed housing ring 94 and houses a second dancing roller 85' to which at least a second side seal 86' is fitted.
[0022]
[0024] The first bearing race 22 slides radially relative to the axially sliding housing ring 84 and corresponds to the axially sliding housing ring 84 in the axial direction of the cylindrical rotary reactor 2 .
[0023]
[0025] Preferably, during thermal expansion of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2, the first bearing race 22 pushes the axially sliding housing ring 84 in the opposite direction to the second self-compensated portion 9. During contraction due to cooling of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2, the track rollers 88 attached to the upper part of the axially sliding housing ring 84 by track roller supports 87 serve to fix the movement of the first bearing race 22 with the movement of the axially sliding housing ring 84. Thus, as the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 cools, the first bearing race 22 "pushes" the axially sliding housing ring 84 towards the second self-compensated portion 9 by means of the guide rollers 88 and their corresponding guide roller supports 87.
[0024]
[0026] Preferably, the guide rollers 88 contact the side surfaces of the recess in the first bearing race 22 to pre-position the axially sliding housing ring 84 towards the first bearing race 22. Also preferably, a plurality of guide rollers 88 and guide roller supports 87 are provided along the periphery of the axially sliding housing ring 84.
[0025]
[0027] Preferably, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first self-compensating part 8 further comprises a first dancing roller 85 housed in a side cavity of the axially sliding axial housing ring 84, the first dancing roller 85 being pre-positioned in the direction of the lateral surface of the bearing race 22 by at least one elastic element. More preferably, at least one first side gasket 86 is provided, compressed between the first dancing roller 85 and the lateral surface of the first bearing race 22. The dancing roller 85 is stationary, and a dimensional gap exists between the dancing roller 85 and the lateral cavity of the axially sliding housing ring 84 into which the dancing roller 85 is inserted. This gap allows the first dancing roller 85 to move between the axis of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 and the axis of the support structure of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 to absorb any angular misalignment between the axes.
[0026]
[0028] Preferably, the at least one elastic element is at least a first pin roll 83. More preferably, a plurality of first pin rolls 83 are provided along the circumferential length of the axially sliding housing ring 84.
[0027]
[0029] Preferably, the first self-compensating part 8 further comprises at least one lower gasket 82 compressed between an axially sliding housing ring 84 and an upper surface of the guide ring 80. Optionally, a pressure ring 81 attached to the axially sliding housing ring 84 via a screw is provided to adjust the pressure of the at least one lower gasket 82.
[0028]
[0030] 3, the second self-compensating section 9 is located at a second end of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 opposite the first end. As mentioned above, the second self-compensating section 9 comprises a fixed housing ring 94 relative to the support structure of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2.
[0029]
[0031] In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second self-compensating section 9 further comprises a second ring-shaped bearing race 23 attached to the housing of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2, the second ring-shaped bearing race 23 being supported on a second support roller 33 which serves to rotatably support the second end of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 as shown in FIG.
[0030]
[0032] The second bearing race 23 preferably comprises a cera 23a adapted to fit onto a corresponding second support roller 33. The second support roller 33 functions within this cera 23a to prevent the bearing race 23 from moving axially relative to the cylindrical rotating reactor 2. Any axial displacement due to an increase in the length of the rotor is directed towards the first self-compensating section 8. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first bearing race 22 does not have an equivalent recess, allowing the first support roller 32 to slip axially along the first bearing race 22 whenever the rotor is heated or cooled.
[0031]
[0033] Preferably, the second self-compensating part 9 further comprises a second dancing roller 85' loosely accommodated in a lateral cavity of the fixed housing ring 94, and the second dancing roller 85' is pre-positioned toward the lateral surface of the second bearing race 23 by at least a second elastic element. More preferably, at least a second lateral gasket 86' is provided compressed between the second dancing roller 85' and the lateral surface of the second bearing race 23. The second dancer rolling 85' is preferably identical to the above-mentioned first dancer rolling 85, for moving between the axis of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 and the axis of the support structure of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 to absorb the angular misalignment between the axes.
[0032]
[0034] Preferably, the at least one elastic element is at least a second pin roll 83'. More preferably, a plurality of second pin rolls 83' are provided along the periphery of the stationary housing ring 94.
[0033]
[0035] Preferably, the first bearing race 22 and the second bearing race 23 are attached to the surface of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 by screwing to at least one ring 21 attached to the surface of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Alternatively, the first bearing race 22 and the second bearing race 23 are attached to the surface of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 by welding to at least one centering ring 21 attached to the surface of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 (not shown).
[0034]
[0036] Alternatively, the first bearing race 22 and the second bearing race 23 are attached to the surface of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 by direct welding to the surface of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 (not shown). Alternatively, the first bearing race 22 and the second bearing race 23 are attached to the surface of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 by direct screwing to the surface of the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 (not shown).
[0035]
[0037] Preferably, the cylindrical rotating reactor 2 is driven by a motor 50, the shaft of which is provided with at least one gear (not shown) which engages a ring gear 90 mounted in one of the bearing races 22, 23. More preferably, the ring gear 90 is mounted in the second bearing race 23.
[0036]
[0038] Thus, as described above, the present invention provides a self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system for cylindrical rotating reactors over a wide temperature spectrum, allowing for higher thermal expansion compared to the prior art.
[0037]
[0039] Numerous variations are possible which affect the scope of protection of this application, and it is therefore emphasized that the present invention is not limited to the specific configurations / embodiments described above.
Claims
1. In a self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system for a cylindrical rotary reactor (2), The self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system comprises a first self-compensating portion (8) and a second self-compensating portion (9), The first self-compensating portion (8) is located at the first end of the cylindrical rotary reactor (2), The first self-compensating portion (8) is, A guide ring (80) attached to the support structure of the cylindrical rotary reactor (2), An axial sliding housing ring (84) adjacent to the guide ring (80), wherein the axial sliding housing ring (84) slides relative to the guide ring (80) in the axial direction, A ring-shaped first bearing race (22) attached to the housing of the cylindrical rotary reactor (2) and supported on a first support roller (32), wherein the first bearing race (22) slides radially with respect to the axial sliding housing ring (84) and is supported by the axial sliding housing ring (84) in the axial direction of the cylindrical rotary reactor (2) and Equipped with, The second self-compensating portion (9) is located at the second end of the cylindrical rotary reactor (2), opposite to the first end. The second self-compensating portion (9) is, A fixed housing ring (94) fixed to the support structure of the cylindrical rotary reactor (2), A ring-shaped second bearing race (23) attached to the housing of the cylindrical rotary reactor (2) and supported on a second support roller (33), the second bearing race (23) rotatably slides relative to the fixed housing ring (94) and Equipped with A self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system characterized by the following.
2. The self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the second bearing race (23) has a groove (23a) adapted to engage with the corresponding second support roller (33).
3. The self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first self-compensating portion (8) further comprises a first dancing ring (85) housed with a gap in a lateral cavity of an axially sliding housing ring (84) that slides in the axial direction, and the first dancing ring (85) is positioned to be biased in the lateral direction of the first bearing race (22) by at least one first elastic element (83).
4. The self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second self-compensating portion (9) further comprises a second dancing ring (85') loosely housed in a lateral cavity of the fixed housing ring (94), and the second dancing ring (85') is positioned biased in the lateral direction of the second bearing race (23) by at least a second elastic element (83').
5. The self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system according to claim 3, further comprising at least one first side gasket (86) compressed between the first dancing ring (85) and the side surface of the first bearing race (22).
6. The self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system according to claim 4, further comprising at least one second side gasket (86') compressed between the second dancing ring (85') and the side surface of the second bearing race (23).
7. The self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising at least one lower gasket (82) compressed between the axial sliding housing ring (84) and the upper surface of the guide ring (80).
8. The self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first self-compensating portion (8) comprises at least one guide roller (88), each guide roller (88) being fixed to the upper portion of the axial sliding housing ring (84) by a support guide (87), and the at least one guide roller (88) contacts the side surface of a recess in the first bearing race (22), thereby biasing and positioning the axial sliding housing ring (84) toward the first bearing race (22).
9. The first bearing race (22) and the second bearing race (23) Screw fastening to at least one mounting ring (21) attached to the surface of the cylindrical rotary reactor (2), Welding to at least one centering mounting ring (21) attached to the surface of the cylindrical rotary reactor (2), Direct welding to the surface of the cylindrical rotary reactor (2), and Direct screw fastening to the surface of the cylindrical rotary reactor (2) A self-compensating thermal expansion sealing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is attached to the surface of the cylindrical rotary reactor (2) by at least one of the following.