Fluid bed apparatus

Abstract

To provide a fluid bed apparatus capable of automatically discharging granules from a container and having no fear of clogging of a perforated plate.SOLUTION: A fluid bed apparatus includes a container that has a fluid chamber that houses powdered particles inside, and has a discharge port located at a bottom for discharging the powdered particles from the fluid chamber, a discharge damper that has a plate-like valve body that can close the discharge port, and opens and closes the discharge port, and at least one gas nozzle that blows fluidizing gas toward or along an upper surface of the valve body that closes the discharge port to the bottom of the fluid chamber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fluidized bed apparatus for granular material. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a fluidized bed apparatus is known as an apparatus for drying, granulating, or coating powder or granules. In the fluidized bed apparatus, the powder or granules contained in a fluidizing chamber are fluidized by blowing in fluidizing air, while the powder or granules are dried, granulated, or coated. The fluidized bed apparatus generally includes a container for containing the powder or granules, and a perforated plate disposed at the bottom of the container and having a large number of air holes. The inside of the container is a fluidizing chamber in which a fluidized layer is formed, and fluidizing air is supplied from below the perforated plate into the fluidizing chamber, and the powder or granules are fluidized by the fluidizing air blown up from the bottom of the fluidizing chamber. In conventional fluidized bed apparatuses, the container is removed from the apparatus and the powder or granules are discharged from the container, making it difficult to automate the discharge of the powder or granules.

[0003] The fluidized bed device of Patent Document 1 includes a cylindrical container that contains powder and granular material, a lid that closes the bottom of the container, and an opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the lid. The lid has a hollow structure, and the surface of the lid that contacts the inside of the shell body when the lid closes the bottom of the shell body is a perforated plate with many ventilation holes. A conical cap is disposed above each ventilation hole to prevent the powder and granular material from flowing out through the ventilation holes. The gas compressed into the hollow part of the lid is ejected into the container through the ventilation holes, causing the powder and granular material contained in the container to flow. In addition, the bottom of the container is fully opened by opening the lid, and the powder and granular material contained in the container is discharged through the opening at the bottom in a short time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 55-162774 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the fluidized bed apparatus of Patent Document 1, a lid closing the bottom of the container is opened and closed by an opening and closing mechanism, so that powder and granular materials can be automatically discharged from the container. However, in a conventional fluidized bed apparatus in which a perforated plate is arranged at the bottom of a container that contains powder and granular materials, as in Patent Document 1, powder and granular materials may get into the mesh of the perforated plate, i.e., the air holes, causing clogging, and it is not easy to remove powder and granular materials that have gotten into the mesh. The smaller the particle size of the powder and granular materials, the smaller the mesh becomes to prevent the powder and granular materials from passing through, making it difficult to maintain good ventilation of the perforated plate.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a fluidized bed apparatus that is capable of automatically discharging powder and granular material from a container and that can be easily cleaned without the risk of clogging of the perforated plate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a fluidized bed apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is provided, a container having a fluidization chamber for accommodating powder or granular material therein and a discharge port disposed at a bottom thereof for discharging the powder or granular material from the fluidization chamber; a discharge damper having a plate-shaped valve body capable of closing the discharge port and opening and closing the discharge port; and at least one gas nozzle for blowing a flow gas toward the bottom of the flow chamber, or along the upper surface of the valve body that closes the exhaust port. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a fluidized bed apparatus which is capable of automatically discharging powder or granular material from a container and which can be easily cleaned without the risk of clogging of the perforated plate. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall schematic configuration of a fluidized bed apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluidized bed apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the outlet of the vessel of the fluidized bed apparatus and its vicinity. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the outlet of the vessel of the fluidized bed apparatus and its vicinity. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a section through a nozzle having swirl vanes of a vessel of a fluidized bed apparatus. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluidized bed apparatus according to the first modification of the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the outlet of the vessel of the fluidized bed apparatus according to the first modification and its vicinity. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the outlet of the vessel of the fluidized bed apparatus according to the first modification and its vicinity. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a nozzle having swirl vanes of a vessel of a fluidized bed apparatus according to the first modification. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluidized bed apparatus according to the second modification of the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the outlet of a vessel of a fluidized bed apparatus according to the second modification and its vicinity. [Figure 12] FIG. 12(a) is a partial cross-sectional view of a fluidized bed apparatus according to Modification 2, illustrating the state in which the fluidized bed apparatus is provided with a nozzle having a swirl vane, and FIG. 12(b) is a plan view of the swirl vane. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluidized bed apparatus according to the third modification of the embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluidized bed apparatus according to the fourth modification of the embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluidized bed apparatus according to the fifth modification of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Next, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fluidized bed apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 1 includes a container 21 with an open bottom and a discharge damper 3 for opening and closing the bottom of the container 21. The container 21 has therein a fluidization chamber 20 in which a fluidized layer 2 of powder or granular material is formed.

[0011] A gas supply system 4 that supplies a fluidizing gas to the vessel 21 is connected to the fluidized bed apparatus 1. The fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is a fluidized bed drying apparatus, and the fluidizing gas is high-temperature dry air. The gas supply system 4 includes, for example, a blower fan 42, an air filter 41, and an air heater 43. A supply adjustment valve 44 is disposed between the blower fan 42 and the air filter 41. When the supply adjustment valve 44 is opened and the blower fan 42 is operated, the fluidizing gas that has been cleaned by the air filter 41 and heated by the air heater 43 is pressure-fed to the vessel 21.

[0012] An exhaust system 5 for forcibly exhausting air from the vessel 21 is connected to the fluidized bed apparatus 1. The exhaust system 5 includes, for example, an exhaust fan 51 and an exhaust regulating valve 52. Air is forcibly exhausted from the vessel 21 by operating the exhaust fan 51. The exhaust regulating valve 52 adjusts the amount of air exhausted from the vessel 21 and the pressure in the fluidizing chamber 20 in cooperation with the supply regulating valve 44. For example, the openings of the supply regulating valve 44 and the exhaust regulating valve 52 are adjusted so that the absolute value of the exhaust pressure from the exhaust system 5 is slightly greater than the absolute value of the supply pressure of the fluidizing gas from the gas supply system 4, and the pressure in the fluidizing chamber 20 is lower than atmospheric pressure, i.e., negative pressure.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fluidized bed apparatus 1. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a vessel 21 of the fluidized bed apparatus 1 has a cylindrical vessel upper part 21a and a vessel lower part 21b extending downward from the vessel upper part 21a.

[0014] The container lower part 21b has a truncated cone shape tapering downward. The inside of the container lower part 21b is a fluidization chamber 20, in which a fluidized bed 2 of powdered or granular material is formed. The open bottom surface of the container lower part 21b serves as a discharge port 23 for discharging the powdered or granular material from the fluidization chamber 20. The discharge port 23 of the container 21 is opened and closed by a discharge damper 3. A chute 28 is disposed below the container 21, and the powdered or granular material discharged from the discharge port 23 falls through the chute 28 and is collected in a collection container 29 or sent to the next process.

[0015] The inside of the upper vessel portion 21a is an exhaust chamber 24, and a freeboard region is formed in the exhaust chamber 24 to separate particles jumping out from the surface of the fluidized bed 2 from the gas. An inlet 27 for feeding powdered or granular material into the fluidized chamber 20 is opened in the upper vessel portion 21a, and the inlet 27 can be opened and closed by a damper. A dust collector 25 is also disposed in the upper vessel portion 21a, and an exhaust port 26 is disposed above the dust collector 25. An exhaust system 5 is connected to the exhaust port 26, and the gas that has completed heat exchange with the powdered or granular material in the fluidized chamber 20 is purified by the dust collector 25 and discharged to the exhaust system 5 through the exhaust port 26.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge damper 3 according to this embodiment is of a flap type and includes a valve body 36 capable of closing the discharge outlet 23 of the container 21, a link 37 supporting the valve body 36, and an actuator 38 that operates the link 37.

[0017] The valve body 36 is a plate-like member having a shape substantially the same as the cross section of the flow passage of the discharge port 23 of the container 21. The link 37 is disposed in the chute 28, and has a tip portion rotatably connected to the lower surface of the valve body 36, and a base portion rotatably connected to the container 21 or the chute 28. The actuator 38 is disposed outside the container 21, and operates the link 37 to open and close the discharge port 23. The actuator 38 is, for example, an electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic cylinder, or an electric motor. However, the discharge damper 3 may not include the actuator 38, and the link 37 may be operated manually. In the discharge damper 3 having the above configuration, the position of the valve body 36 that fully closes the discharge port 23 is set as a reference position, and the valve body 36 rotates about 90 degrees from the reference position by the operation of the link 37, thereby fully opening the discharge port 23.

[0018] 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the discharge port 23 of the vessel 21 of the fluidized bed apparatus 1 and its vicinity. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a ring-shaped gas nozzle 7 is disposed around the discharge port 23 of the vessel 21, i.e., on the opening edge. The gas nozzle 7 may be fixed to the vessel 21, or may be provided integrally with the vessel 21. The gas nozzle 7 has an inlet 71 connected to the gas supply system 4, a gas outlet 73 which is an outlet for the fluidizing gas, and a gas flow path 72 which connects the inlet 71 and the gas outlet 73. The fluidizing gas introduced from the gas supply system 4 to the inlet 71 of the gas nozzle 7 is rectified through the gas flow path 72 and then blown out from the gas outlet 73 into the vessel 21.

[0019] The gas outlet 73 is a ring-shaped opening that is continuous in the circumferential direction at the opening edge of the discharge port 23 of the container 21, or a plurality of openings that are arranged in a line in the circumferential direction at the opening edge of the discharge port 23 of the container 21. The gas flow path 72 redirects the flow of the fluidizing gas introduced laterally from the inlet 71 downward. The gas outlet 73 opens downward, and the fluidizing gas is blown downward from the gas outlet 73 toward the upper surface of the valve body 36. The flow of the fluidizing gas blown out from the gas outlet 73 abuts against the upper surface of the valve body 36, turns radially inward of the discharge port 23, proceeds radially inward along the valve body 36, and then rises. As a result, the fluidizing gas is blown into the bottom of the fluidized bed 2, i.e., the part of the fluidized bed 2 that is in contact with the valve body 36 or in the vicinity thereof, and the powder and granular material are suspended and fluidized by the rising fluidizing gas. In order to stir the fluidized bed 2 from the bottom, it is desirable for the flow of the fluidizing gas to flow at a position as close to the powder and granular material as possible.

[0020] In the above, the gas outlet 73 of the gas nozzle 7 opens downward, but may open radially inward. In this case, as shown in Fig. 4, the gas outlet 73 of the gas nozzle 7 opens radially inward of the exhaust port 23, and the flow gas is blown out radially inward from the gas outlet 73 along the upper surface of the valve body 36. The flow of the flow gas blown inward from the gas outlet 73 moves radially inward near the upper surface of the valve body 36 and then rises.

[0021] The fluidizing gas blown out from the gas outlet 73 may be a swirling flow. In this case, as shown in Fig. 5, a number of swirling vanes 74 are provided in the gas flow passage 72 of the gas nozzle 7. The fluidizing gas introduced into the gas nozzle 7 is rectified by the swirling vanes 74 into a flow approximately tangential to the exhaust port 23 while passing through the gas flow passage 72, and is blown out from the gas outlet 73 into the fluidizing chamber 20 as a swirling flow.

[0022] Variation 1 In the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the above embodiment, a flap-type discharge damper 3 is used, but a butterfly-type discharge damper 3A may be used. The butterfly-type discharge damper 3A is advantageous in that it can be configured more compactly than the flap-type discharge damper 3. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the first modified embodiment. In the description of this modified embodiment, the same or similar members as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0023] 6, the discharge damper 3A of the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to this modification is of a butterfly type. The discharge damper 3A includes a casing 31 arranged between the container 21 and the chute 28, a valve body 36 capable of closing the flow path in the casing 31, a rotating shaft 33 of the valve body 36, and an actuator 34 for driving the rotating shaft 33.

[0024] The casing 31 is a cylindrical member having an inner diameter substantially equal to that of the discharge port 23 of the container 21 and extending in the vertical direction. The upper end of the casing 31 is connected to the edge of the discharge port 23 of the container 21, and the lower end of the casing 31 is connected to the chute 28. That is, the casing 31 is interposed between the container 21 and the chute 28 from above and below. The valve body 36 is a plate-like member having a shape substantially equal to the flow passage cross section of the casing 31. The rotating shaft 33 passes through the casing 31 and the valve body 36, and supports the valve body 36 on the casing 31, and serves as the center of rotation of the valve body 36. The rotating shaft 33 passes through substantially the diameter of the valve body 36. The actuator 34 is disposed outside the casing 31, and drives the rotating shaft 33 to open and close the discharge port 23. The actuator 34 is, for example, a rotary motor. However, the discharge damper 3A may not include the actuator 34, and the rotating shaft 33 may be rotated manually. In the exhaust damper 3A having the above-described configuration, the rotational position of the rotating shaft 33 in which the exhaust port 23 is completely blocked by the valve body 36 is set as a reference position, and the exhaust port 23 is completely opened by rotating the rotating shaft 33 90 degrees from the reference position.

[0025] 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the outlet 23 of the vessel 21 of the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the first modification and its vicinity. As shown in FIG. 7, an annular gas nozzle 7 is disposed on the opening edge of the outlet 23 of the vessel 21. The gas nozzle 7 may be fixed to the vessel 21, or the gas nozzle 7 may be provided integrally with the vessel 21. The gas nozzle 7 has an inlet 71 connected to the gas supply system 4, a gas outlet 73 which is an outlet for the fluidizing gas, and a gas flow path 72 which connects the inlet 71 and the gas outlet 73. The fluidizing gas introduced from the gas supply system 4 to the inlet 71 of the gas nozzle 7 is rectified through the gas flow path 72 and then blown out from the gas outlet 73 into the vessel 21.

[0026] The gas flow passage 72 changes the flow direction of the fluidizing gas introduced laterally from the inlet 71 downward. The gas outlet 73 is a circular opening that is continuous in the circumferential direction at the opening edge of the discharge port 23 of the container 21, or a plurality of openings arranged in a line in the circumferential direction at the opening edge of the discharge port 23 of the container 21. The gas outlet 73 opens downward. The flow of the fluidizing gas blown downward from the gas outlet 73 is guided by the inner circumferential surface of the casing 31 of the discharge damper 3A, changes its flow direction radially inward of the discharge port 23, moves radially inward at the bottom of the fluidizing chamber 20, and then rises. In this way, the fluidizing gas is blown into the bottom of the fluidized bed 2, i.e., the part of the fluidized bed 2 that is in contact with the valve body 36 of the discharge damper 3A or the vicinity thereof, and the powder and granular material are suspended and fluidized by the rising fluidizing gas.

[0027] In order to stir the fluidized bed 2 from the bottom, it is desirable for the fluidizing gas to flow at a position closer to the valve body 36 of the discharge damper 3A. For that purpose, as shown in Fig. 8, the lower end of the vessel 21 may be extended downward into the casing 31 of the discharge damper 3A, and the lower end of the vessel 21 and the casing 31 may be arranged to overlap each other in the vertical direction.

[0028] The flow gas blown out from the gas outlet 73 may be a swirling flow. In this case, as shown in Fig. 9, a number of swirling vanes 74 are provided in the gas flow passage 72 of the gas nozzle 7. The flow gas introduced into the gas nozzle 7 is rectified by the swirling vanes 74 into a flow tangential to the exhaust port 23 while passing through the gas flow passage 72, and is blown out from the gas outlet 73 into the flow chamber 20 as a swirling flow.

[0029] Variation 2 In the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the above embodiment, the fluidizing gas is blown out from the gas nozzle 7 arranged on the opening edge of the outlet 23 of the vessel 21, but the fluidizing gas may be blown out from another position. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the second modification of the embodiment. In the description of this modification, the same or similar members as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 10, the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to this modification includes at least one gas nozzle 45 passing through the fluidization chamber 20 or the fluidized bed 2, instead of the gas nozzle 7 arranged on the opening edge of the outlet 23. The gas nozzle 45 extends in the vertical direction. The gas nozzle 45 is connected to a gas supply pipe 46 inserted into the container 21. The gas nozzle 45 and the gas supply pipe 46 may be integrally configured. The number of gas nozzles 45 is not particularly limited, and may be one or more. When the fluidized bed apparatus 1 includes one gas nozzle 45, the gas supply pipe 46 is connected to the gas supply system 4. When the fluidized bed apparatus 1 includes a plurality of gas nozzles 45, the fluidized bed apparatus 1 further includes a header pipe 47 to which a plurality of gas supply pipes 46 are connected, and the gas supply system 4 is connected to the header pipe 47.

[0031] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the exhaust port 23 and its vicinity of the vessel 21 of the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the second modification. As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the gas outlet 48 at the tip of the gas nozzle 45 is arranged on the valve body 36 in the vessel 21. When the fluidized bed apparatus 1 includes a plurality of gas nozzles 45, the plurality of gas nozzles 45 are preferably arranged so that the plurality of gas outlets 48 are distributed on the valve body 36. The gas outlet 48 opens downward, and the fluidizing gas is blown out from the gas nozzle 45 toward the upper surface of the valve body 36. The tip of the gas nozzle 45 is expanded in diameter in a trumpet shape, and the flow of the fluidizing gas blown out from the gas outlet 48 of the gas nozzle 45 abuts on the upper surface of the valve body 36 and flows out radially from the gap between the tip of the gas nozzle 45 and the upper surface of the valve body 36. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the opening axis of the gas outlet 48 of the gas nozzle 45 and the upper surface of the valve body 36 are arranged to be approximately perpendicular to each other, but the direction of the opening axis of the gas outlet 48 of the gas nozzle 45 is not limited to this example.

[0032] The vertical gap between the valve body 36 and the gas outlet 48 is preferably small enough so that the powder and granular material are not broken at the flow speed within the range through which the fluidizing gas can pass. Since the smaller the vertical gap between the valve body 36 and the gas outlet 48, the greater the blowing speed of the fluidizing gas, the vertical gap between the valve body 36 and the gas outlet 48 may be designed according to the target blowing speed of the fluidizing gas.

[0033] The flow gas blown out from the gas outlet 48 may be a swirling flow. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12(a), a swirling vane 49 is provided in the gas flow path of the gas nozzle 45. As shown in FIG. 12(b), the swirling vane 49 is a flow path member arranged at the tip of the gas nozzle 45, and is composed of a cone 49a and a plurality of vane bodies 49b arranged around the cone 49a. The cone 49a deflects the flow of the flow gas flowing downward through the gas nozzle 45 to a radially lateral direction. The plurality of vane bodies 49b are arranged in the circumferential direction, and the space between the vane bodies 49b adjacent in the circumferential direction is the flow path of the flow gas, and the outlet of the flow path is the gas outlet 48. In other words, the plurality of gas outlets 48 are arranged in the circumferential direction at the tip of the gas nozzle 45. The flow of the flow gas introduced into the gas nozzle 45 is rectified by the action of the swirling vane 49 while passing through the gas nozzle 45, and is blown out from the gas outlet 48 to the flow chamber 20 as a swirling flow. In addition, a swirl vane 49 may be arranged upstream of the outlet of the gas nozzle 45 so that the flow gas introduced into the gas nozzle 45 swirls within the gas nozzle 45 and is blown out from the gas outlet 48 into the flow chamber 20.

[0034] The flow of the fluidizing gas blown out from the gas nozzle 45 diffuses in the radial direction at the bottom of the fluidization chamber 20 and then rises in the fluidized bed 2. In this manner, the fluidizing gas is blown into the bottom of the fluidized bed 2, i.e., the portion of the fluidized bed 2 that is in contact with the valve body 36 of the discharge damper 3 or in the vicinity thereof, and the powder and granular material are suspended and fluidized by the rising fluidizing gas.

[0035] In this modification, the gas nozzle 45 is applied to the fluidized bed apparatus 1 equipped with the flap-type discharge damper 3, but the gas nozzle 45 can also be applied to the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to modification 1 equipped with the butterfly-type discharge damper 3A. However, when the gas nozzle 45 is applied to the fluidized bed apparatus 1 equipped with the butterfly-type discharge damper 3A, in order to avoid interference between the rotating valve body 36 of the discharge damper 3A and the gas nozzle 45, the gas nozzle 45 is movably installed so that the gas nozzle 45 can be retreated to a position where it does not interfere with the valve body 36 when the valve body 36 is rotated, that is, when the powdery material is discharged from the container 21.

[0036] Variation 3 In the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the above embodiment, the fluidizing gas is blown out from the gas nozzle 7 arranged on the opening edge of the outlet 23 of the vessel 21, but the fluidizing gas may also be blown out from the gas nozzle 45 shown in Modification 2. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to Modification 3 of the above embodiment. In the description of this modification, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings to designate the same or similar members as those in the above embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0037] 13, the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to this modification includes at least one second gas nozzle 45 extending in the vertical direction through the fluidization chamber 20 or the fluidized bed 2, in addition to the first gas nozzle 7 disposed on the opening edge of the outlet 23 of the vessel 21. A specific configuration of the first gas nozzle 7 will be omitted by referring to the description of the above embodiment. Also, a specific configuration of the second gas nozzle 45 will be omitted by referring to the description of the above modification 2.

[0038] The first gas nozzle 7 has a first gas outlet 73 for blowing fluidizing gas (or a swirling flow of fluidizing gas) inward or downward from the periphery of the discharge port 23 toward the top of the valve body 36 closing the discharge port 23. The second gas nozzle 45 has a second gas outlet 48 for blowing fluidizing gas (or a swirling flow of fluidizing gas) toward the upper surface of the valve body 36 closing the discharge port 23. The fluidizing gas blown out from the second gas outlet 48 of the second gas nozzle 45 blows up in the central region of the fluidized bed 2, and the fluidizing gas blown out from the first gas outlet 73 of the first gas nozzle 7 blows up around the central region of the fluidized bed 2. These fluidizing gases pass through and rise between the powder and granular material piled up in the container 21 to suspend the powder and granular material, thereby forming the fluidized bed 2.

[0039] It is preferable that the supply amount of the fluidizing gas blown out from the first gas nozzle 7 and the second gas nozzle 45 is adjusted so that the gas flow rate of the fluidizing gas rising in the fluidized bed 2 is substantially uniform. This makes it possible to make the fluidized state of the fluidized bed 2 more uniform. It is preferable that the supply amount of the fluidizing gas blown out from the first gas nozzle 7 and the supply amount of the fluidizing gas blown out from the second gas nozzle 45 can be adjusted separately. For example, the gas supply system 4 to the first gas nozzle 7 and the gas supply system 4 to the second gas nozzle 45 are provided with supply adjustment valves 44 that operate independently. This makes it possible to adjust the balance between the supply amount of the fluidizing gas blown out from the first gas nozzle 7 and the supply amount of the fluidizing gas blown out from the second gas nozzle 45. Furthermore, it is possible to adjust the balance between the fluidizing speed of the fluidizing gas blown up from the opening edge of the outlet 23 of the container 21 and the fluidizing speed of the fluidizing gas blown up from the center of the outlet 23 of the container 21.

[0040] In this modified example, the first gas nozzle 7 and the second gas nozzle 45 are applied to a fluidized bed apparatus 1 equipped with a flap-type discharge damper 3, but the first gas nozzle 7 and the second gas nozzle 45 can also be applied to a fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to modified example 1 equipped with a butterfly-type discharge damper 3A.

[0041] Variation 4 Although the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the above embodiment is a fluidized bed drying apparatus, the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may be applied to a fluidized bed granulation apparatus. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to Modification 4 of the above embodiment. In the description of this modification, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings to designate the same or similar members as those in the above embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 14, the fluidized bed apparatus 1, which is a fluidized bed granulation apparatus, includes a binder liquid spray device 61 that sprays binder liquid into the container 21 in addition to the configuration of the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the above embodiment. The binder liquid spray device 61 includes a binder liquid container 62, a liquid supply tube 63, a liquid pump 64, a compressed air source 65, a liquid supply pipe 66, and a spray nozzle 67. The liquid supply pipe 66 is inserted into the container 21. The spray nozzle 67 is connected to the tip of the liquid supply pipe 66 and is arranged to spray downward from above the fluidized bed 2. In the binder liquid spray device 61 configured as above, the binder liquid contained in the binder liquid container 62 is quantitatively delivered by the liquid pump 64 and sent to the liquid supply pipe 66 through the liquid supply tube 63. Compressed air is supplied to the spray nozzle 67 from the compressed air source 65. The binder liquid sent to the liquid supply pipe 66 is sprayed from the spray nozzle 67 into the container 21 together with the compressed air.

[0043] Variation 5 Although the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the above embodiment is a fluidized bed drying apparatus, the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may be applied to a fluidized bed coating apparatus. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to Modification 5 of the above embodiment. In the description of this modification, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar members as those of the above embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 15, the fluidized bed apparatus 1, which is a fluidized bed coating apparatus, includes a coating liquid spray device 81 that sprays a coating into the container 21 in addition to the configuration of the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the above embodiment. The coating liquid spray device 81 includes a coating liquid container 82, a liquid supply tube 83, a liquid pump 84, a compressed air source 85, a liquid supply pipe 86, and a spray nozzle 87. The liquid supply pipe 86 is attached to the wall of the container 21. The spray nozzle 87 is connected to the tip of the liquid supply pipe 86 and is disposed in the container 21 so as to spray the coating liquid into the fluidized bed 2. In the coating liquid spray device 81 having the above configuration, the coating liquid contained in the coating liquid container 82 is quantitatively delivered by the liquid pump 84 and sent to the liquid supply pipe 86 through the liquid supply tube 83. Compressed air is supplied to the spray nozzle 87 from the compressed air source 85. The coating liquid sent to the liquid supply pipe 86 is sprayed from the spray nozzle 87 into the container 21 together with the compressed air.

[0045] [Summary] The fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the first aspect of the present disclosure comprises: A container 21 having a fluidization chamber 20 for accommodating powder or granular material therein and a discharge port 23 for discharging the powder or granular material from the fluidization chamber 20 at the bottom; a discharge damper 3, 3A having a plate-shaped valve body 36 capable of closing the discharge port 23 and opening and closing the discharge port 23; and at least one gas nozzle 7, 45 for blowing out a flowing gas toward the top surface of the valve body 36 closing the outlet 23 or along the top surface of the valve body 36 toward the bottom of the flowing chamber 20.

[0046] In the fluidized bed apparatus 1 having the above configuration, when the powder or granular material is discharged from the fluidization chamber 20, the discharge port 23 arranged at the bottom of the container 21 can be fully opened. Therefore, compared with a conventional fluidized bed apparatus having a container with a discharge port arranged on the side or a conventional fluidized bed apparatus in which the powder or granular material is discharged by removing the container from the apparatus, the powder or granular material can be discharged quickly and efficiently. In addition, since the discharge port 23 at the bottom of the container 21 can be fully opened and the powder or granular material in the container 21 moves to the discharge port 23 by gravity and is discharged from the discharge port 23, it is not necessary to supply a fluidizing gas when discharging the powder or granular material, and the powder or granular material can be automatically discharged from the container 21. Furthermore, in the fluidized bed apparatus 1 having the above configuration, the fluidizing gas is blown from the gas nozzles 7, 45 toward or along the upper surface of the valve body 36 that closes the discharge port 23 to the bottom of the fluidization chamber 20, so that a perforated plate or a mesh plate called a perforated plate or a screen that is provided in a conventional fluidized bed apparatus is not necessary. As described above, since the fluidized bed apparatus 1 does not include a perforated plate or a screen, there is no risk of clogging of the perforated plate or the screen, and cleaning and maintenance are easy.

[0047] The fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the second item of the present disclosure is the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the first item, wherein at least one gas nozzle 7, 45 is arranged on the opening edge of the discharge port 23 and includes a first gas nozzle 7 having a first gas outlet 73 for blowing fluidizing gas downward or sideways from the periphery of the discharge port 23.

[0048] According to the fluidized bed apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration, the first gas nozzle 7 does not impede the flow of the fluidized bed 2 in the fluidization chamber 20, the flow of the powder and granular material discharged from the fluidization chamber 20, or the movement of the valve body 36 of the discharge damper 3, 3A.

[0049] The fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the third item of the present disclosure is the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the first item, wherein at least one gas nozzle 7, 45 is arranged on the opening edge of the discharge port 23 and includes a first gas nozzle 7 having a first gas outlet 73 for blowing out a swirling flow of fluidizing gas downward or sideways from the periphery of the discharge port 23.

[0050] In the fluidized bed apparatus 1 having the above-mentioned configuration, the first gas nozzle 7 does not impede the flow of the fluidized bed 2 in the fluidization chamber 20, the flow of the powder and granular material discharged from the fluidization chamber 20, or the movement of the valve body 36 of the discharge damper 3, 3A. Furthermore, the fluidizing gas can be supplied to the fluidized bed 2 as a swirling flow.

[0051] The fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the fourth item of the present disclosure is the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to any one of the first to third items, wherein at least one gas nozzle 7, 45 is inserted into the fluidization chamber 20 and includes a second gas nozzle 45 having a second gas outlet 48 for blowing fluidization gas toward the upper surface of the valve body 36 blocking the outlet 23.

[0052] The fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to the fifth item of the present disclosure is the fluidized bed apparatus 1 according to any one of the first to third items, wherein at least one gas nozzle 7, 45 is inserted into the fluidization chamber 20 and includes a second gas nozzle 45 having a second gas outlet 48 for blowing out a swirling flow of fluidization gas toward the upper surface of the valve body 36 blocking the outlet 23.

[0053] According to the fluidized bed apparatus 1 relating to the above fourth and fifth items, the second gas nozzle 45 can be disposed at any position in the fluidized bed chamber 20 depending on the area and shape of the bottom of the fluidized bed chamber 20. Moreover, according to the above fluidized bed apparatus 1, the movement of the valve body 36 of the exhaust damper 3, 3A is not hindered by the second gas nozzle 45 passing through the fluidized bed chamber 20. Furthermore, when the first gas nozzle 7 and the second gas nozzle 45 are both provided, it is possible to suppress unevenness in the flow of the fluidizing gas.

[0054] The above discussion of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the form disclosed herein. For example, in the above detailed description, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in one embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the present disclosure, but some of the features may be combined. In addition, the features included in the present disclosure may be combined into alternative embodiments, configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1: Fluidized bed equipment 2: Fluidized bed 3, 3A: Discharge damper 7: Gas nozzle (first gas nozzle) 20: Fluid chamber 21: Container 23: Outlet 36: Valve body 45: Gas nozzle (second gas nozzle) 48: Gas outlet (second gas outlet) 73: Gas outlet (first gas outlet)

Claims

1. a container having a fluidization chamber for accommodating powder or granular material therein and a discharge port for discharging the powder or granular material from the fluidization chamber at a bottom thereof; a discharge damper having a plate-shaped valve body capable of closing the discharge port and opening and closing the discharge port; and at least one gas nozzle for blowing a flow gas toward or along an upper surface of the valve body that closes the exhaust port toward a bottom of the flow chamber. Fluidized bed equipment.

2. the at least one gas nozzle is disposed on an opening edge of the exhaust port and includes a first gas nozzle having a first gas outlet for blowing the fluidizing gas downward or sideways from a periphery of the exhaust port; 2. The fluidized bed apparatus of claim 1.

3. the at least one gas nozzle includes a first gas nozzle disposed on an opening edge of the exhaust port and having a first gas outlet for blowing out a swirling flow of the fluidizing gas downward or sideways from a periphery of the exhaust port; 2. The fluidized bed apparatus of claim 1.

4. the at least one gas nozzle includes a second gas nozzle having a second gas outlet that is passed through the flow chamber and that blows the flow gas toward the upper surface of the valve body that closes the exhaust port. A fluidized bed apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the at least one gas nozzle includes a second gas nozzle having a second gas outlet that is passed through the flow chamber and that blows out a swirling flow of the flow gas toward the upper surface of the valve body that closes the exhaust port. A fluidized bed apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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