Temperature profile generating method at carbonization furnace and the control method using the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile and a method for controlling a carbonization furnace using the same, comprising the steps of: introducing raw materials into a carbonization furnace and determining constraint conditions while gradually increasing the temperature in a segment between singularities; and determining a temperature tracking function that expresses a change in temperature over time in the segment including the constraint conditions.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile and a method for controlling a carbonization furnace using the same. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile that enables rapid and accurate temperature control to improve the efficiency of a carbonization furnace used in various industrial facilities, including the production of activated carbon, and a method for controlling a carbonization furnace using the same. Background Technology

[0002] Activated carbon is a porous carbon material with fine pores. Since pores make up about 15 to 95% of its volume, it has the advantage of exhibiting new properties that conventional dense materials cannot. For example, due to its fine pore size and high pore volume ratio, it can have an excellent adsorption effective surface area or electrochemical surface area per unit amount and can be used as a core material in environmental or energy-related fields.

[0003] The pores formed in activated carbon are broadly classified into micropores with a size of 2 nm or less, mesopores with a size in the range of 2 to 50 nm, and macropores with a size of 50 nm or more. As the distribution of pore sizes becomes more dispersed, that is, as the uniformity of pore sizes decreases, the activated carbon becomes of lower quality with reduced ability to remove target contaminants. Conversely, as the distribution of pore sizes becomes more uniform, the activated carbon has the characteristic of having superior removal performance against target contaminants.

[0004] Conventional activated carbon manufacturing methods require carbonization and activation of synthetic resin raw materials using a carbonization furnace. In this process, temperature control is a critical factor determining the quality of the activated carbon and the success of the process, and a rapid and accurate temperature profile is required for precise process control. Prior art literature

[0005] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2023-0088607 (June 20, 2023) The problem to be solved

[0006] The present invention is proposed to solve the problems of the aforementioned prior art, and its purpose is to provide a method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile that enables rapid and accurate temperature control and a method for controlling a carbonization furnace using the same, in order to improve the efficiency of carbonization furnaces used in various industrial facilities, including the production of activated carbon.

[0007] The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0008] The technical problem of the present invention as described above is achieved by the following means.

[0009] (1) A step of introducing raw materials into a carbonization furnace and determining constraint conditions while gradually increasing the temperature in the singularity interval; and

[0010] A method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile, comprising the step of determining a temperature tracking function that expresses the change in temperature over time in the corresponding section, including the above constraints.

[0011] (2) In the above (1),

[0012] A method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile characterized by constraints including conditions in which cracks do not occur in the activated carbon raw material in the carbonization furnace.

[0013] (3) In the above (1),

[0014] A method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile characterized by the above constraints including a heat quantity standard.

[0015] (4) In the above (1),

[0016] A method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile characterized by determining the profile function based on the minimum value of a time interval using the derivative function of the profile.

[0017] (5) A step of introducing raw materials into a carbonization furnace and determining constraint conditions while gradually increasing the temperature in the singularity interval;

[0018] A step of determining a temperature tracking function that expresses the change in temperature over time in the corresponding section, including the above constraints;

[0019] A step of converting the time and temperature in the corresponding section into a dataset using the temperature tracking function determined above, and generating control data in the corresponding section; and

[0020] A method for controlling a carbonization furnace using a carbonization furnace temperature profile, characterized by including the step of transmitting the above-mentioned control data to a heater to control the operation of the said heater.

[0021] (6) In the above (5),

[0022] A method for controlling a carbonization furnace using a carbonization furnace temperature profile, characterized in that the constraint conditions include conditions in which cracks occur in the activated carbon raw material in the carbonization furnace.

[0023] (7) In the above (5),

[0024] A method for controlling a carbonization furnace using a carbonization furnace temperature profile, characterized in that the above constraint includes a heat quantity standard.

[0025] (8) In the above (5),

[0026] A method for controlling a carbonization furnace using a carbonization furnace temperature profile, characterized by determining the profile function based on the minimum value of a time interval using the derivative function of the profile. Effects of the invention

[0027] As described above, the present invention can provide a method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile that enables rapid and accurate temperature control to improve the efficiency of a carbonization furnace used in various industrial facilities, including the production of activated carbon, and a method for controlling a carbonization furnace using the same. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0028] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a temperature profile generating device in a carbonization furnace according to the present invention and a temperature control system including the same. FIG. 2 is an example graph of the relationship between a temperature singularity and a temperature profile in a carbonization furnace according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an example diagram of a method for determining a temperature tracking function in the corresponding section between two temperature singularities that appear during the carbonization process, as an embodiment according to the present invention. Figure 4 is a diagram of the temperature profile generation in a carbonization furnace and the control procedure of the carbonization furnace using the same as an embodiment according to the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0029] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The detailed description disclosed below, together with the accompanying drawings, is intended to describe exemplary embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiment in which the present invention may be practiced. The following detailed description includes specific details to provide a complete understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will know that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details.

[0030] In some cases, to avoid obscuring the concept of the present invention, known structures and devices may be omitted or illustrated in the form of a block diagram focusing on the core functions of each structure and device.

[0031] Throughout the specification, when a part is described as "comprising" or "including" a component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components. Furthermore, the term "...part" as used in the specification refers to a unit that performs at least one function or operation. Additionally, "one (a or an)," "one," "the," and similar related terms may be used in the context describing the invention (particularly in the context of the following claims) to include both singular and plural forms, unless otherwise indicated in the specification or clearly contradicted by the context.

[0032] In describing the embodiments of the present invention, specific descriptions of known functions or configurations will be omitted if it is determined that such detailed descriptions could unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention. Furthermore, the terms described below are defined in consideration of their functions in the embodiments of the present invention, and these definitions may vary depending on the intentions or practices of the user or operator. Therefore, such definitions should be based on the content throughout this specification.

[0033] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a temperature profile generating device (100) in a carbonization furnace (1) according to the present invention, comprising a sensor unit (10), a detection signal receiving unit (20), and a temperature profile generating unit (30), and the system of the present invention comprises the temperature profile generating device (100) and a temperature control unit (200).

[0035] In addition, the method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile according to the present invention comprises the steps of: introducing raw materials into a carbonization furnace and determining constraint conditions while gradually increasing the temperature in a segment between singularities; and determining a temperature tracking function that expresses the change in temperature over time in the segment including the constraint conditions.

[0036] Furthermore, a method for controlling a carbonization furnace using a carbonization furnace temperature profile according to the present invention comprises the steps of: introducing raw materials into the carbonization furnace and determining constraint conditions while gradually increasing the temperature in a segment between singularities; determining a temperature tracking function that expresses the change in temperature over time in the segment including the constraint conditions; converting the time and temperature in the segment into a dataset using the determined temperature tracking function and generating control data for the segment; and transmitting the control data to a heater to control the operation of the heater.

[0037] In the present invention, the sensor unit (10) is mounted at a predetermined position of the tin furnace (1) to measure the temperature in each corresponding section and transmit the measured temperature and time information.

[0038] In the present invention, the detection signal receiving unit (20) receives the signal detected by the sensor unit (10).

[0039] In the present invention, the temperature profile generation unit (30) analyzes the received sensor signal by interval and analyzes the visible temperature and time between singularities to derive a tracking function.

[0040] The above tracking function may be a linear, quadratic, or cubic function given by temperature / time, and is not limited to a specific formula; an optimal regression equation can be obtained using various statistical techniques.

[0041] In addition, in the present invention, the temperature profile generating unit (30) must reflect the constraint conditions required in each corresponding section (e.g., conditions to prevent cracking of the activated carbon material).

[0042] In this case, the determination of conformity can preferably be made based on the minimum value of the corresponding interval using the derivative function of the relevant profile.

[0043] In addition, in the present invention, the constraint condition may be determined based on the amount of heat. For example, the amount of heat applied to the raw material for a certain period of time is not exceeded by the standard, and in this case, it is possible to calculate the amount of heat using the integral value of the tracking function.

[0044] In the embodiments of the present invention, the constraint conditions may vary depending on the type and characteristics of the raw material fed into the carbonization furnace. To this end, separate constraint conditions based on the characteristics of the raw material may be stored in a database, and various temperature profiles reflecting each of these constraint conditions may exist.

[0045] Accordingly, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the characteristics of the raw material are input, a temperature profile with characteristics closest to them can be determined, and the operation of the carbonization furnace is controlled using this. Furthermore, if the characteristics of the raw material exhibit different behaviors depending on the temperature range, it is also possible to extract a suitable temperature profile for each range and use it to control the operation of the carbonization furnace in detail.

[0046] Through the above process, a tracking function reflecting the constraints in the interval between the singularities is determined.

[0047] In the present invention, the temperature control unit (200) generates control data for performing temperature control of the carbonization furnace (1), and the control data is transmitted to the heater controller (2) and used as control reference data in the heater controller.

[0048] Hereinafter, the method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile according to the present invention and the control method using the same will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0049] In the present invention, the generation of a carbonization furnace temperature profile refers to the generation of a profile regarding the change in temperature over time within the carbonization furnace.

[0050] In the present invention, the starting temperature in the temperature profile P s ( t s ,T s ) may be input by a sensor or input information by a user.

[0051] In the present invention, the temperature singularity is as shown in FIG. 2, P e,n ( t e,n ,T e,n It can be represented as (n=1,2,3 ...) and can be generated or given at various points during the process (e.g., the start and end points of the carbonization process or activation process for the manufacture of activated carbon), and such temperature singularities include time information (t) and temperature information (T).

[0052] Preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 2 as an embodiment of the present invention, the profile between each singularity is configured to be connected in multiple ways, such as in section I, section II, and section III.

[0053] The present invention thus generates a temperature profile that satisfies the constraints required in the interval between at least one temperature singularity, including the starting temperature.

[0054] In the present invention, the constraint condition may preferably be a temperature rise limit condition per hour within the interval (e.g., temperature increase rate per minute).

[0055] In the manufacturing process of activated carbon, it is important to shorten the manufacturing time without causing cracking of the activated carbon raw material during the carbonization process, so it is required to find conditions that can maximize the allowable rate of temperature increase per minute.

[0056] To this end, a tracking profile for each section that meets the temperature rise limit condition for each section is set, and the criterion for determining compliance can preferably be determined based on the minimum value of the time section using the derivative function of the profile.

[0057] Below, a method for determining the temperature tracking function between two points is explained with an example.

[0058] In the embodiments of the present invention, limited to cases where a starting point and an ending point are given, the starting point P s ( t s ,T s With ), the endpoint P e ( t e ,T e Indicated as ).

[0059] The tracking function that can be used in the present invention is not required to be limited to a specific function as long as the interval is expressed as a continuous and differentiable function. That is, the tracking function can be a first-order function, a second-order function, a third-order function, etc.

[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in an embodiment of the present invention, the temperature profile can be expressed as a continuous differentiable function having a temperature / time axis with constraints reflected in the corresponding section. In this case, the slope represents the rate of temperature rise [Temp. / time].

[0061] (1) When the interval is a linear function

[0062]

[0063] (2) When the interval is a quadratic function (U-shape)

[0064] ,

[0065] (3) When the interval is a quadratic function (∩ shape)

[0066] ,

[0067] (4) If the interval is a cubic function (increasing function type)

[0068] ,

[0069] When the tracking function is determined as described above, the temperature control unit (200) uses the temperature tracking function to control the temperature tracking function and the operation of the heater controller (2) of the carbonization furnace (1).

[0070] To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, control data is generated at a frequency less than or equal to the control function frequency / 10, taking into account the frequency of the control function.

[0071] Next, the target time and the temperature of the carbonization furnace to be achieved at that time are configured as a dataset, and a dataset for the interval where the temperature tracking function is applied is configured.

[0072] The above control data is transmitted to the heater controller (2) and used as control reference data in the heater controller to stably perform carbonization work in the shortest possible time without cracking, thereby economically obtaining high-quality activated carbon.

[0073] Combinations of each block of the block diagram attached to this specification and each step of the flowchart may be performed by computer program instructions. Since these computer program instructions may be loaded into the processor of a general-purpose computer, a computer for special purposes, or other programmable data processing equipment, the instructions executed through the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment create means for performing the functions described in each block of the block diagram or each step of the flowchart. Since these computer program instructions may also be stored in computer-available or computer-readable memory that can be directed toward the computer or other programmable data processing equipment to implement the function in a specific manner, the instructions stored in computer-available or computer-readable memory may also produce a manufactured item containing instruction means for performing the function described in each block of the block diagram or each step of the flowchart. Since computer program instructions can be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment, instructions that execute a computer or other programmable data processing equipment by performing a series of operation steps on the computer or other programmable data processing equipment to create a process executed by the computer can also provide steps for executing the functions described in each block of the block diagram and each step of the flowchart.

[0074] Additionally, each block or each step may represent a module, segment, or part of code containing one or more executable instructions for executing a specified logical function(s). Also, it should be noted that in some alternative embodiments, the functions mentioned in the blocks or steps may occur out of order. For example, two blocks or steps described in succession may actually be performed substantially simultaneously, or the blocks or steps may sometimes be performed in reverse order according to the corresponding function.

[0075] The foregoing description is merely an illustrative explanation of the technical concept of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to make various modifications and variations within the scope of the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to explain, not limit, the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of the technical concept of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical concepts within an equivalent scope shall be interpreted as being included within the scope of rights of the present invention.

Claims

Claim 1 A method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile, comprising: a step of introducing raw materials into a carbonization furnace and determining constraint conditions while gradually increasing the temperature in a segment between singularities; and a step of determining a temperature tracking function that expresses the change in temperature over time in the segment including the constraint conditions, wherein the constraint conditions include a condition in which cracking of the activated carbon raw materials does not occur in the carbonization furnace. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 A method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile according to claim 1, characterized in that the constraint includes a heat quantity standard. Claim 4 A method for generating a carbonization furnace temperature profile according to claim 1, characterized in that the determination of the profile function is based on the minimum value of the time interval using the derivative function of the profile. Claim 5 A method for controlling a carbonization furnace using a carbonization furnace temperature profile, characterized by comprising: a step of introducing raw materials into a carbonization furnace and determining constraint conditions while gradually increasing the temperature in a segment between singularities; a step of determining a temperature tracking function that expresses the change in temperature over time in the segment including the constraint conditions; a step of converting the time and temperature in the segment into a dataset using the determined temperature tracking function and generating control data for the segment; and a step of transmitting the control data to a heater to control the operation of the heater. Claim 6 A method for controlling a carbonization furnace using a carbonization furnace temperature profile, characterized in that, in claim 5, the constraint includes a condition in which cracking of the activated carbon raw material occurs in the carbonization furnace. Claim 7 A method for controlling a carbonization furnace using a carbonization furnace temperature profile, characterized in that, in claim 5, the above constraint includes a heat quantity standard. Claim 8 A method for controlling a carbonization furnace using a carbonization furnace temperature profile, characterized in that, in claim 5, the determination of the profile function is based on the minimum value of the time interval using the derivative function of the corresponding profile.

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