Supply device and heating device

Abstract

The present invention makes it possible to easily heat a heating target to a high temperature. This supply device (12) supplies a heating target (W), which is a particulate material, to water plasma (J) injected from a water plasma generation device (11). The supply device comprises: an accommodation body (65) that rotates around a central axis (C2) along the front-rear direction and accommodates a heating target; a vertical-direction circulation part (84) that is provided on the front side of the inside of the accommodation body and circulates the heating target in the vertical direction; and an injection direction circulation part (85) that is provided rearward of the vertical-direction circulation part inside the accommodation body and circulates the heating target in the front-rear direction. The vertical-direction circulation part drops the heating target from a supply position (P) toward the water plasma, and raises the dropped heating target to the supply position by means of the rotation of the accommodation body. The injection direction circulation part conveys the heating target, scattered rearward inside the accommodation body by the injection of the water plasma, toward the vertical-direction circulation part by means of the rotation of the accommodation body.

Description

Feeding and heating devices

[0001] The present invention relates to a supply device and a heating device used for heating a granular or powdery object to be heated.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a known apparatus for treating powdered waste. The apparatus includes a water arc plasma torch and a hopper that stores the waste and supplies it to the water arc plasma generated by the water arc plasma torch. The hopper is located above the waste treatment container and is adjacent to the water arc plasma torch. The hopper allows the waste to fall naturally from top to bottom, supplying the waste to the water arc plasma.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-24902

[0004] In the device of Patent Document 1, waste is heat-treated by gravity dropping the waste and passing it through the water arc plasma, which shortens the time the waste is in contact with the high-temperature water arc plasma, making it difficult to sufficiently raise the temperature of the waste stored in the waste treatment container.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a supply device and a heating device that can easily heat an object to a high temperature.

[0006] a vertical circulation section disposed inside the container upstream of the injection direction of the high-temperature airflow and circulating the object to be heated in an up-and-down direction; and a jetting direction circulation section disposed inside the container downstream of the up-and-down circulation section in the injection direction and circulating the object to be heated in the injection direction. The vertical circulation section drops the object to be heated from a supply position toward the high-temperature airflow and raises the dropped object to the supply position by the rotation of the container. The jetting direction circulation section transports the object to be heated that has been scattered downstream in the injection direction inside the container by the injection of the high-temperature airflow toward the vertical circulation section by the rotation of the container. The container has an opening at its lower end in the injection direction, and a planar shielding member larger than the opening that is disposed upstream of the opening in the injection direction and at a predetermined interval.

[0007] According to the present invention, the object to be heated is dropped from the supply position and supplied to the high-temperature air current, and then transported to the vertical circulation section by the jet direction circulation section. The object is then circulated by the vertical circulation section so that it is supplied again from the supply position to the high-temperature air current. As a result, by continuing to rotate the container, the object to be heated can be repeatedly heated by the high-temperature air current, and the heating time of the object to be heated can be extended, making it easy to heat the object to a high temperature.

[0008] 14A to 14E are explanatory diagrams showing the circulation and supply of an object to be heated by a vertical circulation unit. A cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 9, showing a piece member according to a first modified example. FIG. 16A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a piece member according to a second modified example, and FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a piece member according to a third modified example. FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a piece member according to a fourth modified example.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the configurations of the embodiments are not limited to those shown below and can be modified as appropriate. Also, for the sake of convenience, some configurations may be omitted in the following drawings. Note that in the following description, unless otherwise specified, "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" refer to the directions indicated by arrows in each drawing. However, the orientation of each configuration in the following embodiments is merely an example and can be changed to any orientation.

[0010] 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view of a heating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the heating device 10 includes a water plasma generator 11, which serves as a heat source generator, a supply device 12, and a cooling vessel 14.

[0011] The water plasma generator 11 is supported at a predetermined height via a stand 15. The water plasma generator 11 is configured to include a cathode 16 extending in the front-rear direction, a chamber 17 into which the rear end of the cathode 16 is inserted, an iron disk-shaped anode 18 provided diagonally downward and rearward outside the chamber 17, and an anode support 19 that supports the anode 18.

[0012] The cathode 16 is formed from a round rod made of carbon, and can be displaced in the front-rear direction via a feed screw shaft mechanism 21 to adjust the amount of insertion into the chamber 17. The chamber 17 is supported above an anode support part 19 via a support plate 22. An extension cylinder 23 extending in the front-rear direction is connected to the front end of the anode support part 19, and a motor 24 is provided at the front end of the extension cylinder 23. The driving force of the motor 24 is transmitted to the anode 18 via the extension cylinder 23 and the anode support part 19, rotatably mounting the anode 18.

[0013] Cooling water is supplied to the interior of the chamber 17 via a supply pump 26, and water for plasma generation is supplied via a high-pressure pump 27. A portion of the water for plasma generation is sprayed from the rear end of the chamber 17 as water plasma J (see FIG. 5), which becomes a high-temperature airflow. The cooling water supplied to the chamber 17 and the water for plasma generation that is not sprayed are sucked in via a vacuum pump 28. In the anode support part 19, cooling water that flows inside the anode 18 is also supplied via the supply pump 26, and the cooling water that has absorbed heat in the anode 18 is sucked in via the vacuum pump 28. The detailed configuration of the chamber 17 will be described later.

[0014] A wall 30 is disposed behind the water plasma generator 11, and this wall 30 maintains airtightness between the space in which the water plasma generator 11 is installed and a processing space 31 in which gas generated by the water plasma J is processed. In the processing space 31, for example, gasified cesium is absorbed by water sprayed by a shower device (not shown). A cylindrical cooling vessel 14 is provided to penetrate the wall 30.

[0015] Next, the internal structure of the chamber 17 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the chamber, Figure 3 is a plan cross-sectional view of the chamber, and Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the chamber.

[0016] 2 and 3, the chamber 17 constituting the water plasma generator 11 includes a chamber body 40 forming a cylindrical inner circumferential surface extending in the front-to-rear direction, and a rear wall portion 41 attached to the rear of the chamber body 40, forming an internal space 42 therein for generating water plasma J. An opening communicating with the internal space 42 is formed in the rear wall portion 41, and an injection port forming body 44 is attached to close this opening from the rear.

[0017] The injection port forming body 44 is formed with an injection port 45 for injecting the water plasma J. The injection port 45 is formed in the shape of a round hole that penetrates the injection port forming body 44 and has a central axis oriented in the front-rear direction.

[0018] A circumferentially extending rib 40a is formed inside the chamber main body 40 near the rear, and a plasma water supply passage 47 is formed behind this rib 40a. A plasma water discharge passage 48 is also formed in the rear wall 41 to discharge the plasma water that flows into the opening of the passage. High-pressure plasma water is supplied to the plasma water supply passage 47 from the high-pressure pump 27, and the plasma water is sucked from the plasma water discharge passage 48 by the negative pressure of the vacuum pump 28. The plasma water is also used as cooling water. Specifically, the plasma water is not only used to generate the water plasma J, but also cools various components, including the nozzle formation body 44, along the path from the plasma water supply passage 47 to the plasma water discharge passage 48.

[0019] A cooling water supply channel 50 and a cooling water discharge channel 51 (not shown in FIG. 3 ) are formed in front of the rib 40 a of the chamber main body 40. Cooling water is supplied to the cooling water supply channel 50 from the supply pump 26, and the cooling water is sucked from the cooling water discharge channel 51 by the negative pressure of the vacuum pump 28. The plasma water supply channel 47, the cooling water supply channel 50, and the cooling water discharge channel 51 are formed in the shape of round holes that form the inner circumferential surface of a cylinder.

[0020] 4 , the water supply channel 47 for plasma generation communicates with the lower part of the internal space 42, which is circular in vertical cross section, and extends in the left-right direction. Specifically, the water supply channel 47 for plasma generation extends in the tangential direction of the lower part of the internal space 42. This allows the water for plasma generation flowing in from the water supply channel 47 for plasma generation to flow smoothly along the circumferential direction of the internal space 42.

[0021] The water plasma generator 11 includes a generally cylindrical vortex generator 60 housed in the chamber 17. The vortex generator 60 is disposed so that its central axis C1 coincides with the internal space 42. This central axis C1 also coincides with the central axis of the above-described jet nozzle 45. Therefore, the "central axis C1" with the reference symbol C1 will also be used in the description of the jet nozzle 45. In a vertical cross-sectional view, the internal space 42 forms a circular space between its inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface of the vortex generator 60, and the water for plasma generation that flows into the internal space 42 as described above flows in a swirling manner within the circular space.

[0022] The vortex flow generator 60 has a plurality of passages 61 formed therethrough to communicate the inside and outside of the vortex flow generator 60. The passages 61 are formed at equal angular intervals (every 120° in this embodiment) around the circumference of the vortex flow generator 60. The passages 61 are also formed at predetermined intervals in the front-to-rear direction (see Figures 2 and 3). Each passage 61 extends in a direction inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the vortex flow generator 60. Specifically, each passage 61 extends in a tangent direction to the inner circumference of the vortex flow generator 60 at the communication position. The angle θ formed by the direction in which the plasma water flows from the outside to the inside of the passage 61 and the direction in which the plasma water swirls and flows outside the vortex flow generator 60 is an acute angle.

[0023] Since the passage 61 is formed as described above, the water for plasma generation that flows along the inner circumferential surface of the chamber body 40 outside the vortex flow generator 60 passes through the passage 61 and flows into the interior of the vortex flow generator 60. The water for plasma generation then flows smoothly along the inner circumferential surface of the vortex flow generator 60, and a vortex flow is formed that swirls in a circular shape to form a cavity at the position of the central axis C1 in a vertical cross-sectional view.

[0024] The water plasma generator 11 further includes various components in front of the vortex generator 60 within the chamber 17. These components position the vortex generator 60, cool, hold, and control the movement of the cathode 16, and supply power to the cathode 16, but a detailed description of these components will be omitted here.

[0025] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of water plasma sprayed by the water plasma generator. As shown in Figure 5, when DC power is supplied to the cathode 16 and the anode 18 in a state in which a vortex water flow with a cavity is formed inside the chamber 17 as described above, an arc discharge AR is generated between them. At this time, the arc discharge AR is generated so as to pass through the inside of the cavity of the vortex water flow. The generation of this arc discharge AR dissociates and ionizes the plasma water that forms the vortex water flow, turning it into a high-energy jet stream (high-temperature airflow, heat source), and water plasma J is sprayed from the nozzle 45.

[0026] The water plasma J injected from the nozzle 45 becomes an extremely high-temperature, ultra-high-velocity fluid. The injection direction of the water plasma J is from front to rear, which is a front-to-rear direction parallel to the direction of the central axis C1 of the nozzle 45. More specifically, the water plasma J is injected in a roughly spindle or cone shape with the same central axis C1 as the central axis C1 of the nozzle 45, and has a shape that gradually widens with increasing distance from the nozzle 45. The water plasma J has a relatively high temperature at the central axis C1, and the temperature decreases with increasing distance from the central axis C1.

[0027] Next, the configuration of the supply device 12 will be described with reference to Fig. 6 to Fig. 14 in addition to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the supply device 12 is provided inside the cooling vessel 14 so as to extend generally parallel to the front-rear direction, which is the spray direction of the water plasma J. The supply device 12 is a device that supplies the object to be heated W (see Fig. 14) to the water plasma J sprayed from the water plasma generator 11. Here, the object to be heated W is a powder or granular material such as soil or sand, which is a solid in individual powder or grains but has the property of behaving like a fluid (liquid) as a collective body.

[0028] The supply device 12 includes a container 65 for containing the object to be heated W, and a rotation drive unit 66 for rotating the container 65 , and is supported by the cooling container 14 via a support structure 67 .

[0029] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the supply device. As shown in FIG. 6, the container 65 includes a cylindrical tube body 70 extending in the front-rear direction and a disk-shaped front wall 71 provided to close the front of the tube body 70. The central axis C2 of the tube body 70 (container 65) is aligned with the central axis C1 of the water plasma J (see FIG. 5) and extends parallel to the front-rear direction. A passage opening 71a through which the water plasma J passes from front to rear is formed in the center of the front wall 71 (see FIG. 10). The front wall 71 forms the front end surface of the supply device 12, with the upstream side in the spray direction of the water plasma J being the front side and the downstream side being the rear side of the supply device 12.

[0030] The rotational drive unit 66 includes a gearbox 73 that houses a speed change mechanism and a motor, and an annular gear 75 that is rotated by a drive gear 74 of the gearbox 73. The annular gear 75 is supported on the outside of the front end side of the cylindrical main body 70 via a plurality of brackets 76, and is arranged so that its central axis C2 coincides with that of the cylindrical main body 70. A rotational drive force is transmitted from the drive gear 74 of the rotational drive unit 66 to the annular gear 75, causing the housing 65 to rotate around the central axis C2. In this embodiment, the rotational direction R1 of the cylindrical main body 70 (housing 65) is clockwise when viewed from the front to the rear.

[0031] The support structure 67 includes a pair of left and right bearings 78 (one of which is not shown), and a support frame 79 that supports a region of the housing body 65 that is rearward of the center in the front-to-rear direction via the bearings 78. The bearings 78 are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body 70 and rotate following the rotation of the cylindrical main body 70, thereby rotatably supporting the housing body 65.

[0032] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the supply device, taken in cross section along line A-A in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 7, the container 65 further includes a rear wall 72 in which a circular opening 72a is provided. In other words, the opening 72a is provided on the rear end side of the container 65. A disk-shaped shielding member 82 is provided in front of the rear wall 72 via a plurality of axial spacers 81. Thus, the shielding member 82 is provided at a predetermined distance in front of the opening 72a.

[0033] The shielding member 82 has a planar shape larger than the opening 72a of the rear wall 72, and is disposed so that the opening 72a is hidden by the shielding member 82 when viewed from the front to the rear of the shielding member 82. Therefore, the shielding member 82 prevents the object to be heated W, which scatters linearly along the front-to-rear direction, from flying out of the opening 72a, while ensuring a flow of gas inside the tube main body 70 that bypasses the shielding member 82 and is discharged from the opening 72a.

[0034] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the supply device with some of its components omitted. More specifically, Fig. 8 is a view showing the vertical circulation unit 84 and the jetting direction circulation unit 85 seen through the container 65. The supply device 12 is provided with the vertical circulation unit 84 and the jetting direction circulation unit 85 inside the container 65. The vertical circulation unit 84 is provided in front of the container 65, and the jetting direction circulation unit 85 is provided behind the vertical circulation unit 84.

[0035] Figure 9 is an end view taken along line B-B in Figure 6. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the vertical circulation section 84 includes three piece members 87 that are provided at equal angular intervals (every 120 degrees in this embodiment) around the circumference of the tube main body 70 in the container 65. The three piece members 87 are provided with the same shape. Each piece member 87 is provided in a flat shape using a plate-like member or the like, and is formed into an elongated rectangular shape that extends in the front-to-rear direction.

[0036] 9 , when viewed from the front-to-rear direction, the piece member 87 is provided so as to protrude from the inner circumferential surface 70a of the tube main body 70 (housing body 65). The piece member 87 is also provided at an angle relative to the radial direction of the tube main body 70 (a direction perpendicular to the tangent). More specifically, the tip 87b of the piece member 87 is disposed downstream in the rotation direction R1 of the tube main body 70 from the base 87a, which is the connection portion with the inner circumferential surface 70a of the tube main body 70. As a result, a holding space 88 for the object to be heated W that is V-shaped when viewed from the front-to-rear direction is formed between the piece member 87 and the inner circumferential surface 70a of the tube main body 70.

[0037] The included angle α between the inner peripheral surface 70a of the tube body 70 on the holding space 88 side and the piece member 87 is an acute angle, and in this embodiment, the included angle α is set to approximately 60 degrees. Note that the included angle α can be changed depending on various conditions such as the heated object W, the diameter of the tube body 70, and the width of the piece member 87, and is preferably set to be between 10 degrees and 65 degrees.

[0038] In this embodiment, the piece member 87 is fixed to the inner surface 70a of the tube main body 70 via a fixing member 89 which is a bent piece on the base 87a side, and the base 87a of the piece member 87 and the inner surface 70a of the tube main body 70 are maintained in approximate linear contact.

[0039] 8, the injection direction circulation section 85 has three spiral-forming sections 91 to 93 that extend spirally around the central axis C2. Each of the spiral-forming sections 91 to 93 has the same structure and is provided at equal angular intervals (every 120 degrees in this embodiment) around the circumference of the tube main body 70 in the container 65.

[0040] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 6 . FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 6 . As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 in addition to FIG. 8 , the front ends 94-96 of each spiral-forming portion 91-93 are positioned at the midpoint of the piece member 87 in the fore-and-aft direction or a position rearward of the midpoint. Furthermore, the rear ends 97-99 of each spiral-forming portion 91-93 are positioned slightly forward of the shielding member 82 in the rear region of the tube main body 70. The spiral of each spiral-forming portion 91-93 extends in a direction that rotates along the rotation direction R1 while progressing rearward from the front ends 94-96, and is formed to make approximately one full turn in the rotation direction R1. Here, each spiral-forming portion 91-93 is formed by arranging multiple groove-forming bodies 100 of approximately the same shape in the spiral extension direction.

[0041] Fig. 12 is a schematic perspective view of the groove forming body, and Fig. 13 is an end view taken along line D-D in Fig. 6. The groove forming body 100 includes a first plate 101 and a second plate 102 oriented in mutually orthogonal directions, and is fixed to the inner peripheral surface 70a of the tube main body 70 via a fixing member 103 that serves as a bent piece.

[0042] The first plate 101 is maintained in a state where its curved edge is in approximate line contact with the inner circumferential surface 70a of the tube main body 70 via the fixing member 103. As shown in FIG. 13 , when viewed from the front-to-rear direction, the first plate 101 is oriented in a direction protruding from the inner circumferential surface 70a of the tube main body 70 toward the central axis C2. The second plate 102 extends downstream in the rotation direction R1 of the tube main body 70 from the end of the first plate 101 on the central axis C2 side. This forms a roughly U-shaped transfer space 105, as viewed from the front-to-rear direction, between each of the spiral-forming portions 91-93, including the multiple groove-forming bodies 100, and the inner circumferential surface 70a of the tube main body 70 (housing body 65). The transfer space 105 is a space in which the heating object W (see FIG. 9 ) is held and transferred forward.

[0043] 1 , the cooling container 14, which penetrates the wall 30, is disposed behind the water plasma generator 11 and is provided in a position surrounding the supply device 12. The portion of the wall 30 through which the cooling container 14 penetrates is fully welded, so that the wall 30 holds the cooling container 14 and maintains airtightness therebetween.

[0044] The cooling vessel 14 includes a cylindrical tube body 115 and a rear forming portion 116 formed on the rear end side of the tube body 115 (the side opposite the water plasma generator 11), and the front end of the tube body 115 and the front end of the supply device 12 are covered with a front covering portion 114. The axial direction of the tube body 115 is inclined so as to become lower as it gets further away from the water plasma generator 11.

[0045] The cylindrical main body 115 and rear forming portion 116, which constitute the forming walls of the cooling container 14, have a double structure, forming a single space 117 within their thickness through which cooling water flows. A supply path 118 and a discharge path 119 for cooling water communicate with this space 117. The supply path 118 is provided on the rear lower end side of the cylindrical main body 115, and the discharge path 119 is formed on the front upper end side of the cylindrical main body 115.

[0046] In the cooling vessel 14, cooling water is supplied from a supply path 118 via a pump (not shown) and introduced into the space 117. Then, in the space 117, the cooling water flowing from the supply path 118 to an exhaust path 119 absorbs the heat generated by the water plasma J, thereby cooling the cooling vessel 14. Exhaust ports 120 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the cylindrical main body 115 to exhaust gas from the cooling vessel 14 to the processing space 31.

[0047] Next, the heat treatment of the object W to be heated using the water plasma J will be described below.

[0048] 10 , when water plasma J is sprayed from chamber 17 of water plasma generator 11 toward supply device 12, water plasma J is introduced into tube body 70 (container 65) through passage port 71 a. In supply device 12, the object to be heated W is supplied to and circulated around water plasma J sprayed into tube body 70.

[0049] To explain in more detail the supply and circulation of the object to be heated W, first, a predetermined amount of object to be heated W, such as soil containing harmful substances such as cesium, is placed inside the cylindrical body 70. At this time, the object to be heated W is introduced through the passage opening 71a in the front wall 71 and placed in the installation area of ​​the vertical circulation unit 84 in front of the cylindrical body 70. In this state, the container 65 is rotated in the rotation direction R1 via the rotation drive unit 66 (see FIG. 6).

[0050] 14A to 14E are explanatory diagrams showing how the vertical circulation unit 84 circulates and supplies the object to be heated. For ease of explanation, only one piece 87 of the vertical circulation unit 84 is shown in Fig. 14A to 14E, and the other two pieces are omitted, but the other two pieces function in the same way as the illustrated piece 87.

[0051] 14A , when the container 65 rotates in the rotation direction R1, the piece member 87 located on the right side (upstream side in the rotation direction R1) approaches the object to be heated W placed on the bottom side (lower side) of the cylindrical main body 70. Then, as the piece member 87 moves from right to left during rotation in the rotation direction R1, the object to be heated W is held inside the holding space 88 formed by the piece member 87.

[0052] 14B , part of the object to be heated W is held inside the holding space 88 and moves (rises) together with the piece member 87 diagonally upward to the left along the rotation trajectory of the cylindrical body 70. At this time, part of the object to be heated W that has spilled out of the holding space 88 falls and returns to a state where it is placed on the bottom side of the cylindrical body 70.

[0053] The rotation of the container 65 continues, and the piece 87 and the held object W to be heated rotate and rise from the position shown in Fig. 14B to the positions shown in Fig. 14C to 14E. This rotation causes the piece 87 to change from a position facing diagonally upward in Fig. 14B to a horizontal position in Fig. 14C to a position facing diagonally downward in Fig. 14D, and passes directly above the central axis C2 as shown in Fig. 14E.

[0054] Although this varies depending on conditions such as the inertial force due to the rotation of the container 65 and the state of the object to be heated W (e.g., how dry it is), for example, the object to be heated W held in the holding space 88 in the horizontal position shown in Figure 14C begins to fall in small amounts. Then, the object to be heated W falls to its maximum in the position shown in Figure 14D, and the fall of the object to be heated W is completed in the position shown in Figure 14E. This allows the object to be heated W to be dropped and supplied toward the central axis C1 of the water plasma J, which becomes high temperature, and its vicinity. Here, the position of the piece member 87 shown in Figures 14C and 14D is the supply position P where the object to be heated W is dropped and supplied toward the water plasma J.

[0055] A portion of the object to be heated W that has fallen from the holding space 88 and been supplied to the water plasma J returns to a state where it is placed on the bottom side of the cylindrical main body 70, and is raised to the supply position P in the same manner as described above by the rotation of the container 65 causing the piece members 87 to rotate. As a result, the object to be heated W is circulated in the vertical direction by the vertical circulation unit 84 that is equipped with the multiple piece members 87.

[0056] A part of the object to be heated W supplied to the water plasma J is scattered rearward (downstream in the direction of injection) inside the container 65 by the injection of the water plasma J. This scattering causes the object to be heated W to collide with the shielding member 82, and is placed on the bottom side of the tube main body 70 in the area where the injection direction circulating unit 85 is installed.

[0057] When the container 65 rotates in the rotation direction R1 in this state, the three spiral-extending spiral portions 91-93 behave as if they are displaced from rear to front, as observed at a fixed point in the cross section shown in FIG. 10 . For example, from the state shown in FIG. 10 , when the container 65 rotates in the rotation direction R1, the spiral portions 92 and 93 behave as if they are moving forward in parallel to the front end 94 (see white arrows). As a result of this behavior, the object to be heated W at the bottom of the tube body 70 is held in the transport space 105 of each spiral portion 91-93 and transported forward until it reaches the front ends 94-96. Since the front ends 94-96 are located in the installation area of ​​the vertical circulation portion 84 in the front-to-rear direction, the jet direction circulation portion 85 transports the object to be heated W toward the vertical circulation portion 84 as the container 65 rotates.

[0058] In the vertical circulation section 84, the object to be heated W is supplied to the water plasma J as described above. Then, the object to be heated W is scattered by the injection of the water plasma J into the installation area of ​​the rear injection direction circulation section 85, and then transported forward as described above. As a result, the object to be heated W is circulated in the front-rear direction by the injection direction circulation section 85.

[0059] According to the above embodiment, the object to be heated W supplied to the water plasma J can be transported by the injection direction circulation unit 85 to the vertical circulation unit 84, and can be circulated by the vertical circulation unit 84 so that it can be supplied again to the water plasma J. Furthermore, even if the object to be heated W that has fallen from the supply position P passes through the water plasma J, it can be circulated by the vertical circulation unit 84 so that it can be supplied again to the water plasma J.

[0060] Therefore, simply by continuing to rotate the container 65, the object to be heated W can be repeatedly heated by the water plasma J, and the heating time of the object to be heated W can be easily extended and the heating temperature can be increased. This improves the ability to decompose and vaporize components contained in the object to be heated W, and harmful substances contained in the object to be heated W can be decomposed and vaporized to render them harmless.

[0061] Furthermore, the object to be heated W can be stirred by circulating it, and the object to be heated W can be heated to a high temperature while suppressing variations in heating.

[0062] Furthermore, because the vertical circulation section 84 is formed from the piece member 87, it is possible to form the holding space 88 using the tube main body 70. Also, because the piece member 87 has a flat shape and the included angle α with the inner circumferential surface 70a of the tube main body 70 is an acute angle, it is possible to form the vertical circulation section 84 using a member with a simple shape. This makes it easy to design adjustments to the included angle α and the protruding width of the piece member 87, and also makes it easy to adjust the supply position P of the object to be heated W.

[0063] Furthermore, since the jetting direction circulating section 85 is formed by the spiral forming sections 91 to 93, the object to be heated W can be conveyed forward by utilizing the rotation of the container 65. Therefore, simply by rotating the container 65, the object to be heated W can be moved both up and down and back and forth at the same time.

[0064] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made to the embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the size, shape, direction, etc. shown in the accompanying drawings are not limited to these, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the effects of the present invention. In addition, the present invention can be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of the object of the present invention.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the piece member 87 is a flat plate, but this is not limiting and various modifications are possible. For example, as shown in Fig. 15, the piece member 87 may be a piece member 130 having a shape with a bent portion 131 at the tip end. Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 9, showing a piece member according to a first modified example.

[0066] 15 , when viewed from the front-to-rear direction, the piece member 130 protrudes from the inner circumferential surface 70a of the tube main body 70 toward the central axis C2 and is bent at a bent portion 131 at a right angle to the downstream side in the rotation direction R1 of the tube main body 70. In the piece member 130 of FIG. 15 , a holding space 132 can be formed including the internal space defined by the bent portion 131.

[0067] The bending angle of the bending portion 131 may be changed to an acute angle or an obtuse angle, and the protruding direction from the inner surface 70a of the tube main body 70 may be tilted upstream or downstream in the rotation direction R1 from the position shown in Figure 15.

[0068] Furthermore, the shape of the piece member 87 in the above embodiment may be modified, for example, to piece members 140 and 141 shown in Figures 16A and 16B. Figure 16A is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a piece member according to a second modified example, and Figure 16B is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a piece member according to a third modified example.

[0069] The piece member 140 of the second modified example shown in FIG. 16A is formed in a curved shape that bulges out upstream in the rotation direction R1 when viewed from the front-rear direction as shown in the figure.

[0070] 16B , when viewed from the front-to-rear direction, the piece member 141 of the third modified example shown in Fig. 16B is formed in a curved shape that bulges mainly upstream in the direction of rotation R1, and also in a curved or bent shape that bulges downstream in the direction of rotation R1 within a predetermined range on the tip side. The piece members 140 and 141 shown in Figs. 16A and 16B make it possible to adjust the timing and amount at which the object to be heated W starts to fall in the holding space 142, and the supply position P (see Figs. 14C and 14D ) at which the object to be heated W is dropped and supplied to the water plasma J.

[0071] In the piece members 140 and 141 of FIGS. 16A and 16B, the curvature of the curved portion may be changed as appropriate, or the piece members 140 and 141 may have a shape including a portion that extends linearly.

[0072] The number of pieces 87, 130, 140, and 141 provided is not limited to three, and may be one, two, four, or more. Furthermore, the shapes and orientations of the multiple pieces 87, 130, 140, and 141 provided in the same container 65 may be the same or different.

[0073] The number of spiral forming portions 91 to 93 is not limited to three, and may be one, two, four or more. Furthermore, the spiral forming portions 91 to 93 may be formed by a single member extending in a spiral shape. The transfer space 105 formed by the spiral forming portions 91 to 93 may be formed in a V-shape like the holding space 88, or may be formed in another shape.

[0074] Furthermore, the shape of the groove forming body 100 of the above embodiment may be modified, for example, as in a groove forming body 150 shown in Fig. 17. Fig. 17 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a groove forming body according to a fourth modification. The groove forming body 150 of the fourth modification shown in Fig. 17 is formed by processing an integral plate in place of the first plate 101 and second plate 102 of the above embodiment so that the bent portions thereof have a curved shape.

[0075] Furthermore, although the heat source generating device is the water plasma generating device 11, it is not limited to this and may be, for example, a burner using fuel such as gas, or a blower that injects hot air, as long as it can inject a high-temperature air flow into the supply device 12.

[0076] The present invention provides an effect that the object to be heated, which is a powder or granular material, can be easily heated to a high temperature by a supply device that supplies the object to be heated to a high temperature airflow.

[0077] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-082456, filed May 21, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

Claims

1. A supply device that supplies a powder or granular material to be heated to a high-temperature air current sprayed from a heat source generator, comprising: a container that rotates around a central axis along the spray direction of the high-temperature air current and accommodates the material to be heated; a vertical circulation section that is located inside the container upstream of the spray direction and circulates the material to be heated in a vertical direction; and a jet direction circulation section that is located inside the container downstream of the vertical circulation section in the spray direction and circulates the material to be heated in the spray direction, wherein the vertical circulation section drops the material to be heated from a supply position toward the high-temperature air current and raises the dropped material to the supply position by the rotation of the container, and the jet direction circulation section transports the material to be heated that has been scattered downstream in the spray direction inside the container by the spray of the high-temperature air current toward the vertical circulation section by the rotation of the container, and the supply device is characterized in that an opening is provided at the lower end of the container in the spray direction, and a flat shielding member that is larger than the opening and is located upstream of the opening in the spray direction at a predetermined interval.

2. The supply device described in claim 1, characterized in that the vertical circulation section has at least one piece member protruding from the inner surface of the container and extending along the central axis, and a holding space for the object to be heated is formed between the piece member and the inner surface of the container.

3. A supply device as described in claim 2, characterized in that the piece member is flat and forms an acute angle with the inner peripheral surface of the container on the holding space side.

4. A supply device according to claim 2, wherein the piece member is shaped to have a bent portion at the tip end, and the bent portion forms the holding space.

5. The supply device described in claim 1, characterized in that the injection direction circulation section has at least one spiral forming section that extends spirally around the central axis, and a transport space is formed between the spiral forming section and the inner surface of the container to hold and transport the object to be heated.

6. A supply device according to claim 5, wherein the spiral forming portion is formed by arranging a plurality of groove forming bodies of substantially the same shape in the direction in which the spiral extends.

7. A heating device comprising: a supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and a heat source generating device that injects the high-temperature airflow onto the supply device.

8. The heating device according to claim 7, wherein the heat source generating device is a water plasma generating device that passes an arc discharge through a vortex water flow to spray water plasma as the high-temperature airflow, and the water plasma generating device comprises a chamber that forms the vortex water flow using water supplied thereto and sprays the water plasma from a nozzle, and an anode and a cathode that generate an arc discharge that passes through the vortex water flow in the chamber.

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