Absorption Column Gas Inlet Structure for Scale-Resistant Flue Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exhaust gas inlet structures in absorption columns face challenges in forming a simple and scalable design while effectively preventing scaling on the inlet flue bottom surface, which leads to increased pressure drop and fan power requirements.

Innovation Solution

The exhaust gas inlet structure features a horizontally curved lower edge and a segmented connection bottom surface with downwardly inclined surfaces, eliminating upward inclines and incorporating a cleaning water outflow system to flush scale into the absorption column, thereby simplifying formation and reducing scaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the bottom surface of the inlet flue is formed with an upwardly inclined surface to increase gas flow speed, then scaling suppression is improved, but scale cleaning becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescaling on inlet flue bottom surfaceVSAvoidscale cleaning capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of creating an upwardly inclined surface that prevents scale accumulation but also prevents cleaning, the invention inverts the approach by creating a downwardly inclined surface. This allows scale to naturally accumulate at the lowest point where it can be effectively removed by water flow, thus solving both the scaling suppression problem and the cleaning accessibility problem simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The downwardly inclined bottom surface design enables the system to self-clean through gravity-driven water flow. Scale accumulates at the lowest point where cleaning water naturally flows, eliminating the need for complex cleaning mechanisms or manual intervention, thus achieving self-service scale removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the lower edge of the exhaust gas inlet is formed in a curved shape to connect to the inclined bottom surface, then scaling is suppressed, but fabrication complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescaling on inlet flue bottom surfaceVSAvoidexhaust gas inlet formation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than curving the lower edge upward to follow an upwardly inclined surface, the invention inverts the curvature direction to match a downwardly inclined bottom surface. This simplifies fabrication by creating a natural flow path that follows gravity, eliminating the need for complex upward curving and making the structure easier to manufacture while maintaining scale suppression effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design allows for easy fabrication of the exhaust gas inlet while effectively preventing scaling on the inlet flue, maintaining flow path integrity and reducing pressure drop, thus optimizing operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The connection bottom surface is formed to be segmented into a plurality of surfaces, and each of the plurality of surfaces is a downwardly inclined surface lower on the exhaust gas inlet side than on the main bottom surface side or a substantially horizontal flat surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3960276B1Exhaust gas inlet structure of absorption column
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD
  • EP3960276B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3960276B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3960276B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

In the sidewall of an absorption column, an exhaust gas inlet 4 is provided, and an inlet flue 1 is connected to the exhaust gas inlet 4. An exhaust gas from a combustion apparatus flows through the inlet flue 1 and flows into the absorption column from the exhaust gas inlet 4. A lower edge 21 of the exhaust gas inlet 4 extends and is curved substantially horizontally. A bottom surface 17 of the inlet flue 1 has a planar main bottom surface 22 and a connection bottom surface 23 connecting a downstream edge 24 of the main bottom surface 22 and the lower edge 21 of the exhaust gas inlet 4. The downstream edge 24 of the main bottom surface 22 extends straight substantially horizontally at a position higher than the lower edge 21 of the exhaust gas inlet 4. The connection bottom surface 23 is formed to be segmented into a plurality of surfaces, and each of the plurality of surfaces is a downwardly inclined surface 27 or 28 lower on the exhaust gas inlet 4 side than on the main bottom surface 22 side or a substantially horizontal flat surface 25.