Adaptive Ragger Control for Tail Slippage and Breakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ragger systems fail to adjust to changing operating conditions in paper recycling plants, leading to frequent breakdowns, manual interventions, and significant downtime due to issues like tail slippage, clogging, and breakage, disrupting the pulping process.
Innovation Solution
A ragger system with adjustable operating parameters, including a puller mechanism, rider roll pressure, and variable speed drive, coupled with measurement devices and a control system to monitor and adjust withdrawal rate, direction, and pressure based on real-time conditions, ensuring continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional ragger system is used with fixed operating parameters, then the system structure is simple, but the system cannot adapt to changing operating conditions leading to frequent breakdowns and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of ragger operating parameters including puller drive speed, rider roll pressure, and torque through variable speed drives and adjustable pressure mechanisms. These parameters can be modified in real-time based on tail conditions and pulping operation attributes, transforming the system from static to dynamic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates measurement devices that continuously monitor tail attributes (size, thickness, length, density) and pulping operation conditions, feeding this information back to the control system. The control system uses this feedback to automatically adjust operating parameters, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing conditions.
2Productivity
If the ragger operates at high speed to increase productivity, then more debris is removed per unit time, but the tail becomes too thin and breaks frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The variable speed drive allows the puller mechanism to dynamically adjust its rotational speed based on tail conditions. When the tail becomes thin or weak, the system automatically reduces speed to prevent breakage. When the tail is robust, the system can operate at higher speeds to maximize productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Measurement devices monitor tail attributes including thickness and strength in real-time. This feedback information is used by the control system to adjust the withdrawal rate accordingly, ensuring the tail is pulled at a speed that maintains its structural integrity while optimizing production efficiency.
3Reliability
If the rider roll pressure is increased to prevent tail slippage, then the grip on the tail improves, but the tail may break due to excessive compression
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable pressure mechanism allows the rider roll to dynamically modify its pressure against the tail based on real-time conditions. The system can increase pressure when the tail is robust to prevent slippage, and decrease pressure when the tail is thin or weak to avoid compression breakage.
Solution Approach 2:
Measurement devices continuously monitor tail attributes and provide feedback to the control system. The control system uses this information to adjust rider roll pressure accordingly, ensuring sufficient grip to prevent slippage while maintaining pressure levels that protect tail structural integrity from excessive compression.
4Ease of operation
If the puller drive direction is changed to reverse the tail, then the tail can be pushed back into the pulper, but this requires manual intervention and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The variable speed drive with reversible direction capability allows the puller mechanism to automatically reverse the tail by changing the rotational direction of the puller drive. This dynamic control enables the system to push the tail back into the pulper without manual intervention, maintaining continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own motor-driven puller mechanism to perform the tail reversal operation automatically, without requiring external manual intervention. The control system coordinates the reversal process as part of the normal operational cycle, allowing the ragger to service itself and maintain continuous pulping operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A ragger system for removing solid debris from a pulper vessel of a pulping system is disclosed. The ragger system includes a ragger operable to pull a tail of solid debris from the pulper vessel. The ragger includes a puller mechanism, a puller drive, a rider roll, and a pressure device to adjust a pressure of the rider roll on the tail between the puller mechanism and the rider roll. The ragger system includes a measurement device for determining attributes of the tail, operating conditions of the pulping system or ragger, or combinations of these. The ragger system includes a control system that measures input variables with the measurement devices, determines the attributes of the tail or operating conditions from the input variables, and adjusts a withdrawal rate, pull direction, pressure, rider roll torque or speed, or combinations thereof to maintain continuity of operation of the ragger.