Adjustable Entrainment Feed for Precise Particulate Mass Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in continuously and accurately supplying particulate materials at precise mass flow rates with minimal variations, particularly in pharmaceutical applications where high-potency active ingredients are required in small doses.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with an adjustable cross-sectional area in the entrainment region, allowing for the adjustment of entrainment energy and gas flow velocity based on the particulate material properties, thereby minimizing mass flow rate deviations from the target rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed cross-sectional area is used in the entrainment region, then the device structure is simple, but the mass flow rate varies significantly with different particulate materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the cross-sectional area of the entrainment region adjustable rather than fixed. The restriction member can be moved to different positions to change the cross-sectional area, allowing the system to adapt to different particulate materials and maintain consistent mass flow rate precision across various material types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the cross-sectional area parameter of the entrainment region. By adjusting this geometric parameter through the movable restriction member, the system optimizes entrainment characteristics for different particulate materials, thereby improving mass flow rate precision without requiring completely different device designs.
2Manufacturing precision
If the cross-sectional area is adjusted based on particulate material properties, then mass flow rate precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The restriction member is designed to be movable within the entrainment region, allowing dynamic adjustment of the cross-sectional area. This dynamic capability enables the system to maintain high mass flow rate consistency across different particulate materials while keeping the adjustment mechanism relatively simple through a single movable component.
3Speed
If the entrainment region has a larger cross-sectional area, then the gas flow velocity is lower, but the entrainment energy is insufficient for cohesive particulate materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by adjusting the cross-sectional area parameter to optimize the balance between gas flow velocity and entrainment energy. For cohesive particulate materials requiring higher entrainment energy, the restriction member is positioned to reduce the cross-sectional area, thereby increasing gas flow velocity and entrainment effectiveness while maintaining controlled mass flow rate.
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
The apparatus effectively reduces variations in the mass flow rate of particulate materials, enabling precise supply of materials at rates less than 10 g/h with improved efficiency and reduced workload on separation devices.
Implementation Method 1
an entrainment region configured to entrain the particulate material in a gas or gas mixture flowing through the entrainment region
Data Source
AI summary
We disclose an apparatus (2) for supplying a particulate material (4) at a target mass flow rate, the apparatus comprising an entrainment region (6) configured to entrain the particulate material (4) in a gas or gas mixture flowing through the entrainment region (6), a cross-sectional area of at least a part of the entrainment region being adjustable based on the particulate material (4) and a supply device (8) configured to supply the particulate material (4) to the entrainment region (6) at approximately or at the target mass flow rate.