Adjustable Multi-Hole Orifice Plate for Pneumatic Conveying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic conveying systems face challenges in efficiently adjusting gas flow through orifice plates, requiring time-consuming and costly modifications, such as drilling or welding, which are inconvenient and prone to quality issues, especially in process plants where specialist tools and permits are needed.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable multi-hole orifice plate with a front and back plate mounted on a common axis, featuring radial slots and holes, allowing for quick adjustment of hole exposure by rotation using simple hand tools, eliminating the need for drilling or welding and enabling precise control of gas flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If orifice plate modifications are made by drilling or welding, then the number and size of holes can be adjusted, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires specialist tools and permits
Solution Approach 1:
The orifice plate is designed with multiple holes that can be dynamically opened or closed by rotating the plate to different angular positions. This allows the system to adapt different hole configurations without physical modification, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple holes are pre-drilled in the orifice plate at specific angular positions during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site drilling or welding, allowing rapid configuration changes by simply rotating the plate to expose different holes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If orifice plate modifications are made by drilling or welding, then the hole configuration can be changed, but specialist tools and permits are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a rotatable orifice plate with pre-positioned holes, allowing configuration changes through simple rotation rather than complex drilling or welding operations. This makes modifications easier and eliminates the need for specialist tools and permits.
Solution Approach 2:
All possible hole configurations are pre-prepared during manufacturing with holes drilled at specific angular positions. This eliminates the need for complex on-site fabrication work, significantly improving ease of manufacture and operation.
3Ease of operation
If a single hole with restrictor is used for flow control, then adjustment is possible, but the device complexity increases and performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single complex restrictor mechanism, the system segments the flow control into multiple simple holes arranged radially. By rotating the plate, different combinations of holes can be exposed, providing adjustable flow control with simpler individual components and overall reduced device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is herein described an adjustable multi-hole orifice plate (10) in a pneumatic conveying apparatus (300). More particularly, there is described an adjustable multi-hole orifice plate (10) which can be used in a pneumatic conveying apparatus (300) to assist in the discharge of material.