Adjustable Rotor-Stator Device for Fibrous Material Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The paper industry faces a challenge in processing different fibrous raw materials like waste paper, cellulose, and wood chips efficiently, as existing devices are not flexible enough to handle these materials simultaneously and require significant time and resources to convert between them.

Innovation Solution

A device with a circular cylinder or truncated cone rotor and a regular prism or truncated pyramid stator, featuring adjustable impact plates and stator plates, allows for dewatering, defibration, and conveying of various materials, enabling flexible operation and efficient processing of different fibrous materials by adjusting gap settings, speed, and adding steam or liquid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single device is used to process different fibrous materials (waste paper, cellulose, wood chips), then the adaptability of the device is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for interchangeable plates and adjustable components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to process different fibrous materialsVSAvoidstructure with interchangeable plates and adjustable components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into modular components: the rotor is divided into multiple interchangeable impact plates, and the stator is divided into multiple interchangeable stator plates. This segmentation allows each plate to be independently replaced or adjusted to optimize processing for different fibrous materials, thereby achieving high adaptability without requiring complete device redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device achieves multi-functionality through universal interchangeable plates that can be configured for processing various materials (waste paper, cellulose, wood chips). The same basic device structure with adjustable plate configurations can handle different material types, making the device universally applicable across multiple processing scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If interchangeable impact plates and stator plates are used to adjust the minimum gap, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional mounting and adjustment mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of minimum gap between platesVSAvoidmounting and adjustment mechanisms for plates
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates dynamic adjustability through interchangeable plates that can be quickly mounted and removed based on processing requirements. The mounting mechanisms allow for rapid reconfiguration of the minimum gap between impact plates and stator plates, enabling operators to easily adapt the device to different material properties and processing conditions without complex adjustment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If the rotor and stator are designed with specific geometric shapes (circular cylinder or truncated cone for rotor, regular prism or truncated pyramid for stator), then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to the complexity of these geometric forms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeometric shape accuracy of rotor and statorVSAvoidfabrication of cylindrical and prismatic geometries
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The complex geometric forms of the rotor and stator are segmented into multiple planar plates with simple geometries. Each impact plate and stator plate can be manufactured as a flat or mildly curved component, which is much easier to fabricate with high precision than complete cylindrical or prismatic structures. The overall complex geometry is achieved through the arrangement of these simpler segmented components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 device enables efficient and flexible processing of multiple fibrous materials, improving the quality of the end product by effectively breaking down fibers, removing contaminants, and making the production of fibers independent of the raw material source, thus providing a cost-effective and adaptable solution for the paper industry.

Implementation Method 1

the rotor being designed in the form of a circular cylinder or a truncated cone, with a lateral surface of the Rotor several impact plates are releasably attached

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Implementation Method 2

the minimum gap between the impact plates of the rotor and the stator plates can be adjusted. As a result, the fibers are more or less squeezed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 3

Device for dewatering, defibering and conveying waste paper, cellulose or wood chips

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDewatering: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 4

by changing the speed of the rotor and/or supplying steam or liquid and targeted dewatering

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSteam supply: Steam Explosion

Data Source

PatentEP3396064B1Device for dewatering, disassembling and conveying waste paper, pulp or wood chips
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 BETZ GUENTER
  • EP3396064B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3396064B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3396064B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device for breaking up and fiberizing pulp, waste paper, and wood chips is proposed, which is extremely flexible and adaptable to a wide variety of materials. The conversion process can be completed within a few hours.