Adjustable Tower Walls for Particle Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing particle drying systems fail to achieve consistent quality in drying particles due to varying drying effects based on particle size, moisture content, and amount, leading to undesirable quality differences.
Innovation Solution
A particle drying system with adjustable side walls and vanes that alter the flow characteristics within the tower, allowing for control of residence time and moisture removal by changing the cross-sectional area and introducing a counter-current gaseous drying medium, ensuring consistent moisture levels and reducing particle degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed tower flow resistance is used, then the structure is simple, but the residence time cannot be adjusted for different particle types and amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the side walls of the tower movable rather than fixed. The side walls can be adjusted to change the cross-sectional area of the tower, thereby controlling the flow resistance and residence time of particles. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different particle types and amounts while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If variable cross-sectional area is implemented, then flow characteristics can be adjusted, but the tower structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The side walls are designed to be movable to adjust the cross-sectional area of the tower. This dynamic structure allows flexible control of flow characteristics and residence time, accommodating different particle types and amounts in the drying process.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable side walls incorporate sealing elements (such as rubber seals) to maintain gas-tight connections while allowing movement. This enables the tower to dynamically adjust its cross-sectional area while preserving the integrity of the drying environment, achieving flexibility without compromising structural reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If fixed tower cross-sectional area is used, then manufacturing is simple, but moisture removal cannot be optimized for different particle conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The movable side walls enable the tower to dynamically adjust its cross-sectional area based on the specific drying requirements and particle conditions. This allows optimization of moisture removal efficiency for different particle types and amounts while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a modular design approach.
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 system achieves consistent moisture levels and reduced particle degradation by controlling residence time and flow resistance, accommodating a range of particle types and amounts, and preventing fluctuations in moisture and other parameters.
Implementation Method 1
a gaseous drying medium flows in the opposite direction of the particle transport direction
Implementation Method 2
The particles falling under gravity in the tower are distributed by the vanes. The vanes also slow down the fall of the tobacco within the tower.
Implementation Method 3
the particles are moving substantially in a first direction through which a flow of a gaseous drying medium is moving substantially in a second direction, wherein the first direction is substantially opposite of the second direction
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a particle drying system (1), comprising a tower (2), through which the particles are moving substantially in a first direction and through which a flow (50) of a gaseous drying medium is moving substantially in a second direction, wherein the first direction is substantially opposite of the second direction. The particle drying system (1) further comprises adjustment means adaptable to change the flow characteristics of the particles within the tower. The adjustment means comprise a side wall (4) of the tower (2), wherein the side wall (4) is moveable, at least in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the tower. The present invention further relates to a method for drying particles, preferably plant particles, more preferably tobacco particles.