Ram Penetration for Ash Quench Drain Pipe Blockage Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Incineration systems face blockages in quenched ash extractors due to non-conforming materials, leading to safety risks and system shutdowns, as conventional safety valves do not efficiently manage the removal of hot water and blocking materials.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a pipe connected to a gate valve with a ram and evacuation means, featuring a spike and cutting head, allows safe and efficient removal of blockages by penetrating and crushing built-up materials within the ash extractor drain pipe, enabling hot water drainage without exposing operators to harmful substances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional safety valves are used to open the quenched ash extractor, then the blockage can be accessed, but extremely hot water flows from the opened hole causing casualties and severe injuries to operators

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblockage accessVSAvoidhot water exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A protective screen is installed as an intermediary element between the operator and the hot water/ash flow. The screen allows the operator to access and remove blockages while preventing direct contact with harmful hot water and ash, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and harmful factor exposure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking material is extracted and removed through a controlled opening in the protective screen, allowing the operator to access and clear blockages without being exposed to the harmful hot water and ash in the quenched ash extractor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If manual maintenance operation is performed to remove blockages, then the blockage can be cleared, but the system requires shutdown and operator exposure to harmful substances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblockage removal efficiencyVSAvoidoperator safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective screen serves as a mediator that enables safe manual maintenance operations. Operators can clear blockages through the screen without direct exposure to harmful hot water and ash, maintaining both productivity and operator safety simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective screen is designed to be self-contained with a controlled opening mechanism that allows the system to serve itself by enabling operators to perform maintenance operations safely without requiring full system shutdown or special protective equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If fluxing agents are added to prevent blockage, then blockage prevention is improved, but the agents may be harmful to operators and ineffective for certain non-conforming materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblockage preventionVSAvoidfluxing agent harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding fluxing agents to prevent blockages, the invention extracts and removes blockages mechanically through the protective screen. This approach eliminates the harmful effects of fluxing agents while maintaining effective blockage removal capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the chemical method (fluxing agents) with a mechanical method (protective screen with controlled opening for manual removal). This substitution eliminates the harmful chemical substances while providing reliable blockage prevention and removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 device safely and efficiently clears blockages in the quenched ash extractor drain pipe, preventing system shutdowns and eliminating the need for additional fluxing agents, while ensuring operator safety and compact installation within the incineration system.

Implementation Method 1

a ram with a first end configured to break the blocking material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

allowing hot water to safely drain from the quenched ash extractor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3734157B1Device and method for safely removing blocking materials in an incinerator ash quench drain pipe

Publication Date: 2021.10.27 SUEZ GRP SAS

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AI summary

A device 10 for removing a blocking material in a quenched ash extractor drain pipe 2 of an incineration system is provided. The device 10 comprises: a pipe 11; a connecting part 12 configured to connect the pipe 11 to a gate valve 30 of the quenched ash extractor drain pipe 2; and a ram 13 with a first end 16 configured to break the blocking material and to be slidably guided through the pipe 11 into the quenched ash extractor drain pipe 2. Hence the device 10 provides an improved solution to remove more safely and effectively the hot water from a quenched ash extractor 222 then therefore the blockage of incinerator bottom ashes in the quenched ash extractor 222 of the incineration system.