Baffle Feed Apparatus for Particle Separator Fluidisation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing particle separation systems require significant fluidisation to maintain particle suspension, leading to high energy consumption and potential misplacement of slurry material, as reducing fluidisation adversely impacts suspension and desliming processes.
Innovation Solution
A feeding apparatus with a baffle that divides the chamber into two zones, directing fluidisation fluid to combine with the slurry in a mixing zone, reducing the need for additional fluidisation fluid and ensuring uniform particle distribution across inclined channels, thereby optimizing fluidisation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If significant fluidisation is used to maintain particle suspension, then particle suspension and desliming are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is divided into two distinct zones using a baffle: a first zone for receiving feed slurry and a second zone for fluidisation and separation. This segmentation allows the system to use fluidisation more efficiently by confining it to the second zone, thereby maintaining particle suspension where needed while reducing overall fluidisation fluid demand and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffle acts as an intermediary structure that directs fluidisation fluid from the first zone through openings in the baffle into the second zone. This intermediary mechanism ensures that fluidisation fluid is delivered precisely where it is needed to maintain suspension and enable separation, rather than requiring fluidisation throughout the entire chamber, thus reducing energy consumption.
2Reliability
If significant fluidisation is used to maintain particle suspension, then desliming process is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies fluidisation locally in the second zone where it is most needed for desliming and separation, rather than throughout the entire chamber. The baffle with its strategically positioned openings ensures that fluidisation fluid is delivered precisely to the region where low density particles need to be removed, maintaining effective desliming while minimizing energy consumption in regions where fluidisation is not required.
3Use of energy by moving object
If fluidisation fluid is reduced to lower energy consumption, then energy consumption decreases, but particle suspension and separation efficiency are adversely impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle is pre-configured with openings positioned to deliver fluidisation fluid directly into the second zone where particles need to be suspended and separated. This preliminary arrangement of the baffle structure ensures that when fluidisation fluid is introduced, it is immediately directed to the critical separation zone, maintaining particle suspension and separation efficiency even with reduced overall fluidisation fluid flow and lower energy consumption.
4Ease of operation
If conventional feed systems are used, then slurry material may be misplaced, but separation precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle serves as an intermediary structure that controls the flow path of slurry material, directing it through the first zone and into the second zone where separation occurs. This intermediary mechanism prevents misplacement of material by ensuring that feed slurry is properly directed and that low density particles are carried by fluidisation fluid through the baffle openings to the overflow, while high density particles report to the underflow, thereby maintaining high separation precision.
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 reduces energy consumption by minimizing fluidisation fluid demand, enhances particle separation efficiency, and prevents misplacement of slurry material, allowing for more efficient separation of low density and smaller sized particles while maintaining effective desliming.
Implementation Method 1
a fluidisation source (2) for feeding a fluidisation fluid into an opening of the baffle
Implementation Method 2
separating ultimately into a slurry of finer or lower density particles rising up through the vessel, and an underflow discharge of larger or higher density particles discharging from below
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The present invention provides an apparatus (4) for feeding a feed slurry (S) into a particle separator (1) having a fluidisation source (13). The feed apparatus comprises a chamber (17) having at least one baffle (22) for dividing the chamber into a first zone (20) and a second zone (21). A feed inlet (23) feeds the slurry into the first zone (20) and the baffle (22) deflects the slurry away from the second zone (21) and direct fluidisation fluid (10) from the fluidisation source (13) through the second zone (21) to combine with the slurry (s) from the first zone (20). A particle separator (1) incorporating the feed apparatus (4) and a method of particle separation is also provided.