Bin Sweep System With Particle Agglomeration Breakup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bin sweep systems face inefficiencies when dealing with particle agglomerations in storage bins, as these agglomerations hinder the sweep's operation and reduce its effectiveness in dispersing particulate matter, particularly in agricultural grains due to environmental conditions and time.
Innovation Solution
A bin sweep system equipped with a particle agglomeration breakup assembly that expels a fluid, such as pressurized gas, adjacent to the sweep assembly to physically break up agglomerations into smaller particles, facilitating easier handling and movement across the bin floor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional bin sweep system is used, then the sweep can move particulate matter across the floor surface, but particle agglomerations hinder the sweep's operation and reduce its effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid expulsion assembly performs preliminary action by expelling fluid to break up agglomerations before the sweep assembly encounters them. This preliminary breakdown of agglomerations into smaller particles ensures the sweep operates efficiently without being hindered by large clumps.
Solution Approach 2:
Fluid acts as an intermediary substance between the sweep assembly and particle agglomerations. The expelled fluid impacts the agglomerations, facilitating their breakup into smaller particles that the sweep can handle more effectively.
2Ease of operation
If particle agglomerations are present in the bin, then environmental conditions and time cause particles to adhere together, but this adhering reduces the sweep's ability to disperse particulate matter
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces direct mechanical interaction with fluid-based interaction. Instead of the sweep mechanically breaking up agglomerations, fluid is expelled to impact and break up the agglomerations, substituting a mechanical system with a fluid-based one for easier particle dispersal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and arrangement of particles by introducing fluid that alters particle adhesion properties. The fluid impacts change the bonding between particles, transforming agglomerated particles into dispersed smaller particles that are easier to move.
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 effectively breaks up agglomerations, enhancing the sweep's efficiency by dispersing them into smaller, more manageable particles, thereby improving the overall operation and effectiveness of the bin sweep in clearing particulate matter.
Implementation Method 1
a particle agglomeration breakup assembly configured to expel a fluid adjacent to the sweep assembly to impact particulate matter located adjacent to the forward side of the sweep assembly and facilitate breakup of any particle agglomerations positioned forwardly of the sweep assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A bin sweep system for moving particulate matter across a floor surface of a bin may include a sweep assembly positionable on the floor surface of the bin and movable across the floor surface. The sweep assembly has an inboard end for locating toward to a central area of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin, and a forward side oriented toward a direction of movement for orienting toward particulate matter to be moved. The system may also include a particle agglomeration breakup assembly configured to expel a fluid adjacent to the sweep assembly to impact particulate matter located adjacent to the forward side of the sweep assembly and facilitate breakup of any particle agglomerations positioned forwardly of the sweep assembly.