Boiler Spreader Nozzle Virtual Rotation Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

In soda boilers and other combustion equipment, the existing spreader nozzles face challenges due to the corrosive and rapidly changing atmosphere, leading to short equipment lifetimes and difficulties in maintaining precise positioning, which affects the efficiency and safety of the combustion process.

Innovation Solution

A spreader nozzle system that can be rotated around a virtual center of rotation within the boiler wall, maintaining a fixed distance to the wall and allowing for precise angular positioning, reducing splashing and chemical/thermal attack, and enabling smaller boiler wall openings for installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the spreader nozzle is rotated around a pivot outside the reactor wall, then the angular position of the spreader nozzle can be changed, but the distance from the nozzle to the wall changes significantly and protection of the spreader becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular positioning capabilityVSAvoidspreader protection and lifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the rotation mechanism from external pivot rotation to internal virtual center rotation. The spreader nozzle rotates around a virtual center located inside the reactor wall rather than around an external pivot, which keeps the nozzle at a substantially constant distance from the wall throughout rotation. This dimensional change in the rotation reference point resolves the contradiction by maintaining both angular adjustability and constant wall distance for protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a virtual center of rotation as a conceptual copy or representation of the rotation reference point, rather than requiring a physical pivot outside the wall. This virtual center allows the spreader to rotate while maintaining constant distance from the wall, eliminating the need for complex external protection mechanisms and significantly improving spreader reliability and lifetime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Ease of manufacture

If the spreader nozzle is positioned closer to the furnace wall, then the opening in the wall can be smaller, but the risk of chemical and thermal attack increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboiler wall opening sizeVSAvoidchemical and thermal attack
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the rotation reference to a virtual center inside the wall, the invention enables the nozzle to maintain a substantially constant, optimized distance from the wall during rotation. This allows the nozzle to be positioned closer to the wall (reducing opening size) while the virtual rotation mechanism ensures it doesn't come too close during angular adjustment, balancing manufacturing ease with protection from harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the spreader nozzle is rotated around an external pivot, then angular adjustment is possible, but the region within which the nozzle moves becomes large causing deviations from ideal positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular position adjustmentVSAvoidnozzle positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention relocates the rotation reference from an external pivot to a virtual center inside the reactor wall. This dimensional change in the rotation reference point dramatically reduces the arc of rotation and keeps the nozzle within a small, well-defined region close to the ideal positioning point, thereby maintaining high positioning precision while still enabling angular adjustment for different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Reliability

If the spreader nozzle is positioned far from the wall, then protection from chemical attack is improved, but the opening in the boiler wall must be larger

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespreader protectionVSAvoidboiler wall opening area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing rotation around a virtual center inside the wall rather than an external pivot, the invention allows the nozzle to be positioned at an optimized distance from the wall. The virtual rotation mechanism ensures the nozzle maintains this optimized distance throughout its angular range, enabling smaller wall openings while preserving adequate protection from chemical and thermal attack.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2132378B1Assembly comprising equipment for a boiler and an arrangement for the adjustment of said equipment
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 VALMET AB
  • EP2132378B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2132378B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2132378B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention concerns an arrangement for positioning equipment in association with an opening in a boiler wall. The arrangement comprises a rotation mechanism (26, 34, 35) that rotates the equipment around a virtual rotation axis (27) that lies within the outer wall (8) of the boiler. It is preferable that the rotation mechanism is designed as a guide that has the form of an arc, either in the form of a guide track (26) that has the form of an arc or as a guide beam that has the form of an arc, arranged at a distance from the opening of the boiler, where the guide that has the form of an arc has its centre at the virtual rotation axis. The second part of the rotation mechanism is provided with glide means (34, 35) that run in the guide. During the use of a liquor spreader (2) for the introduction of combustible material, the opening (12) of the liquor spreader can be arranged in this virtual centre of rotation (27) whereby the point at which the combustible material is introduced can be retained constant independently of the angle of rotation. The liquor spreader (2) is united either with the glide means (34, 35/34b, 35b) or the guide (26/26b) in the rotation mechanism, and the second part is attached to a fixed bracket (20/2Ob).