Water-Containing Bulk Material Bridging for Moisture-Stable Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for handling water-containing bulk materials like mineral ores and coal face issues such as equipment adhesion, spillage, and fluidization due to high moisture content, leading to operational inefficiencies and equipment damage, especially during transportation and storage, with existing solutions like pumping and drainage methods requiring frequent interruptions and being ineffective for small particle sizes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the addition of a chemical agent with a polymer flocculant, inorganic flocculant, or polymer water absorption material to form a bridge structure with the powder, controlling water movement and retention, and optionally stirring to disperse the agent uniformly, thereby modifying the powder properties to prevent fluidity and adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If pumping and drainage methods are used to remove spring water, then water removal is achieved, but operation time increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pumping and drainage systems with a chemical absorption system. Desiccant materials are placed in the hold to chemically absorb spring water through capillary action and adsorption, eliminating the need for mechanical pumps and drainage equipment. This substitution dramatically reduces operation time while effectively removing water.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces desiccant materials as an intermediary substance between the spring water and the bulk material. These desiccants act as mediators that passively absorb water through their porous structure and surface properties, preventing direct contact between water and bulk material without requiring active mechanical intervention.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional drainage equipment is used, then spring water can be pumped, but small particle size powder flows into dent and forms sludge that cannot be pumped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pumping system with a passive chemical absorption system using desiccant materials. This eliminates the pumping difficulty entirely, as the desiccants automatically absorb water and fine powder through their porous structure without requiring mechanical force, thus avoiding sludge formation issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes desiccant materials with porous structures that can selectively absorb water and fine powder particles. The porous nature of these materials allows them to trap small particle size powder along with water through capillary action, preventing sludge formation that would otherwise clog pumping equipment.
3Quantity of substance
If bulk material with high moisture content is handled, then material properties are maintained, but adhesion to equipment and spillage occur frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces desiccant materials as intermediaries that selectively bind with free water molecules through adsorption. This allows the bulk material to maintain its necessary moisture content for material properties while the desiccants absorb excess free water that causes adhesion and spillage, effectively separating useful moisture from harmful moisture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of water in the bulk material by introducing desiccants that alter water's state from free-flowing liquid to adsorbed moisture. This parameter change transforms water from a harmful factor causing adhesion into a controlled state that maintains material properties without negative effects.
4Quantity of substance
If moisture content increases during marine transportation, then natural state is preserved, but liquefaction phenomenon occurs causing vessel imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by placing desiccant materials in the hold before cargo loading. These desiccants proactively absorb spring water and control moisture content throughout the marine transportation journey, preventing liquefaction phenomena before they can occur and ensuring vessel stability throughout the voyage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical monitoring and intervention systems with passive chemical desiccant materials that continuously control moisture content. This substitution provides reliable, automatic moisture control throughout transportation without requiring mechanical systems, ensuring vessel stability through chemical rather than mechanical means.
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 method allows continuous operation without equipment shutdowns, reduces spillage and adhesion, improves handling properties, and enhances the quality of granulated products by preventing uneven distribution and solidification of small particles, thus improving productivity and yield.
Implementation Method 1
water inside the bulk material is retained in a bridge structure formed between the chemical agent and the powder composing the bulk material
Implementation Method 2
the form or movement of the water inside the bulk material is controlled by the bridge structure formed between the chemical agent and the powder composing the bulk material
Data Source
AI summary
A powder property-modifying method is used when handling a water-containing bulk material including a mineral ore, coal, and limestone, and includes adding an active component of a chemical agent whose main component is at least one selected from a polymer flocculant, an inorganic flocculant, and a polymer water absorption material, in an amount of 0.001 to 0.07% by mass with respect to the mass of the bulk material, in which water inside the bulk material is retained in a bridge structure formed between the chemical agent and a powder composing the bulk material. Another method is a production method for a water-containing bulk material that is transported via at least one selected from a vessel, a transporter vehicle, a loading heavy machine, a delivering heavy machine, a conveyor belt, and a storage tank. This production method includes modifying such water-containing bulk material with the above modifying method.