Burner Spreading Means for Uniform Fine Solids Dispersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing burners for suspension smelting furnaces face challenges in achieving good annular distribution of fine solids feed, which affects reaction efficiency, particularly oxygen efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A burner design featuring an annular fine solids discharge channel with spreading means that even out particle distribution, allowing for the introduction of reaction gas and fine solids, and utilizing a separate supporting structure for the spreading means to accommodate thermal expansion, ensuring effective dispersion within the reaction shaft.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If spreading means are attached directly to the discharge channel walls, then structural simplicity is improved, but thermal expansion accommodation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidthermal expansion accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A separate supporting structure is introduced as an intermediary between the spreading means and the discharge channel walls. This supporting structure is thermally isolated from the hot channel walls, allowing it to remain at a lower temperature and accommodate thermal expansion differently than the channel walls, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and thermal expansion accommodation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting structure is segmented into multiple parts rather than being a single rigid component. This segmentation allows different parts to expand and contract independently in response to thermal changes, accommodating thermal expansion while maintaining the overall structural integrity and simplicity of the design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If spreading means are positioned close to the discharge channel walls, then device complexity is reduced, but particle distribution uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidparticle distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting structure extends into the radial dimension of the discharge channel, positioning the spreading means at an optimal distance from the walls without increasing axial or angular complexity. This dimensional approach allows uniform particle distribution while keeping the device design relatively simple.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If the burner design includes a separate supporting structure for spreading means, then thermal expansion accommodation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal expansion accommodationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting structure utilizes thin-walled or flexible components that can naturally accommodate thermal expansion through elastic deformation rather than requiring complex expansion joints or adjustable mechanisms. This approach improves thermal expansion accommodation while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 burner achieves improved annular distribution of fine solids, enhancing reaction efficiency and oxygen utilization in suspension smelting furnaces by ensuring uniform particle dispersion and accommodating thermal expansion.

Implementation Method 1

spreading means 8 configured to be hit by the annular flow of fine solids and configured to even out particle distribution in the annular flow of fine solids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical dispersion:

Implementation Method 2

utilizing a separate supporting structure for the spreading means to accommodate thermal expansion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP3280966B1Burner and spreading arrangement for a burner
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 OUTOTEC FINDLAND OY
  • EP3280966B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3280966B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3280966B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a burner (1) such as a concentrate burner or a matte burner for feeding reaction gas and fine solids into a reaction shaft (2) of a suspension smelting furnace (3). The burner (1) comprises an annular fine solids discharge channel (4) that is radially limited at the outside by a first annular wall (5) and that is radially limited at the inside by a second annular wall (6). The annular fine solids discharge channel (4) is configured to receive fine solids from a fine solids feeding arrangement (7) and to create an annular flow of fine solids in the annular fine solids discharge channel (4). The annular fine solids discharge channel (4) being provided with spreading means (8) configured to be hit by the annular flow of fine solids and configured to even out particle distribution in the annular flow of fine solids.