CO Gas Detection in Powder Drying Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing CO gas detection systems in powder drying systems face challenges such as reduced reliability, high maintenance costs, long response times, and inability to detect low CO concentrations, due to sample transport issues, calibration complexities, and interference from external CO sources.

Innovation Solution

A CO gas detection system using IR laser transmitters and receivers directly integrated into the gas flow within powder drying system components, eliminating the need for sample collection and transport, and employing differential measurement calculations to compensate for dilution and time delays, allowing for real-time, precise detection of CO gas concentrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sample transport systems are used to deliver gas samples to external detectors, then detection can be performed remotely, but response time increases and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the detection function from external remote detectors and integrates it directly into the powder drying system at the gas outlet. By placing IR laser detectors inside the system to directly measure CO concentration in the process gas, the need for sample transport is eliminated, thereby reducing response time and improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces IR laser transmitters and receivers as intermediary components that enable direct optical measurement of CO gas concentration within the drying system. These intermediaries facilitate real-time detection without requiring physical sample transport, thus resolving the contradiction between remote detection and fast response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If external CO detectors with sample transport are used, then detection capability is provided, but maintenance costs increase and calibration becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance simplicityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the CO detection system with the existing powder drying system by integrating IR laser transmitters and receivers directly into the gas outlet structure. This consolidation eliminates separate sample transport infrastructure and external detector units, simplifying maintenance and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining detection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If differential measurement with compensation calculations is implemented, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCO concentration detection precisionVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements preliminary action by pre-programming the control unit with compensation algorithms that automatically adjust CO concentration readings for dilution effects and time delays. This preliminary preparation of correction factors enables high measurement precision through software-based differential measurement rather than complex hardware modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This solution significantly reduces response time to around 1 second, enhances sensitivity to detect CO concentrations below 0.1 ppm, and simplifies maintenance and calibration, providing a cost-effective and reliable early warning system for smoldering detection.

Implementation Method 1

at least the outlet CO gas detector comprises an IR laser transmitter and is adapted for detecting over a measurement volume

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption Spectroscopy: Absorption Spectroscopy

Implementation Method 2

IR laser transmitter and is adapted for detecting over a measurement volume and is arranged on the at least one gas outlet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared Radiation: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3580548B1Early detection of smoldering powders in powder drying systems comprising a co gas detection system
Publication Date: 2021.01.20 GEA PROCESS ENG
  • EP3580548B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3580548B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3580548B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention concerns a powder drying system (1 ) comprising a carbon monoxide (CO) gas detection system adapted for detection of CO gas from smoldering powders in a powder drying system component, such as a spray dryer chamber (200), a fluid bed (500) or a bag filter (400), which CO gas detection system comprises at least one inlet CO gas detector (3) arranged on at least one gas inlet of a powder drying system component such as to provide at least one inlet CO gas content measurement, at least one outlet CO gas detector (3) arranged on at least one gas outlet of a powder drying system component such as to provide at least one outlet CO gas content measurement, and an analyzing unit (5) adapted for receiving the at least one inlet CO gas content measurement, receiving the at least one outlet CO gas content measurement and comparing the sum of the at least one inlet CO gas content measurement and the sum of the at least one outlet CO gas content measurement while compensating for dilution, mixing, and time delay of the outlet CO gas content measurement. At least the at least one outlet CO gas detector (3) comprises an IR laser transmitter and is adapted for detecting over a measurement volume (6) and is arranged on the at least one gas outlet in such a way that said measurement volume (6) extends directly inside a gas flow (20) in said at least one gas outlet.