Concentric Injector for Co-Feeding Solid and Liquid Fuels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional injectors in gasification systems face difficulties in mixing recycled fines slurry with solid fuels, leading to reduced flowability and non-uniform fuel concentration, which affects gasification performance.

Innovation Solution

The design of an injector with separate channels for conveying liquid and solid fuels, where the liquid fuel is atomized before mixing with the solid fuel, improving the uniformity of fuel concentration and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional injector with two channels is used to convey solid fuel and oxidizing stream, then the structure is simple, but the liquid fuel (recycled fines slurry) cannot be effectively mixed with solid fuel, leading to reduced flowability and non-uniform fuel concentration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel mixing capabilityVSAvoidinjector structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The injector is divided into multiple concentric channels: a first channel for liquid fuel, a second channel for solid fuel, and a third channel for oxidizing stream. This segmentation allows each fuel type to be conveyed separately and mixed at the discharge end, solving the mixing problem while maintaining manageable structural complexity through systematic channel arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The injector employs a nested channel structure where the first channel (liquid fuel) is positioned centrally, the second channel (solid fuel) surrounds it, and the third channel (oxidizing stream) surrounds the second channel. This nested arrangement enables multi-fuel co-feeding without excessive structural complexity, as each channel is integrated within the others in a compact configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If recycled fines slurry is directly mixed with solid fuel using conventional injector, then the structure remains simple, but the flowability of solid fuel is reduced and fuel concentration uniformity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel concentration uniformityVSAvoidsolid fuel flowability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid fuel is atomized within the first channel before discharge, creating fine droplets that can be easily and uniformly mixed with the solid fuel at the discharge end. This preliminary atomization action ensures reliable fuel concentration uniformity while maintaining solid fuel flowability, as the atomized liquid does not clump with the solid particles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The second channel uses pneumatic conveyance to transport solid fuel, and the third channel conveys oxidizing stream to disperse and mix the fuels at discharge. These pneumatic and hydraulic flows ensure uniform fuel mixing and maintain solid fuel flowability by using gas streams rather than direct liquid-slurry mixing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Productivity

If liquid fuel is atomized before mixing with solid fuel in the improved injector, then fuel concentration uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegasification efficiencyVSAvoidchannel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first channel is designed to atomize liquid fuel by changing its physical state from bulk liquid to fine droplets through pressure and flow dynamics. This parameter change (liquid to atomized droplets) significantly improves gasification efficiency and fuel mixing, while the atomization is achieved passively through channel design rather than additional active components, limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 improved injector enhances the uniformity of fuel concentration and overall gasification performance by effectively mixing recycled fines slurry with solid fuels, increasing carbon conversion and energy efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The liquid fuel is atomized before being mixed with the solid fuel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAtomization:

Implementation Method 2

a third channel for conveying a fluid stream for dispersing the solid fuel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDispersion:

Implementation Method 3

a second channel for pneumatically conveying a solid fuel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic conveyance:

Data Source

PatentUS9328301B2Injector and method for co-feeding solid and liquid fuels

Publication Date: 2016.05.03 AIR PROD & CHEM INC

AI summary

An injector for co-feeding liquid and solid fuels into a gasifier is provided. The injector includes a body, a first member, and a second member. The body comprises a first channel for conveying a liquid fuel. The first member surrounds the body to define a second channel for pneumatically conveying a solid fuel. The second member surrounds the first member to define a third channel for conveying a fluid stream for dispersing the solid fuel. The liquid fuel is atomized before being mixed with the solid fuel. A method for co-feeding liquid and solid fuels is also presented.