Conical Refining Filling Internal Recirculation Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conical refiners for refining fibrous material face challenges with pressure control, as each refiner in a series causes a pressure increase, leading to potential exceeding of maximum allowable pressure in the refining system. Additionally, recirculation systems increase costs and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an internal recirculation flow within the conical refiner, where a portion of the refined fibrous material is recirculated from the refiner chamber back to the refining gap, reducing pressure build-up and eliminating excessive pressure at the outlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple refiners are arranged in series to increase production volume, then productivity is improved, but pressure increase in the system worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The refiner is divided into multiple refining zones along the conical element, each zone contributing to the overall refining process. This segmentation allows the total pressure increase to be distributed across multiple smaller increments rather than one large increment, enabling more refiners to be connected in series without exceeding maximum pressure limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a traditional cylindrical refiner geometry to a conical geometry, fundamentally changing the dimensional characteristics of the refining process. The conical shape creates a varying gap width along the length of the refiner, allowing material to be refined progressively as it moves through different zones, thereby controlling pressure build-up while maintaining high productivity.
2Stress or pressure
If recirculation system is added to control pressure, then pressure control is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculation function is merged with the main refining process by integrating the recirculation flow path directly into the refiner structure. The conical geometry naturally guides material flow, and the refining elements are designed to handle both forward progression and recirculation in a unified system, eliminating the need for separate recirculation pumps, valves, and piping that would increase device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The refiner structure itself provides the recirculation function through its geometric design. The conical shape and arrangement of refining elements create natural flow paths that enable material to circulate within the refiner without requiring external recirculation equipment, making the system self-sufficient for pressure control.
3Stress or pressure
If recirculation system is added to control pressure, then pressure control is improved, but energy consumption worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculation process is achieved using the existing mechanical energy from the rotating refiner elements themselves, without requiring additional energy input from separate recirculation pumps or motors. The conical geometry and refining element design convert the rotational motion into effective material circulation, making the recirculation energy-efficient and integrated into the primary driving mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculation function is combined with the primary refining operation, so that the same rotating elements that perform refining also drive the recirculation flow. This merging eliminates the need for separate energy-consuming recirculation equipment and reduces overall energy consumption per ton of refined material.
Data Source
AI summary
A conical refining filling (80) for a conical refiner (10) for refining fibrous material has a first end (80a) of smaller diameter and a second end (80b) of larger diameter. The refining filling has an inner circumference with a refining surface (82) provided with refining bars (84) and refining grooves (86), and an outer circumference (80OC). The refining filing (80) has at least one projecting part (110, 115) projecting away from the outer circumference (80OC) and extending at least partly over the outer circumference (80OC) in at least a partly circumferential direction (CD) of the refining filling (80), and at least one open section extending through or past the at least one projecting part (110, 115).