Containerized Belt Transport for High-Temperature Bulk Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dry transport systems for high-temperature bulk materials face limitations in increasing volume flow due to constraints on cross section, lateral rail height, and belt speed, especially when dealing with fine materials and significant height differences between loading and unloading regions, leading to unreliable transport at high speeds.
Innovation Solution
A transport system featuring containers with specific wall configurations and shapes that enhance containment and stability, allowing for high-volume flow and reliable transport of bulk materials, even at high temperatures, by using containers with angled front and rear walls and lateral walls that converge towards the front wall, connected to a conveyor belt via a motion transmission mesh.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cross section available for transport is increased to maximize volume flow, then the transport capacity improves, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt is divided into discrete container elements instead of using a continuous plate structure. Each container is a separate module that can be individually manufactured and assembled, allowing the system to achieve large cross-sectional area through multiple units working together rather than requiring a single large complex structure
Solution Approach 2:
The container elements are arranged in a nested configuration where multiple containers are positioned along the belt width and length, creating a modular assembly that efficiently utilizes space. The containers nest together to form the complete transport cross-section, maximizing volume flow without requiring excessive individual container dimensions
2Productivity
If the height of lateral rails is increased to maximize volume flow, then the transport capacity improves, but the stability and containment of material deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container elements feature asymmetric wall height configuration where the front wall is taller than the rear wall. This asymmetric design provides enhanced containment at the front where material is being pushed, while the lower rear wall allows for proper material flow and discharge, maintaining both high volume flow and reliable material containment
Solution Approach 2:
The containers incorporate curved or angled surfaces rather than purely vertical walls. The converging lateral walls and angled bottom surfaces create a streamlined shape that guides material flow smoothly, preventing spillage while maximizing the effective transport volume of each container
3Productivity
If the belt linear speed is increased to maximize volume flow, then the transport capacity improves, but the reliability of transport deteriorates due to material spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The container design incorporates preliminary containment features such as converging lateral walls and angled bottoms that pre-position and secure material before the high-speed transport phase. This preliminary arrangement of material within the container prevents spillage during high-speed operation, enabling reliable transport at increased linear speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The container geometry is optimized to dynamically accommodate material movement during acceleration and high-speed transport. The angled surfaces and converging walls adapt to the dynamic forces experienced during high-speed operation, maintaining material containment reliability even at increased belt speeds
4Adaptability or versatility
If the tilting of transport direction is increased to accommodate height differences, then the adaptability improves, but the volume flow and transport reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses discrete container modules that can be independently configured and arranged on the conveyor belt. This segmentation allows the containers to maintain their optimal geometry for high volume flow while the modular nature enables the system to accommodate various tilting angles and height differences through flexible arrangement of the container units
Solution Approach 2:
The container design serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains material containment at high speeds, optimizes volume flow through its geometric configuration, and adapts to different tilting angles. The universal container module can operate effectively across a range of operating conditions including various belt tilts, speeds, and material types
Data Source
AI summary
A transport system for high temperature bulk materials in industrial plants, having a plurality of volumetric containers arranged in sequence along a direction of transport and fastened to a movable conveyor belt, which containers have lateral walls which engage mutually to form a continuous transport region.