Bulk Material Cooler Seal With Double U-Profile Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coolers for bulk materials, such as cement clinker, fail to reliably seal the gap between conveying beams, allowing material to fall through and reducing cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cooler design featuring a seal with at least two movable sealing elements, each with a sealing profile that forms a double or multiple U-profile sealing gap, preventing material from falling through the gap between conveying beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If overlapping seal segments are used to seal the gap between conveying beams, then the sealing function is improved, but material can still enter the gap and cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple seal segments arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction. Each seal segment contains sealing elements with sealing profiles that create sealing gaps. The segmentation allows for better control of the sealing function while maintaining material flow prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing gap is designed with a double U-profile configuration, creating a multi-dimensional path that material must traverse. This double U-profile extends the sealing path in multiple directions, significantly increasing the complexity of the path material must take to penetrate through the seal, thereby preventing material from entering the gap between conveying beams.
2Device complexity
If a simple overlapping seal is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but material accumulation occurs in the seal and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple seal segments arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction. Each seal segment contains sealing elements with sealing profiles that create sealing gaps. The segmentation allows for better control of the sealing function while maintaining material flow prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing gap is designed with a double U-profile configuration, creating a multi-dimensional path that material must traverse. This double U-profile extends the sealing path in multiple directions, significantly increasing the complexity of the path material must take to penetrate through the seal, thereby preventing material from entering the gap between conveying beams.
Data Source
AI summary
A cooler for cooling bulk material, such as cement clinker, for example, may include an aeration floor through which cooling gas can flow. The aeration floor may be configured to receive bulk material and to transport the bulk material in a conveying direction. The aeration floor comprises a plurality of conveying beams that are mounted so as to be movable in the conveying direction and counter to the conveying direction. A seal is mounted between two adjacent conveying beams, and the seal has at least two sealing elements mounted so as to be movable relative to one another. The sealing elements each have a sealing profile, which interact with one another such that a sealing gap is formed between them. The sealing gap has a double or multiple U-profile.