Cryogenic Blast Media Feeder for Particle Size and Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in controlling the feed rate and size of cryogenic blast media particles, particularly in achieving a consistent flow of particles in the size range of 3mm to 0.3mm diameter for effective blasting applications.
Innovation Solution
A feeder assembly is designed to transport cryogenic blast media into a flow of transport gas, featuring a metering portion, comminutor, and feeding portion. The comminutor reduces particle size through rollers with adjustable gap sizes, and the feeding portion ensures consistent entrainment of particles into the transport gas flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a particle generator shaves particles from a carbon dioxide block and uses a feeder to entrain them in transport gas, then particles can be delivered for blasting applications, but the feed rate and particle size cannot be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder assembly is segmented into distinct functional portions: a metering portion with a rotating metering element having pockets that receive and control particle discharge, and a feeding portion with a rotating feeding element having pockets that entrain particles into transport gas. This segmentation allows independent optimization of particle size control and feed rate control, resolving the technical contradiction by achieving precise control without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamically adjustable parameters including variable rotational speeds of the metering and feeding elements, adjustable gap sizes in the comminutor, and controllable transport gas flow rates. These dynamic adjustments enable precise control of particle size and feed rate while maintaining a relatively simple feeder structure, thus resolving the contradiction between control precision and device complexity.
2Productivity
If particles are entrained in transport gas flow for blasting applications, then particles can be delivered to the target, but the feed rate of particles cannot be controlled consistently
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback control mechanisms where the rotational speed of the metering element and feeding element is controlled to maintain consistent particle discharge and entrainment rates. The synchronized rotation of these elements ensures that particles are metered and entrained at controlled rates, providing both productivity control and flow consistency reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The metering and feeding elements rotate continuously to maintain a steady flow of particles into the transport gas. This continuous action, rather than intermittent dosing, ensures consistent feed rate and reliable particle flow to the blasting target, resolving the contradiction between productivity control and flow consistency.
3Manufacturing precision
If particles need to be sized in the range of 3mm to 0.3mm diameter for blasting applications, then effective blasting can be achieved, but controlling the particle size range is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The comminutor incorporates adjustable gap sizes between its components, allowing the particle size reduction to be controlled by changing the geometric parameter of the gap. By adjusting this gap parameter, the system can produce particles within the desired 3mm to 0.3mm diameter range while maintaining adaptability to different blasting applications, thus resolving the contradiction between precision control and versatility.
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 solution enables precise control over the feed rate and size of cryogenic blast media particles, ensuring a consistent and efficient flow of particles for various blasting applications, thereby improving the effectiveness and reliability of the blasting process.
Implementation Method 1
The comminutor reduces particle size through rollers with adjustable gap sizes
Implementation Method 2
the feeding portion ensures consistent entrainment of particles into the transport gas flow
Data Source
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AI summary
A particle blast apparatus includes a metering portion, a comminutor and a feeding portion. The metering portion and comminutor may each be configured to provide uniformity in the discharge of particles. The metering portion controls the particle feed rate, and may include a rotor, which may have V or chevron shaped pockets. The comminutor includes at least one roller which may be moved between and including a position at which the gap of the comminutor is at maximum and a position at which the gap is at minimum. The metering portion may discharge direction into the feeding portion without a comminutor being present. The comminutor may receive particles directly from a source of blast media without a metering portion being present.