Cyclone Powder Injection System for Entrained Flow Gasification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current powder supply systems for carbonaceous materials in thermochemical conversion installations face issues such as cohesive powder arching, compaction, and clogging, leading to discontinuous flow and potential blockages, which increase costs and complexity while not ensuring stable and precise dosing, especially in entrained flow gasification reactors.

Innovation Solution

A powder supply system featuring a conveying device with dosing and an injection device that generates a gas cyclone within an envelope, using a closed gas circulation circuit to reinject gas and create a cyclone that entrains powder particles by gravity through an outlet orifice, ensuring fluidization and preventing interference with downstream processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional powder supply systems are used for carbonaceous materials, then the system structure is simple, but cohesive powder arching, compaction, and clogging occur leading to discontinuous flow and blockages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous powder flowVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies pneumatic principles by using a gas cyclone generated within the injection device envelope to fluidize and transport powder particles. The gas circulation circuit creates a closed-loop pneumatic system that uses gas flow to prevent powder compaction and arching, enabling continuous reliable powder supply to the entrained flow reactor without mechanical conveyance components that cause blockages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and flow parameters of the powder by generating a gas cyclone that creates high-velocity gas flow patterns. This transforms the powder from a static, compactible state to a fluidized, suspended state where particles are continuously moved by gas dynamics, preventing arching and enabling continuous flow through parameter changes in gas velocity and flow pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If powder is supplied to entrained flow gasification reactor, then gasification efficiency is improved, but powder arching and clogging increase system complexity and cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegasification efficiencyVSAvoidpowder supply system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses pneumatic fluidization within the injection device to maintain powder in a suspended, flowing state that can be efficiently injected into the entrained flow reactor. The gas circulation circuit creates continuous gas-powder interaction that prevents clogging while ensuring steady powder delivery, thereby maintaining high gasification efficiency without requiring complex mechanical conveying systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The gas circulation circuit is closed on itself, allowing the gas to be recovered and reused within the system. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external gas supply systems and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining the pneumatic fluidization necessary for continuous powder flow and efficient gasification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If gas circulation circuit is implemented to generate cyclone, then powder fluidization is achieved eliminating blockages, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepowder flow stabilityVSAvoidgas circulation energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The gas circulation circuit is designed as a closed loop where gas is recovered from the cyclone outlet and reused to generate the cyclone. This self-service system recycles the gas instead of requiring continuous fresh gas supply, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining the fluidization necessary for reliable powder flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The closed gas circulation circuit implements a feedback mechanism where gas flow patterns are continuously reused and adjusted within the system. The gas that exits the cyclone is fed back into the system to maintain cyclone generation, creating a self-regulating flow pattern that optimizes energy usage while ensuring continuous powder fluidization and flow stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

This solution eliminates blockages and arching, provides stable and precise powder injection, reduces operational complexity, and allows for the use of a wider variety of carbonaceous materials, including fine powders, by fluidizing powders without increasing energy consumption or system cost.

Implementation Method 1

the circuit being adapted to generate a gas cyclone inside the casing so that the cyclone generated pulls the powder particles down the envelope

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCyclone formation: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

the cyclone generated pulls the powder particles down the envelope so that they are evacuated by gravity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEntrainment: Entrainment

Implementation Method 3

the cyclone generated pulls the powder particles down the envelope so that they are evacuated by gravity through the outlet orifice

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 4

a gas circulation circuit inside the envelope, the gas circuit being closed on itself to reinject inside the casing the gas recovered at the outlet thereof

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas circulation: Convection

Implementation Method 5

a conveying device with dosing, suitable for conveying one or more materials in the form of granules, according to a given average flow rate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity flow: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3498806B1System for supplying powder by cyclone formation, method and facility for the gasification of a feedstock of carbon material in a driven flow reactor (DFR) using such a system
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
  • EP3498806B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2F
  • EP3498806B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3498806B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a powder feeding system (1), comprising: - a conveying device (2) with dosing, adapted to convey one or more materials in the form of granules, at a given average flow rate; - an injection device (6) fed with powder by the conveying device, which is in the form of a casing delimited by a hollow cylinder extended by a truncated cone including an outlet orifice; - a gas circulation circuit inside the casing, the circuit being closed on itself to reinject into the casing the gas recovered at the outlet thereof, the circuit being adapted to generate a gas cyclone inside the casing at least over a part of the height of the cylinder, so that the generated cyclone drives the powder particles towards the bottom of the casing so that they are discharged by gravity through the outlet orifice.