High-Pressure Feeder Annular Gap Control for Fluid Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure feeders in pulp production systems face issues with fluid leakage, leading to pressure loss or metal-to-metal contact, which can result in premature degradation and cessation of pulp production without adequate maintenance and adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented to control fluid leakage in high-pressure feeders by using flow meters and a chip speed encoder to determine fluid leakage values, which are then used to adjust the annular gap between the pocket rotor and the housing, ensuring it meets a threshold leakage value.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the annular gap between the pocket rotor and chamber is reduced to decrease fluid leakage, then pressure loss is reduced, but the risk of metal-to-metal contact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors fluid leakage through flow meters and automatically adjusts the annular gap positioning based on measured leakage values. This closed-loop feedback control enables the system to maintain optimal gap positioning that prevents excessive pressure loss while avoiding metal-to-metal contact, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular gap positioning is made dynamic and adjustable rather than fixed. The system can continuously modify the gap size in response to changing operating conditions and measured leakage levels, allowing optimal balance between pressure retention and preventing mechanical contact between rotor and chamber.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the annular gap is increased to prevent metal-to-metal contact, then component lifespan is extended, but fluid leakage and pressure loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control system monitors fluid leakage in real-time and automatically adjusts the annular gap to maintain optimal positioning. This prevents excessive gap sizes that would cause leakage while ensuring the gap remains large enough to prevent metal-to-metal contact, thereby extending component lifespan without sacrificing pressure retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment of the annular gap based on automatic monitoring of leakage levels. The high-pressure feeder regulates its own gap positioning without external intervention, optimizing both component protection and pressure retention based on actual operating conditions.
3Reliability
If manual inspection and adjustment of the high-pressure feeder is performed, then fluid leakage can be detected, but production interruptions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous automatic monitoring of fluid leakage through flow meters and automated control, eliminating the need for manual inspections. This allows leakage detection and correction without stopping production, maintaining both reliability and continuous productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical inspection and adjustment processes are replaced with automated electronic sensing and control systems. Flow meters and automated positioning mechanisms continuously monitor and adjust the annular gap, eliminating production interruptions while maintaining reliable leakage detection.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, that adjust a high-pressure feeder of a feed system used in pulp production based on the fluid leakage through a low-pressure outlet of a high-pressure feeder. Methods can include obtaining multiple flow values, including (1) a make-up liquor flow value, (2) a black liquor flow value, (3) a white liquor flow value, (4) a chip chute circulation flow value, and (5) a high pressure feeder purge flow value. Methods can include determining a chip flow value specifying a flow of chips provided to the high-pressure feeder. Based on the flow values, methods can determine a fluid leakage value specifying an amount of fluid leakage through a gap between a pocket rotor and the housing of the high pressure feeder. Methods can adjust an annular gap based on the fluid leakage value satisfies a threshold leakage value.