Flash Drying Solid Waste Using Clinker Cooler Exhaust Gas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for drying solid waste material before its use in clinker production are costly, inefficient, and require extensive equipment, with high residence times that complicate the process.
Innovation Solution
A flash drying process using a drying pipe with an upward section where solid waste material is fed at the bottom and subjected to high-speed drying gas, exceeding 15 m/s, primarily composed of exhaust gas from a clinker cooler, to achieve rapid drying and separation of the dried material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If drum and belt dryers are used to dry solid waste material, then the waste material can be dried effectively, but the equipment becomes bulky, expensive, and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a pneumatic drying system where hot gas flows through a drying chamber and contacts the solid waste material on a moving belt, drying it through convective heat transfer. This replaces bulky mechanical dryers with a simpler pneumatic system that achieves effective drying through controlled gas flow and heat exchange.
2Manufacturing precision
If contact dryers are used to dry waste material before kiln introduction, then the waste material can be dried, but high installation costs and very high residence times are required
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process is integrated continuously with the waste material handling system. The waste material moves continuously on a belt through the drying chamber while hot gas flows continuously, eliminating batch processing delays and reducing total residence time compared to conventional contact dryers that require loading, drying, and unloading cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying function is merged with the waste material conveyance system. The same belt that transports waste material to the kiln also serves as the drying surface, and the hot gas system is integrated with the existing kiln exhaust or separate heating system, eliminating the need for separate drying equipment and reducing installation costs.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional drying methods are used, then waste material can be dried, but the equipment is expensive and not easily available
Solution Approach 1:
The drying system is segmented into modular components: a drying chamber, a moving belt for material support, gas inlet and outlet systems, and a heating element. This modular segmentation allows the system to be manufactured using standard industrial components that are widely available, rather than requiring custom-built specialized drying equipment.
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 process significantly reduces the residence time of the waste material, allows for direct injection into burners without additional storage, and uses inexpensive, simple equipment, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective drying method.
Implementation Method 1
feeding a drying gas into said upward section at a speed greater than 15 m/s in order to create an upward flow of said waste material in this upward section
Implementation Method 2
feeding a drying gas into said upward section... to provide a final drying gas and dried solid waste material
Implementation Method 3
drying solid waste material... reducing the residual moisture content
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a process to dry solid waste material comprising: • - providing a drying pipe (40) comprising an upward section (44); • - feeding solid waste material to be dried at a feeding point (32), located at the bottom of said upward section; • - feeding a drying gas into said upward section at a speed greater than 15 m/s, said drying gas comprising exhaust gas from a clinker cooler, in order to create an upward flow of said waste material in said upward section and to provide a final drying gas and dried solid waste material; and • - separating the final drying gas from the dried solid waste material, downstream of the drying pipe. The invention also relates to an equipment for drying solid waste.