Fluidization Pad With In-Plane Elongated Apertures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluidization pads for fluidized bed apparatuses, particularly in energy storage and carbon capture, face inefficiencies and clogging issues due to particulate material passing through, which affects their performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A fluidization pad design featuring a lower sheet with inlet apertures, an upper sheet with outlet apertures, and an interior sheet with elongated apertures that connect inlet and outlet apertures, extending in plane with the pad, which hinders particulate material from passing through and reduces clogging risk, while being easy to manufacture and customize.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fluidization pads with simple aperture structures are used, then manufacturing is simple, but particulate material passes through causing clogging and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The fluidization pad is segmented into three distinct sheets (lower sheet, interior sheet, upper sheet) that work together to prevent particulate material from passing through. The interior sheet with its elongated apertures acts as a barrier layer that blocks particles while allowing fluid passage, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining simple manufacturing and achieving clogging resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces elongated apertures in the interior sheet that extend in the plane of the sheet rather than only through the thickness direction. This dimensional change creates a tortuous path for fluid flow while presenting a physical barrier to particulate material, enhancing clogging resistance without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
2Reliability
If elongated apertures extending in plane are used, then particulate material is hindered from passing through, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the pad into three separate sheets, the invention allows each sheet to be manufactured independently using conventional techniques. The interior sheet can be fabricated with elongated apertures in its plane using standard cutting or punching methods, avoiding the need for complex three-dimensional aperture structures that would be difficult to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongated apertures are specifically implemented only in the interior sheet, while the lower and upper sheets maintain simpler aperture structures. This localized application of complexity optimizes particle hindrance where it is most needed while keeping overall manufacturing relatively simple.
3Productivity
If multiple sheets in close contact are used, then flow area can be customized for optimized fluidization, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The three-sheet structure allows independent optimization of each layer's aperture pattern and size to achieve desired fluidization characteristics. The lower sheet can be designed for fluid distribution, the interior sheet for particle barrier function, and the upper sheet for fluid collection, enabling customized flow areas without creating an overly complex integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-sheet construction provides multiple functions within a single pad assembly: fluid distribution, particle barrier, fluid collection, and customizable flow area control. This multi-functionality achieves optimized fluidization efficiency without requiring separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 design effectively prevents particulate material from passing through, reducing clogging and enhancing the efficiency and ease of manufacturing, with customizable flow areas to optimize fluidization and pressure drop for improved performance in fluidized bed apparatuses for energy storage and carbon capture.
Implementation Method 1
the elongated apertures, which extend in plane with the fluidization pad, hinder or stop such a movement of the particulate material
Implementation Method 2
a lower sheet comprising inlet apertures through which a fluidization fluid may enter the fluidization pad, an upper sheet comprising outlet apertures through which the fluidization fluid may exit the fluidization pad
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
There is provided a fluidization pad (1) for a fluidized bed apparatus (50). The fluidization pad (1) comprises a lower sheet (10) comprising inlet apertures (11), an upper sheet (30) comprising outlet apertures (31) and an interior sheet (20) arranged between the lower and upper sheets (10, 30). The interior sheet (20) comprises elongated apertures (21) connecting the inlet apertures (11) to the outlet apertures (31), the elongated apertures (21) extend in plane with the fluidization pad (1). Each one of the elongated apertures (21) comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is in fluid contact with at least one inlet aperture (11), and wherein the second end is in fluid contact with at least one outlet aperture (31). There is further provided a fluidized bed apparatus (50).