Guide Ring Stabilizes Helicoidal Flow in Media Agitation Pulverizer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing media-agitation type pulverizers face issues with non-uniform dispersion and energy inefficiency due to unstable helicoidal flow and uneven centrifugal force distribution, leading to suboptimal pulverization and dispersion of raw materials.

Innovation Solution

A media-agitation type pulverizer with a guide ring that radially divides the pulverization chamber into inner and outer sections, creating a stable helicoidal flow by suppressing the primary flow and strengthening the secondary flow using rotational-flow suppressing means, such as plate members, to ensure uniform distribution of pulverizing media and efficient energy usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If pulverizing media are concentrated around the maximum-diameter portion where centrifugal force is maximized, then the pulverization force is enhanced at that position, but the dispersion force varies with position and becomes non-uniform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepulverization forceVSAvoiduniformity of dispersion
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pulverization chamber is divided into multiple radial zones by the guide ring structure, creating distinct flow paths that segment the media distribution. This segmentation prevents concentration of media at a single location and promotes more uniform spatial distribution of pulverization force throughout the chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide ring creates different flow characteristics in different radial zones of the pulverization chamber. The inner and outer sections have differentiated flow paths that locally optimize media distribution, ensuring each region receives appropriate pulverization force for uniform overall dispersion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If a guide ring is installed to create helicoidal flow, then localization of pulverization media is suppressed to some extent, but the secondary flow remains weak and unstable causing uneven centrifugal force distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of media distributionVSAvoidstability of helicoidal flow
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide ring structure is designed to dynamically adjust the flow characteristics, transforming the weak and unstable secondary flow into a more robust and controllable flow pattern. The geometric configuration of the guide ring enables the system to adapt the flow dynamics for stable helicoidal motion with enhanced secondary flow strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of energy

If the helicoidal flow is unstable due to weakness of secondary flow, then energy efficiency is reduced, but adding rotational-flow suppressing means increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide ring acts as an intermediary structural element that mediates between the primary and secondary flows. By introducing this intermediate component, the system achieves stable helicoidal flow and improved energy efficiency without requiring complex rotational-flow suppressing mechanisms, thus balancing performance improvement with acceptable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 stabilizes the helicoidal flow, achieving uniform distribution of pulverizing media and enhancing pulverization/dispersion efficiency with improved energy efficiency, resulting in a high-quality product with a narrower particle size distribution.

Implementation Method 1

a flow of a mixture of the pulverizing media and the raw material slurry is formed as a helicoidal flow comprising a combination of a primary flow flowing in a circumferential direction of the pulverization chamber and a secondary flow flowing through a circulation flow path

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHelicoidal flow:

Implementation Method 2

the pulverizing media are liable to be concentrated around a maximum-diameter portion where a centrifugal force is maximized

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP2737955B1Medium-stirring pulverizer
Publication Date: 2016.07.20 ASHIZAWA FINETECH
  • EP2737955B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2737955B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2737955B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[OBJECT] It is an object to provide a media-agitation type pulverizer capable of creating a uniformized, stable helicoidal flow in a mixture of pulverizing media and a raw material slurry, without unevenness of a centrifugal force distribution, thereby performing pulverization/dispersion uniformly with satisfactory energy efficiency. [SOLUTION] A media-agitation type pulverizer of the present invention comprises: a guide ring installed to radially divide a lower region of a pulverization chamber into an inner section and an annular outer section, whereby a flow of a mixture of a raw material slurry and pulverizing media is formed as a helicoidal flow comprising a secondary flow flowing through a circulation flow path which has an upward flow path and a downward flow path created, respectively, in the outer section and the inner section of the lower region of the pulverization chamber, with respect to the guide ring; and rotational-flow suppressing means provided within the pulverization chamber and adapted to strengthen the secondary flow of the helicoidal flow, thereby stabilizing the helicoidal flow.