Hopper Structure for Uniform Dehumidification of Granular Plastic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hopper structures for dehumidifying granular plastic materials face challenges in maintaining uniform residence time and temperature distribution, leading to non-uniform dehumidification and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A hopper structure with a specific configuration featuring a tapered lower section formed by walls with different conicities, an annular air space, and tangential dehumidifying fluid feed ducts to ensure uniform air distribution and pressure homogenization, promoting a mass flow type of granular material descent and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional hopper structures are used for dehumidifying granular plastic materials, then the dehumidification process can be performed, but uniform residence time and temperature distribution cannot be maintained, leading to non-uniform dehumidification
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is divided into multiple zones with different wall conicities (upper conical section, intermediate cylindrical section, lower conical section) to create distinct flow regions. This segmentation allows different parts of the granular material to experience optimized local conditions, ensuring uniform residence time and temperature distribution throughout the entire hopper volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the hopper walls are designed with specific conicities tailored to local requirements. The upper and lower conical sections have different angles than the intermediate section, creating localized flow control that optimizes mass flow characteristics and thermal distribution in each region, thereby achieving overall uniformity.
2Productivity
If conventional hopper structures are used, then dehumidification can proceed, but energy consumption increases due to non-optimal air distribution and pressure distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes pneumatic principles by introducing dehumidifying air through tangential feed ducts positioned at specific heights. This creates optimized air flow patterns that enhance heat and mass transfer efficiency, improving dehumidification productivity while reducing the energy required for the process through better utilization of the dehumidifying air.
Solution Approach 2:
The tangential feed ducts introduce air not only radially but also with a tangential component, creating three-dimensional flow patterns. This multi-dimensional air distribution optimizes contact between dehumidifying air and granular material, enhancing efficiency while reducing energy consumption through more effective heat and mass transfer.
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 achieves uniform dehumidification with reduced energy consumption by ensuring consistent residence time and temperature distribution across the hopper, enhancing the quality of the final product and lowering operational energy needs.
Implementation Method 1
the diffusion of the water molecules from the granule interior to outside the granules
Implementation Method 2
the process air crosses all or part of the mass of plastic material granules to be dehumidified, removing the moisture contained therein
Implementation Method 3
The dehumidifying gaseous means is fed into the chamber in a tangential manner, so as to create a whirling state therein
Data Source
Figure 1a~3
Figure 4
Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a hopper structure for the dehumidification of granular plastic material by means of a dehumidifying process fluid, including: - a main body (1a), bearing, at the top in use, a closure wall (1b) with loading opening or mouth (4a) for the granular plastic material to be treated; - at least one discharge mouth or opening (4c) for the process fluid provided on the main body (1 a) or on the closure wall (1 b), - a tapered lower section (1c) terminating with a discharge opening (4b) for the dehumidified granular plastic material, - an insert member (3) fluid-sealed and positionable in the main body (1a) and in the tapered section (1c) so as to delimit an annular air space (AG) therewith, the insert member (3) comprising at least one conical or frustoconical lower part (3a), which tapers towards bottom, and an upper part (3b), and - at least one dehumidifying fluid feed duct (26) to the annular air space (AG), the lower tapered section (1c) comprising at least one pair of walls or wall segments: a wall or wall segment (9, 23, 22) at least partially enclosing the other wall or wall segment (8, 21), so as to delimit at least one chamber (25) therewith that is outside the annular air space (AG) and in fluid communication therewith, the at least one chamber (25) being feedable with dehumidifying process fluid from the at least one feed duct (26) oriented tangentially or parallel to the enclosing wall or wall segment (9, 23, 22).