Immersion Grinding Apparatus Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing immersion grinding apparatuses face challenges in maintaining product temperature within safe limits during the grinding process, leading to potential overheating and degradation of materials, requiring frequent interruptions and extended processing times.

Innovation Solution

The grinding apparatus allows for adjustable rotational speeds of the basket mill rotor and stirrer, reducing energy input when temperature thresholds are exceeded, stabilizing product temperature at lower equilibrium points to prevent overheating and improve grinding quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the basket mill and stirrer operate at nominal speed to maintain productivity, then the grinding efficiency is improved, but the product temperature exceeds the maximum process temperature causing material degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding efficiencyVSAvoidproduct temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the rotational speeds of the basket mill and stirrer adjustable rather than fixed at nominal values. The control system dynamically modifies the speeds based on real-time temperature feedback from the temperature sensor, allowing the system to adapt between high-speed operation for productivity and low-speed operation for temperature control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control by using a temperature sensor to continuously monitor the product temperature and automatically adjusting the rotational speeds of the basket mill and stirrer based on the detected temperature. This closed-loop feedback system prevents overheating while maintaining optimal grinding efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If the apparatus operates continuously at nominal speed, then the processing time is reduced, but the product temperature exceeds safe limits requiring process interruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing timeVSAvoidtemperature control reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback control system continuously monitors temperature and adjusts speeds to prevent overheating, allowing continuous operation without interruptions while maintaining reliable temperature control throughout the grinding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic speed adjustment capability allows the system to operate continuously at optimized speeds that prevent temperature excursions, eliminating the need for stop-start operation and reducing total processing time while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If the rotational speed is reduced to control temperature, then the temperature stability is improved, but the grinding efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidgrinding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts rotational speeds based on real-time temperature conditions rather than operating at a fixed low speed. This allows the system to maintain high speeds when temperature is stable and reduce speeds only when necessary, optimizing both temperature stability and grinding efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The feedback control system maintains high grinding efficiency by operating at nominal speeds when temperature is within acceptable ranges and only reduces speeds when temperature approaches critical thresholds, thus maintaining temperature stability without unnecessarily sacrificing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 solution reduces the need for process interruptions, shortens processing times, and enhances product quality by maintaining optimal granulometry through controlled temperature management.

Implementation Method 1

A cooling liquid (usually water) is circulated in the cooling chambers, in order to remove the heat produced by the grinding assembly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

A cooling liquid (usually water) is circulated in the cooling chambers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3981513B1Immersion grinding apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 COMEC SRL
  • EP3981513B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3981513B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3981513B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An immersion grinding apparatus, comprising: - a basket mill (22) comprising a rotor (44) located inside the basket (36) - at least one rotating stirrer (50) located outside the basket (36), and - a control unit (60) adapted to set the rotational speeds of the rotor (44) and of said at least one stirrer (50) to different values (nR′, nA′, nRʺ, nAʺ, nR‴, nA‴) lower than nominal speed values (nR, nA) when the temperatures detected by a temperature sensor (56) exceed different temperature thresholds (Tc', Ts, Tc") lower than a maximum process temperature (Tmax).