Lamella Grate Retrofit for Sinter Cooler Self-Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Annular sinter coolers, such as the Lurgi type, face issues with fine sinter material falling through rigid gratings, contaminating and clogging components, and blocking airflow, leading to reduced cooling efficiency due to the lack of self-cleaning functionality in current grate designs.
Innovation Solution
The method involves retrofitting or fitting sinter coolers with a lamella grate system, where individually movable lamellae are supported by a structure connected to the cooler car, allowing for airflow and self-cleaning by preventing material from being permanently stuck between lamellae, thus maintaining effective airflow without the need for frequent cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid gratings are used to support sinter material, then structural strength and material support capability are improved, but fine sinter material accumulates between grates and blocks airflow, reducing cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the grate bars movable rather than fixed. The grate bars are designed to oscillate or move independently within their supports, allowing them to automatically clear accumulated sinter material through motion. This dynamic behavior maintains structural strength while preventing material buildup that would block airflow and reduce cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs mechanical vibration by causing the grate bars to oscillate in place. This vibration prevents fine sinter material from adhering to and accumulating between the gratings. The vibrational motion creates sufficient force to dislodge and remove particles, maintaining open airflow passages and preserving cooling efficiency while the grate structure retains its load-bearing capacity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If collecting pans are installed below the grate to collect spilled material, then protection of inner components from contamination is improved, but airflow through sinter material is blocked, reducing cooling effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the collecting pans from the system entirely. Instead of capturing spilled material below the grate, the design allows material to be cleared by the movable grate bars themselves. This eliminates the airflow-blocking pans while still addressing contamination through the self-cleaning action of the oscillating gratings, thus preserving cooling effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the grate system to clean itself without external collecting pans. The movable grate bars automatically clear accumulated material through their oscillation or movement, providing self-cleaning functionality. This eliminates the need for additional collecting components that would obstruct airflow, maintaining both contamination protection and cooling effectiveness.
3Ease of manufacture
If rigid gratings with fixed structure are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but lack of self-cleaning functionality leads to material accumulation and airflow blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from fixed rigid gratings to movable or oscillating grate bars. Each bar is designed to move independently within its support structure, providing self-cleaning capability through motion. While this increases mechanical complexity compared to fixed gratings, the movement mechanism remains relatively simple, maintaining ease of manufacture while dramatically improving cooling efficiency through automated material clearance.
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 lamella grate system enhances airflow and cooling efficiency by allowing self-cleaning of the sinter cooler, reducing material accumulation and the necessity for collecting pans, which obstruct airflow, thereby improving the overall performance of the sinter cooler.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of lamellae are supported by and individually movable with respect to the support structure and are disposed to allow air flow between neighbouring lamellae
Implementation Method 2
individually movable with respect to the support structure and are disposed to allow air flow between neighbouring lamellae... preventing material from being permanently stuck between lamellae
Implementation Method 3
the hot sinter is cooled by an air stream that flows in a more or less vertical direction, usually from underneath the cooler cars through the grate and then through the sinter material
Data Source
AI summary
A method for fitting or retrofitting a sinter cooler, which sinter cooler has a cooler grate chain with an endless chain of cooler cars, the method including, installing a lamella grate for holding sinter material and allowing air flow through the grate so that a support structure is connected to the cooler car and a plurality of lamellae are supported by and individually movable with respect to the support structure, and are disposed to allow air flow between neighbouring lamellae, where the support structure has at least one support element disposed underneath the plurality of lamellae to support the plurality of lamellae, and at least one downholder that is adapted to limit an upward motion of at least one lamella installed such that at least a portion of the downholder is disposed above the at least one lamella.


