Lateral Extrusion Granulator Cooling for Screen Clogging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for producing agricultural and horticultural granules with high water-soluble components using lateral extrusion granulators often result in screen clogging and strand fusion, leading to unstable continuous production.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a lateral extrusion granulator with a cooling unit to control the temperature of the screw casing, using a powdered agrochemical composition with 20-80% water-soluble components, and incorporating neonicotinoid-based insecticidal components like acetamiprid, dinotefuran, or thiamethoxam, along with metal halide or carbohydrate carriers, to prevent screen blockage and strand fusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If continuous granulation is carried out using a lateral extrusion granulator, then productivity is improved, but the screen becomes clogged due to frictional heat

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous granulation capabilityVSAvoidscreen clogging

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the temperature parameter by introducing a cooling unit that cools the screw casing wall on the bearing side. This temperature control prevents the frictional heat from drying out the screen, thereby maintaining screen moisture and preventing clogging during continuous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling unit acts as an intermediary element between the frictional heat source and the screen. By cooling the screw casing wall, it indirectly protects the screen from drying and clogging without directly contacting the screen itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If high extrusion pressure is applied to eliminate screen clogging, then screen blockage is reduced, but water-soluble components dissolve in added water reducing extrusion pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescreen blockage preventionVSAvoidextrusion pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling unit performs preliminary cooling of the screw casing wall before the kneaded product reaches the screen area. This prevents water-soluble components from dissolving in advance due to heat, maintaining the integrity of the formulation and stable extrusion pressure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful effect of frictional heat into a beneficial temperature control mechanism. By intentionally cooling the bearing side, the system utilizes temperature management to prevent both screen clogging and premature dissolution of water-soluble components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Speed

If temperature of kneaded product is high, then granulation speed increases, but water-soluble component dissolves reducing extrusion pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegranulation speedVSAvoidextrusion pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The invention selectively changes the temperature parameter only in the bearing side region through localized cooling. This maintains optimal granulation speed in the kneading zone while preventing temperature-induced dissolution in the extrusion zone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables stable and continuous production of agricultural and horticultural granules for an extended period without screen blockage or strand fusion, even with high water-soluble components.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling unit for cooling a screw casing wall on a bearing side of a screw on a side away from the hopper

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 2

the temperature of the screw and the screw casing can be controlled by allowing a refrigerant to flow in the inner cavity of the screw shaft or in the inner cavity of the screw casing wall parallel to the screw shaft on the hopper side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

These are caused by the frictional heat generated by the discharge characteristics and the continuous operation of the granulator, and the screen is dried and the clogging occurs by an increase in the temperature of the screen due to the frictional heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrictional heating: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2979547B1Method for manufacturing agricultural and horticultural granule formulation

Publication Date: 2017.08.02 NIPPON SODA CO LTD

Figure 1~2
Figure 3

AI summary

Provided is a method for producing an agricultural and horticultural granule, the method including molding a powdered agrochemical composition into granules using a lateral extrusion granulator, characterized in that: the lateral extrusion granulator includes a hopper for feeding a kneaded product of the powdered agrochemical composition with water, a screw for kneading and extruding the kneaded product, a screw casing for accommodating the screw, a screen for molding the kneaded product into strands, the screen being provided on a screw casing wall parallel to a screw shaft on a side away from the hopper, and a cooling unit for cooling a screw casing wall on a bearing side of a screw on a side away from the hopper; and the powdered agrochemical composition contains 20 to 80% by weight in total of a component having a water solubility of 4,000 to 500,000 ppm at a water temperature of 20°C and a pH of 3 to 9.