Mouthpiece Geometry for Dense Plug Formation in Gasifier Feeders

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing feeding apparatuses for gasifiers or reactors face challenges in creating dense plugs to withstand high pressure differences while minimizing the risk of blockages, especially when handling materials with varying structures, densities, and humidity levels.

Innovation Solution

The feeding apparatus features a mouthpiece with an increasing inner diameter from the inlet to the exit end, creating a gentle angle between the inner wall and the longitudinal axis, allowing for dense plug formation that withstands pressure gradients while reducing the risk of blockages, and includes a secondary safety mechanism with a closed piston to prevent back-draft.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stress or pressure

If the mouthpiece has an hourglass shape with narrow part, then the plug can be formed with some compression, but the risk of blockage increases and the plug cannot withstand high pressure differences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure difference across plugVSAvoidblockage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mouthpiece geometry is inverted compared to the conventional hourglass shape. Instead of narrowing from inlet to outlet, the mouthpiece has a gradual expansion from inlet to outlet with an angle between 0° and 3°, which allows the plug to be pushed through easily while maintaining density and preventing blockages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The mouthpiece angle parameter is optimized to be between 0° and 3°, which is a specific range that allows the plug to maintain sufficient density to withstand high pressure differences while avoiding blockages. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between pressure resistance and blockage prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stress or pressure

If the mouthpiece has a narrow part for plug formation, then compression can be achieved, but the plug cannot pass through easily and blockages occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression of materialVSAvoidplug passage through mouthpiece

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mouthpiece geometry is inverted compared to the conventional hourglass shape. Instead of narrowing from inlet to outlet, the mouthpiece has a gradual expansion from inlet to outlet with an angle between 0° and 3°, which allows the plug to be pushed through easily while maintaining density and preventing blockages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the mouthpiece has a large angle between inner wall and longitudinal axis, then blockage risk decreases, but the plug density is reduced and cannot withstand high pressure gradients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblockage preventionVSAvoidpressure gradient resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The mouthpiece angle parameter is optimized to be between 0° and 3°, which is a specific range that allows the plug to maintain sufficient density to withstand high pressure differences while avoiding blockages. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between pressure resistance and blockage prevention.

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

The apparatus efficiently creates dense plugs that can withstand high pressure differences, reduces blockage risks, and ensures safe operation by forming a tight seal, allowing for flexible handling of diverse materials and maintaining high production speed.

Implementation Method 1

a piston feeder with at least three pistons for pre-compressing and delivering compressible material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

a braking device with friction means for regulating the final degree of compression of the material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

mouthpiece serving as a non-return valve... allows for the creation of a plug, which is dense enough to withstand a large pressure gradient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS7964004B2Feeding apparatus for creation of one or more plugs of compressible material for feeding into a gasifier or reactor

Publication Date: 2011.06.21 TK ENERGI

AI summary

An energy efficient, very flexible and safe feeding apparatus serves for creation of one or more plugs of compressible material for feeding into a gasifier, reactor or other combustion chamber. This apparatus includes a piston feeder with at least three pistons for pre-compressing and delivering compressible material towards a mouthpiece serving as a non-return valve and having an exit end facing a braking device with a friction member for regulating the final degree of compression of the material, and an opposing inlet end for at least partly compressed material. The inner diameter of at least an inlet section extending from the inlet end of the mouthpiece increases towards the first end, so that an angle between the inner wall of at least the inlet section and the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece is larger than 0° but less than or equal to 3°.