Parallel Pump Feeding System for Continuous Digester
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional feed systems for continuous digesters face inefficiencies, high operational costs, and limited accessibility due to reliance on high-pressure pocket feeders or multiple pumps in series, which are costly and prone to downtime, especially in large-scale operations where maintaining optimal chip transfer and pressure is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A feed system utilizing multiple pumps in parallel, arranged at ground level, with a pre-treatment vessel that maintains a high static pressure through alkali impregnation and agitation, allowing for efficient transfer of wood chips to the digester without the need for high-pressure pocket feeders and minimizing the risk of cavitation, while enabling operation across a broader production capacity range with fewer pump sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-pressure pocket feeders are used for pressurisation and transport of chips slurry, then the flow of chips can be transferred hydraulically without pumps, but the system is subjected to wear and requires frequent adjustment to minimize leakage flow
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the pumping function into multiple separate pumps operating in parallel rather than using a single high-pressure pocket feeder. Each pump can be independently maintained or replaced while others continue operation, segmenting the reliability risk and simplifying operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by using multiple pumps in parallel configuration, allowing the system to maintain flow through alternative paths if one pump fails, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex adjustments to minimize leakage.
2Productivity
If multiple pumps in series are used to feed chips mixture to the digester, then the pump arrangement can handle the required flow, but the system complexity increases and accessibility for maintenance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple pumps in series, the invention segments the pumping function into multiple pumps operating in parallel. This reduces the complexity of the overall system configuration while maintaining the required chip transfer efficiency, and improves accessibility for maintenance as each pump can be serviced independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the conventional approach by using parallel pump configuration instead of series configuration. This inversion simplifies the system architecture and improves maintenance accessibility while achieving the same productivity goals through combined parallel pump output.
3Device complexity
If a single pump is used for feeding chips to the digester, then the device complexity is reduced, but the pump must be oversized to handle variable production capacities which reduces energy efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the pumping capacity into multiple smaller pumps operating in parallel, each operating within its optimal efficiency range. This eliminates the need for a single oversized pump that would waste energy at partial load, while maintaining overall system simplicity through the parallel configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using one pump that must be excessively sized to handle maximum capacity, the invention uses multiple pumps each sized for optimal efficiency. The combined output matches the required capacity, eliminating excessive action and associated energy waste while maintaining device simplicity.
4Stress or pressure
If high-pressure pocket feeders are used to maintain high pressure in transfer circulation, then pressure can be maintained without losing pressure, but the leakage flow from high-pressure to low-pressure circulation must be minimized through adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the pressure maintenance function across multiple pumps in parallel, each contributing to the overall pressure maintenance. This eliminates the need for complex adjustments to minimize leakage flow, as the parallel configuration naturally maintains pressure through combined pump output without requiring precise leakage control.
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 enhances efficiency, reduces operational costs, improves accessibility, maintains constant chip concentration, and simplifies maintenance by allowing optimal feeding across a broader production capacity range with fewer pump sizes, reducing the need for expensive and complex pump configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a pre-treatment vessel that maintains a high static pressure through alkali impregnation
Implementation Method 2
allowing for efficient transfer of wood chips to the digester without the need for high-pressure pocket feeders and minimizing the risk of cavitation
Data Source
AI summary
The feed system is for a continuous digester where at least two pumps are arranged in parallel in the bottom of a pre-treatment vessel and a liquid level of at least 20 meters is established. The system makes it possible to provide a feed system with an improved accessibility and more reliable operation, and to operate the main part of the pumps at optimal efficiency even if the production capacity is reduced.