Piston Feeder Seal Design for Pressurized Solid Feed Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lock hopper systems for feeding solid feedstock into hydroprocessing reactors require large vessels, pressurized gas, and have complex designs, leading to compaction and inefficient feedstock delivery, which affects the operation and efficiency of the hydroprocessing process.
Innovation Solution
A piston feeder system with a novel seal design is used to deliver solid feedstock to a hydropyrolysis reactor, eliminating the need for pressurized gas and reducing vessel size, while maintaining pressure and preventing feedstock compaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a lock hopper system is used to pressurize solid feedstock, then the feedstock can be delivered to the reactor, but large amounts of pressurized gas are consumed and the vessel size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressurized gas requirement from the feedstock delivery system by introducing a liquid carrier medium that transports solid feedstock particles without requiring gas pressurization. The liquid carrier suspends and transports particles through the system, eliminating the need for large amounts of pressurized gas while maintaining delivery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a pneumatic system (lock hopper using pressurized gas) to a hydraulic system where liquid carrier suspends and transports solid feedstock particles. This hydraulic approach replaces the gas-based pneumatic transport, reducing pressurized gas consumption while achieving the same feedstock delivery function.
2Productivity
If a lock hopper system is used to pressurize solid feedstock, then the feedstock can be delivered to the reactor, but the system design becomes complex with multiple vessels and valves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (atmospheric vessel, sluice vessel, pressurized vessel, and multiple valves) into a single integrated reactor design. The liquid carrier system combines feeding, pressurization, and reaction functions in one unified system, eliminating the need for complex multi-vessel lock hopper configurations while maintaining feedstock delivery capability.
3Productivity
If a lock hopper system pressurizes solid feedstock volume, then feedstock can be introduced to reactor, but feedstock compaction occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid carrier as an intermediary medium between the feedstock particles and the pressurization system. The liquid carrier suspends particles and transports them without direct particle-to-particle compression, preventing feedstock compaction while still enabling pressurized delivery to the reactor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the carrier medium from gas (in lock hopper systems) to liquid. This parameter change allows for gentler transport conditions that prevent feedstock compaction while maintaining the ability to deliver pressurized feedstock to the reactor.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for hydroprocessing of a solid feedstock includes a solid feedstock feeding system disposed upstream from a hydropyrolysis reactor. The solid feedstock feeding system includes a piston feeder having an inlet, an outlet, at least one piston disposed between the inlet and the outlet, the at least one piston includes a chamber and a barrel disposed in and translocates within the chamber, the barrel includes a terminal end having a seal, and the seal includes an annular ring having a first wall and a second wall, the second wall is orthogonal to and extends from the first wall such that a first portion of the first wall protrudes away from the second wall in a first direction and a second portion of the first wall protrudes away from the second wall in a second direction.