Pneumatic Conveyor Bypass Sections Preventing Blockages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pneumatically conveying devices face inefficiencies in conveying capacity and gas energy usage, leading to blockages and high pressure losses due to bulk material accumulation and slug formation, which results in excessive deflection forces and larger conveyor device dimensions.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a bypass conveying pipe system with an inlet opening above the outlet opening, an oblique course, and a carrier with a specific cross-section to prevent blockages, fluidize bulk material, and reduce pressure loss, allowing for efficient gas flow and smaller device dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the inlet opening is arranged below or at the same level as the outlet opening, then bulk material can easily enter the bypass conveying pipe sections, but this causes blockages and slug formation in the bypass sections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblockage prevention in bypass conveying pipe sectionsVSAvoidconveying capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet opening of the bypass conveying pipe sections is arranged above the outlet opening, inverting the conventional arrangement. This inversion prevents bulk material from entering the bypass sections while allowing conveying gas to flow through, thereby preventing blockages and slugs without significantly impacting conveying capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass conveying pipe sections are provided with specific local features including inlet openings positioned above outlet openings, and oblique courses in the bulk material conveying direction. These localized structural qualities differentiate the bypass sections from conventional pipes, enabling selective gas flow while blocking material entry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the conveying gas pressure is increased to improve conveying capacity, then more bulk material can be conveyed, but this results in excessive pressure peaks and deflection forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying capacityVSAvoidpressure peaks and deflection forces
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying system is segmented into a main conveying pipe and multiple bypass conveying pipe sections. This segmentation allows the conveying gas flow to be distributed and controlled, preventing excessive pressure peaks while maintaining conveying capacity through the coordinated operation of main and bypass sections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass conveying pipe sections are designed with an oblique course that creates dynamic gas flow patterns. The gas flows obliquely through the bypass sections, generating fluidization effects that prevent material deposition and reduce pressure buildup, thereby enabling higher conveying capacity without excessive pressure peaks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If the bypass conveying pipe sections are arranged horizontally, then installation is simplified, but bulk material deposits on the pipe bottom and forms plugs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidplug formation prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass conveying pipe sections are pre-configured with an oblique course angle relative to the bulk material conveying direction. This preliminary geometric arrangement ensures that conveying gas flows obliquely through the bypass sections, creating fluidization currents that prevent material deposition before plugs can form, while still allowing for straightforward installation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 configuration enhances the power efficiency of the conveyor device by minimizing blockages, reducing pressure peaks, and avoiding high deflection forces, while allowing for higher conveying gas pressure usage without excessive pressure peaks, thus improving the overall conveying efficiency and fluidization of bulk materials.

Implementation Method 1

The active, constant inflow or eddying in of the conveying gas via the bypass conveying pipe sections causes the bulk material to become fluidized and thus avoids or prevents the bulk material from being deposited on the bottom of the main conveying pipe with the undesirable resulting formation of plugs.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluidization: Fluidisation

Data Source

PatentEP2332868B1Conveyor for pneumatic conveying of bulk material
Publication Date: 2013.02.13 COPERION GMBH
  • EP2332868B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2332868B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2332868B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The conveyor (1) has a main conveyor tube (3) and multiple bypass pipe conveyor sections (5) that are separated from each other and are arranged one after another within the main conveyor tube. An inlet opening (6) is arranged in main conveyor tube area with horizontal running component of the main- conveyor tube in a cross-section of the main conveyor tube.