Pneumatic Granular Transport Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reduced-pressure transport systems for granular materials face challenges in maintaining constant transfer speed, leading to high-speed granule transport, adhesion to tubing walls, and the formation of 'angel hair' deposits, which cause contamination and increase operating costs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an electronic control unit and variator devices to adjust the suction unit's power and air flow rate, using a Venturi meter and inverter to maintain optimal flow speed and intensity, and incorporating cleaning valves and sensors to manage air flow and prevent stagnation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional reduced-pressure transport systems are used to convey granular material, then the material can be transported through the tubing, but the transfer speed becomes uncontrolled and exceeds optimal values, causing granules to scrape against walls and form 'angel hair' deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the suction unit's power adjustable through a variator device, allowing the system to adapt the air flow rate dynamically to maintain optimal transport speed. This prevents excessive speeds that cause wall scraping and angel hair formation while ensuring sufficient speed to prevent material stagnation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of air flow rate by using a variator device to adjust the suction unit's power output. This parameter adjustment ensures the air flow remains within the optimal speed range, preventing both excessive speed (which causes wall adhesion) and insufficient speed (which causes stagnation).
2Productivity
If higher air flow rates are used to prevent material stagnation, then material flow is maintained, but granules scrape against tubing walls and adhere due to centrifugal force and electrostatic charges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using sensors to detect the actual air flow rate and transferring this information to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts the variator device to maintain the air flow rate within the optimal range, ensuring sufficient material flow while preventing excessive speeds that cause wall adhesion through centrifugal force and electrostatic charges.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the air flow rate based on real-time conditions, using the variator device to modulate the suction unit's power. This dynamic control maintains productivity by preventing stagnation while simultaneously preventing harmful wall adhesion effects.
3Productivity
If the suction unit operates at constant high power, then material transport is maintained, but energy consumption increases and speed control becomes impossible during different conveyance steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing constant power operation with variable power control through the variator device. The suction unit's power is dynamically adjusted according to the specific conveyance step and detected air flow rate, maintaining continuous material transport while optimizing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary high power usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power parameter of the suction unit based on operational requirements. By using the variator device to adjust power levels according to detected conditions, the system maintains productivity while reducing energy consumption during phases where full power is not needed.
4Reliability
If multi-layer crusts detach from tubing walls, then they cause pollution and contamination of conveyed granular material, but preventing their formation requires complex speed control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback control to maintain air flow rate within optimal parameters, preventing the conditions that lead to crust formation and subsequent detachment. The sensor-detected flow rate is continuously monitored and used to adjust the variator device, ensuring material purity without requiring overly complex control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
By dynamically adjusting the air flow rate to stay within optimal ranges, the system prevents the formation of multi-layer crusts that would otherwise detach and contaminate the material. This dynamic control approach maintains reliability through a relatively simple variator-based system rather than complex mechanisms.
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 ensures a consistent granular material transport speed, reduces contamination, and lowers operating costs by preventing granule adhesion and maintaining efficient pneumatic transport.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum source is provided, e. g. a vacuum pump, arranged to suck air from a container of granular plastic material
Implementation Method 2
The granular material is thus driven by the suctioned air along a suction tubing
Implementation Method 3
using a Venturi meter and inverter to maintain optimal flow speed and intensity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a plant for the transport of granular material comprising at least one container (100) for at least one granular material to be transported, at least one receiver-meter group (RD1-RDn) designed to receive granular material from said at least one container (100), at least one conveyance duct (L1-Ln) of said granular material from said at least one container (100) to said at least one receiver-meter group (RD1-RDn), depressurizationpressurization means (11,11a) arranged to suction/inject a gaseous medium from/into said at least one container (100), and at least one vacuum duct (LV) between said at least one receiver-meter group (RD1-RDn) and said depressurization-pressurization means (11,11a), thereby creating a flow of said granular material and said gaseous medium in said at least one conveyance duct or line (L1-Ln) directed to said at least one receiver-meter group (RD1-RDn) and a flow of gaseous medium between said at least one receiver-meter group (RD1-RDn) and said depressurizationpressurization means, the plant comprising detection means of parameters of said flow (MP) located in said at least one vacuum duct or line (LV), adjusting means of the power (DV) of said depressurization/pressurization means and electronic control means (ECU) designed to receive in input control signals from said speed detection means (MP) and to emit control signals in output for driving said adjusting means (DV).