Preheating Tower Beam Profile for Platform Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction and assembly of multi-storey preheating towers in the cement industry are time-consuming and expensive, involving the use of expensive cranes and overhead hoists, which also pose a risk of accidents.
Innovation Solution
A tower structure with varying cross-sectional profiles for support beams allows for increased spacing between beams, enabling fully assembled platforms to be slid into place, reducing the need for external cranes and allowing simultaneous assembly of multiple platforms on the ground before lifting, thus speeding up the construction process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional construction methods with sequential platform assembly are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but construction time becomes excessively long (14-19 months)
Solution Approach 1:
Platforms are pre-assembled on the ground at ground level before being lifted to their final positions in the tower. This preliminary assembly action at ground level allows multiple platforms to be prepared simultaneously, eliminating the need for sequential assembly at height and significantly reducing overall construction time.
Solution Approach 2:
The tower structure is divided into multiple discrete platform segments that can be independently assembled and then lifted to their respective positions. This segmentation enables parallel assembly operations on the ground and simplifies the lifting process, as each platform can be handled independently by the crane.
2Ease of manufacture
If large heavy-duty cranes are used for lifting platforms and equipment, then lifting capacity is sufficient, but construction costs increase and accident risks arise
Solution Approach 1:
The complex crane system is extracted from the assembly process by pre-assembling platforms at ground level. This removes the need for complex overhead lifting maneuvers and reduces dependency on large heavy-duty cranes, thereby lowering construction costs and minimizing accident risks associated with high-altitude lifting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Assembly operations are moved to ground level where gravitational potential energy is minimized and working conditions are safer and more efficient. By performing assembly at equipotential ground level rather than at varying heights, the need for complex lifting equipment is reduced, and worker safety is improved.
3Stability of the object's composition
If platforms are assembled sequentially from bottom up, then structural stability is maintained, but construction duration extends to 14-19 months
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple platforms are pre-assembled in parallel at ground level before any lifting operations begin. This preliminary parallel assembly maintains structural stability through proper ground-level support while dramatically improving productivity by eliminating sequential assembly constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The construction process transitions from a static sequential assembly approach to a dynamic parallel process where multiple platforms are assembled simultaneously on the ground and then lifted in coordinated sequences, optimizing both stability and productivity.
4Manufacturing precision
If manual transport and installation of lining material is used, then material placement precision is achieved, but labor time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly of platforms and installation of lining materials are merged into a single integrated operation performed at ground level before lifting. This combination eliminates the need for separate manual transport operations at height, reducing labor time and costs while maintaining placement precision through controlled ground-level assembly.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a tower structure (12) of a pre-heating tower of a plant for thermally processing minerals, comprising a plurality of support beams (16), which extend vertically and mutually parallel and are interconnected by means of cross-supports (18-26), and a plurality of mounting positions each for the attachment of a platform (14) to the tower structure (12), wherein the cross-sectional profile of at least two of the support beams (16) changes over the height of the tower structure (12).