Refiner Center Plate Feeding Wings Steam Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pulp or fiber refiners face issues with uneven material distribution and back-streaming steam interference, leading to energy inefficiencies and fiber quality variations due to the design of traditional center plates that hinder steam evacuation and material flow.
Innovation Solution
A center plate with elongated feeding wings and strategically placed openings that allow steam to flow opposite to the rotation direction, facilitating even material distribution and steam evacuation, reducing feed conflicts and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional center plates are used to direct material towards the periphery, then material distribution should be improved, but back-streaming steam accumulates and interferes with feeding
Solution Approach 1:
The center plate is segmented by providing multiple openings distributed across its surface, dividing the steam evacuation function into multiple pathways. This allows steam to escape through various locations simultaneously, preventing accumulation and interference with material feeding while maintaining the plate's structural integrity and material distribution function.
Solution Approach 2:
The openings in the center plate act as an intermediary pathway between the refining area and the exterior, providing a dedicated channel for steam to escape without directly interfering with the material flow path. This mediator structure allows both steam evacuation and material feeding to occur simultaneously without conflict.
2Stability of the object's composition
If feeding wings are designed to direct material evenly towards the periphery, then material distribution improves, but steam evacuation is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The center plate surface is segmented into multiple regions by the openings, allowing different zones to serve different functions. The feeding wings maintain their material-directing function while the openings provide steam evacuation pathways, enabling both functions to coexist without energy loss from steam accumulation or feeding disruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the center plate are given different functions: the feeding wings provide material distribution capability in certain areas, while the openings provide steam evacuation capability in other areas. This local differentiation allows the plate to optimize both material distribution and steam evacuation simultaneously, avoiding energy inefficiencies.
3Manufacturing precision
If the disc gap is reduced to improve fiber quality, then fiber quality improves, but material build-up in the center increases
Solution Approach 1:
The openings in the center plate extract and remove steam from the refining area, preventing steam accumulation that would otherwise contribute to material build-up in the center. This allows the disc gap to be reduced for improved fiber quality without the adverse effect of material build-up, as the steam evacuation function is explicitly provided by the openings.
4Stability of the object's composition
If feeding wings are positioned to maximize material flow towards periphery, then material distribution improves, but steam flow opposite to rotation is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The center plate is segmented with multiple openings distributed across its surface, creating multiple steam evacuation pathways that are not dependent on the rotation direction. This segmentation allows steam to escape through various locations simultaneously, ensuring ease of steam evacuation regardless of the feeding wings' positioning for optimal material distribution.
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 design enhances material distribution and fiber quality by reducing energy consumption, allowing for a more open disc gap, and extending refiner segment lifetime with less material build-up and uniform fiber length.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one feeding wing is provided with at least one opening allowing steam to flow through the opening or openings in a direction having a component directed opposite to the direction of rotation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A center plate (10) for a rotor(6)in a pulp or fiber refiner (1) has a surface (200) provided with at least one feeding wing (100) for directing lignocellulose- containing material (7) flowing onto the surface (200) towards a periphery of the center plate(10). The at least one feeding wing (100) is an elongated protrusion arranged such that a second end (100b) of the feeding wing (100) is arranged further away from a center of the center plate (10) than a first end (100a) and is also displaced relative to the first end (100a)in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation (11) of the rotor(6) and center plate (10). The at least one feeding wing (100) is provided with at least one opening (101) allowing steam (8b) to flow through the opening or openings (101) in a direction having a component directed opposite to the direction of rotation (11), when the center plate (10) is rotating in the direction of rotation (11).