Counter-Rotating Refiner Flinger for Feed Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Counter-rotating mechanical refiners experience inefficiencies in feeding due to reduced centrifugal feeding effect, leading to variations in feed, higher energy consumption, lower pulp quality, and reduced throughput capacity.
Innovation Solution
A flinger is integrated into the feed rotor assembly of counter-rotating refiners, which rotates in the same direction as the first rotor and obstructs the inlet gap end, creating a captive area for the feed material to maintain its rotational speed and prevent interaction with the control rotor assembly, ensuring a controlled and efficient feeding effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If feed material enters the refining gap in counter-rotating refiners, then refining occurs, but the feed material loses rotational velocity and centrifugal feeding effect is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flinger creates a captive area that preliminarily accelerates feed material to the rotational speed of the feed rotor before the material enters the refining gap. This preliminary action ensures that feed material maintains sufficient centrifugal feeding effect throughout the refining process, preventing the loss of rotational velocity that normally occurs when material first contacts the rotating discs
2Reliability
If counter-rotating refiners operate with standard feeding mechanism, then refining occurs, but feed variations and load variations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flinger creates a self-regulating system where the centrifugal force generated by rotating feed material automatically controls the feeding rate. As material accumulates in the captive area, centrifugal force increases, naturally regulating the flow into the refining gap and eliminating feed variations and load variations without external control mechanisms
3Reliability
If dilution water and steam are used to push feed material, then feeding stability improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flinger enables the feed material to self-feed into the refining gap using its own centrifugal force generated during rotation. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external energy inputs such as dilution water and steam to push material through the system, dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining feeding stability
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 the centrifugal feeding effect, increases throughput, reduces the need for dilution water and steam, and improves the stability and efficiency of the refiner operation.
Implementation Method 1
The feed material tends to rotate at or near the rotating speed of the feeding disc, since the feed material must pass the openings across the feeding disc. In this manner, the feed material will hit and be rotated by the sides of the inlet openings that extend through the feed disc.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to an apparatus for a counter-rotating mechanical refiner configured to mitigate the problems of feeding variations, load variations, high energy consumption due to poor feeding efficiency, low pulp quality, and reduced throughput capacity by positioning a flinger proximate to a rotor gap side of a first rotor, wherein the first rotor further comprises an inlet extending through the first rotor, such that a portion of the operational flinger deflects feed material from the inlet into the refiner gap while rotating in the direction of the first rotor.