Ring-Shaped Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion Chamber

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Solution Overview

Problem

Circulating fluidized bed apparatuses face challenges in energy efficiency, mechanical stability, compactness, and heat loss due to the large size and complex design of traditional box-shaped combustion chambers, which require significant structural reinforcement and result in inefficient heat transfer.

Innovation Solution

The combustion chamber is subdivided into multiple sections arranged in a ring shape, with intermediate walls providing increased mechanical stability and allowing for independent operation of each section, enabling different fuels and thermodynamic conditions, and optimizing heat transfer through segmented heat exchange walls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a box-shaped combustion chamber with rectangular cross-section is used, then the construction is simple and familiar, but huge structural reinforcement efforts are required due to the large size and overpressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction simplicityVSAvoidwall structural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The combustion chamber is divided into multiple sections arranged in a ring shape, with each section having its own intermediate walls. This segmentation reduces the span of each wall segment, thereby reducing the structural reinforcement requirements while maintaining overall chamber integrity and allowing independent operation of each section

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of stationary object

If a large box-shaped combustion chamber is used, then the required volume is achieved, but considerable space is required for subsequent separators and ducts which is not always available

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion chamber volumeVSAvoidspace for separators and ducts
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The separators are arranged inside the ring-shaped combustion chamber, nesting the separation function within the combustion volume. This eliminates the need for separate external spaces for separators and ducts, allowing the same footprint to provide both combustion and separation functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional box-shaped combustion chambers are used, then the design is conventional, but huge heat losses occur when hot gas/solids mixture leaves the combustion chamber

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign conventionalityVSAvoidheat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The ring-shaped design with continuous heat exchange walls allows hot gas/solids to continuously transfer heat to the water-cooled walls as they circulate through the combustion chamber. This continuous heat extraction reduces thermal losses and improves energy efficiency while maintaining conventional manufacturing approaches

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Loss of energy

If a ring-shaped combustion chamber is used, then heat transfer efficiency is improved and mechanical stability is enhanced, but the design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ring-shaped combustion chamber is divided into multiple discrete sections, each with its own intermediate walls and heat exchange surfaces. This segmentation allows for modular construction and simplified manufacturing of each section, reducing overall design complexity while maintaining the heat transfer efficiency and mechanical stability benefits of the ring configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 energy efficiency, mechanical stability, and reduces heat losses by allowing for customized thermodynamic conditions in each section, while simplifying the apparatus structure and improving overall performance.

Implementation Method 1

A combustion chamber with a gas permeable bottom at its lower end to allow the development of a fluidized bed of particulate material above said bottom

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluidisation: Fluidisation

Implementation Method 2

The reaction chamber (combustion chamber) is often water cooled and for this purpose limited by outer walls, made of tubes, through which water runs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

Means for the transfer of said solids from the separator into subsequent installations (like the heat exchanger or back into the combustion chamber) typically include a syphon to allow a decoupling of pressure between the respective installations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSyphon effect: Syphon

Data Source

PatentEP3311072B1Circulating fluidized bed apparatus
Publication Date: 2019.11.20 DOOSAN LENTJES GMBH
  • EP3311072B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3311072B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3311072B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a circulating fluidized bed apparatus, comprising a combustion chamber (CC) with at least one outlet port (OP) at its upper end (UE) to transfer a mixture of gas and solids from said combustion chamber (CC) into at least one subsequent separator (SP) and from there at least partially back into the combustor chamber, wherein the combustion chamber (CC) is ring-shaped, comprising an inner wall (IW) and an outer wall (OW), arranged at a distance to each other in a radial direction of the combustion chamber (CC), and at least two intermediate walls (SW), which extend between the inner wall (IW) and the outer wall (OW) and in spaced relationship in a circumferential direction of the combustion chamber (CC), thereby subdividing the combustion chamber (CC) into a corresponding number of sections (CO), arranged adj acent to each other in the circumferential direction of the combustion chamber (CC).