Riser Pipe Fuel Conditioning for Thermal Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for thermal treatment of airworthy raw material in riser pipes require high equipment outlay due to separate lines for supplying hot exhaust air and raw meal, making retrofitting difficult, especially when there is insufficient height difference for gravity-fed raw meal, and result in high equipment costs and complex tertiary air line setups.

Innovation Solution

A method where fuel is conditioned by coming into contact with hot gases in a fuel conditioning area within the riser pipe, allowing for drying, degassing, and partial conversion before being introduced into the riser pipe, eliminating the need for large tertiary air lines and simplifying temperature control, with the fuel being at least 50% converted or degassed before entering the riser pipe.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate lines are used for supplying hot exhaust air and raw meal, then the thermal treatment process can be controlled effectively, but the equipment outlay and device complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidequipment outlay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the hot exhaust air supply and raw meal feed into a single integrated riser pipe system. The fuel is fed into the riser pipe where it contacts the hot exhaust gases directly, eliminating the need for separate tertiary air lines and complex combustion chamber configurations while maintaining effective temperature control through the inherent mixing of materials and gases in the vertical flow path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The riser pipe serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the raw material feed conduit, the hot exhaust air distribution channel, and the fuel combustion zone. This multi-functionality reduces the number of dedicated components needed while ensuring proper thermal treatment through the integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate tertiary air lines are installed for fuel conversion, then the fuel can be properly dried and converted, but the device complexity and equipment costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel conversionVSAvoidtertiary air line setup
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the fuel drying and conversion functions with the existing riser pipe hot gas flow. Fuel is introduced into the riser pipe where it directly contacts the hot exhaust gases, utilizing the existing thermal field for drying and partial combustion without requiring separate tertiary air lines or additional combustion chambers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hot exhaust gases rising through the riser pipe automatically provide the necessary thermal energy for fuel drying and conversion. The system utilizes its own thermal output to process additional fuel, eliminating the need for separate air supply lines and external energy inputs for fuel preparation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If hot exhaust air from the cooler is used for fuel conversion, then the equipment required is reduced, but the temperature control becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment requiredVSAvoidtemperature control
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements inherent feedback control through the vertical riser pipe configuration where raw material and hot gases mix continuously. The temperature control is achieved by adjusting the fuel feed rate and the hot exhaust air flow rate, with the system self-regulating through the interaction of materials and gases in the vertical flow path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 approach reduces equipment outlay, simplifies temperature control, and allows for the use of secondary fuels, enabling efficient thermal treatment of raw material with reduced operational complexity and cost, while ensuring complete conversion within the riser pipe.

Implementation Method 1

the fuel comes into contact with a portion of the hot gas mixed with the raw material and is thereby dried

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the fuel comes into contact with a portion of the hot gas mixed with the raw material and is thereby dried

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

raw material is introduced into a riser pipe through which hot gases flow and is thermally treated there by the hot gases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3191425B1Method and device for the thermal treatment of dispersible raw material
Publication Date: 2019.11.20 THYSSENKRUPP IND SOLUTIONS AG
  • EP3191425B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3191425B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3191425B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for the thermal treatment of dispersible raw material, wherein the raw material is introduced into a riser tube permeated by hot gases, where the raw material is thermally treated by the hot gases. Furthermore, the riser tube is supplied with at least one fuel, wherein the fuel initially stays in a fuel conditioning area on at least one bearing surface, where the fuel comes into contact with part of the raw material mixed with hot gas, thus being dried and/or at least partially degassed and/or at least partially reacted in order to subsequently move to the riser tube.