Rotary Bunker Input Device for Sinter Cooling Shaft

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vertical cooling shafts face issues with poor airtightness, uneven material distribution, high discharge temperature, and low heat recovery rates, leading to inefficient cooling and increased maintenance costs when handling hot sinter bulk material with varying particle sizes.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a rotary bunker with a central inlet and eccentric discharge, combined with stationary drainpipes that expand in cross-section, ensures uniform particle size distribution and reduces segregation, allowing for continuous and efficient cooling of hot sinter bulk material within a vertically aligned cooling shaft.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If batch-wise or centralized input of hot sinter is used in the cooling shaft, then the input operation is simple, but the sinter segregates by particle size leading to inhomogeneous cooling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput operation simplicityVSAvoidparticle size distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The input device segments the bulk material flow by using a rotary bunker with multiple discharge openings arranged circumferentially, distributing sinter of different particle sizes to different regions of the cooling shaft simultaneously, thereby preventing segregation and achieving homogeneous particle size distribution throughout the cooling shaft

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary bunker rotates continuously during operation, dynamically changing the position of discharge openings relative to the cooling shaft regions below, ensuring that all regions receive material over time and maintaining uniform particle size distribution without requiring complex batching operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If moving input devices are used to achieve continuous homogeneous material distribution, then cooling homogeneity improves, but wear and maintenance expenditure increase due to exposure to high temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial distribution homogeneityVSAvoiddevice wear and maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary bunker and supply bunker are positioned outside the cooling shaft, extracting the material distribution function from the high-temperature cooling zone. Only the stationary discharge openings and drainpipes are exposed to heat, significantly reducing wear on moving parts while maintaining continuous homogeneous material distribution through the rotary mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The drainpipes act as intermediaries, receiving material from the rotary bunker through stationary discharge openings and delivering it to the cooling shaft. This intermediary structure protects the rotating mechanism from direct heat exposure while maintaining the material flow and distribution function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If large particles are concentrated in certain areas of the cooling shaft, then those areas have higher flow resistance, but the overall cooling process becomes inefficient and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling gas flow distributionVSAvoidcooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The input device creates local quality variations in the opposite direction of the problem by deliberately distributing large particles to different regional zones of the cooling shaft through the rotating discharge openings, ensuring that no single area becomes overloaded with large particles. This local distribution optimization prevents localized flow resistance buildup and maintains overall cooling gas flow distribution and cooling efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution achieves improved cooling efficiency, uniform cooling, and enhanced heat recovery by minimizing segregation and exposure to high temperatures, reducing wear and maintenance costs while maintaining airtightness and ensuring even particle distribution within the cooling shaft.

Implementation Method 1

heat exchange between the hot bulk material and the cooling gas takes place in the cooling shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

cooling gas in countercurrent to the bulk material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCountercurrent flow: Convection

Implementation Method 3

the hot bulk material is usually introduced in the cooling shaft at an upper end and by gravity traverses the cooling shaft downwardly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3563108B1Device, comprising a shaft cooler and an input device, and method for cooling hot sinter
Publication Date: 2022.02.02 PRIMETALS TECH AUSTRIA GMBH
  • EP3563108B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3563108B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3563108B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Input device (1) for the introduction of bulk material (2) into a container, which comprises a rotary bunker (8) rotatable about a central axis of rotation (9), having an inlet opening (7) for the bulk material (2) through which the central axis of rotation (9) passes, and having a discharge opening (10) for the bulk material (2), the discharge opening (10) being arranged eccentrically; a supply bunker (11), in which the discharge opening (10) of the rotary bunker (8) opens; at least three drainpipes (12a, 12b, 12c) emanating from the supply bunker (11);wherein the supply bunker (11) and the drainpipes (12a, 12b, 12c) are stationary.