Rotary Discharge Device for Uniform Granular Material Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing discharge systems for granular materials in large vertical containers, such as shaft furnaces and coolers, face issues with non-uniform material descent, heat dispersion, agglomeration, and blockages, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage due to the conical shape of the discharge zone, which results in uneven cooling and increased risk of production loss.

Innovation Solution

A containing unit with a discharge device featuring rotary shafts and radially mounted blades that divide the internal cavity into zones, allowing controlled and uniform material flow through staggered wheels with blades, preventing agglomeration and reducing the height of the discharge zone, thereby ensuring homogeneous treatment and minimizing blockages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conical discharge zone is used to convey material toward a single exit point, then material discharge is achieved, but non-uniform descent time and uneven cooling occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial dischargeVSAvoiduniformity of material treatment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge device divides the internal cavity into distinct zones (processing zone and discharge zone) using multiple radial movement members with blades. Each movement member segments the material flow path, ensuring that material from different radial positions follows similar trajectories and spends comparable time in the discharge zone, thereby achieving uniform treatment while maintaining discharge efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a conical discharge zone is used, then material can be conveyed to exit, but heat dispersion and energy loss increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial dischargeVSAvoidheat dispersion

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the conical discharge zone that causes excessive heat dispersion. By using vertical movement members with radial blades that convey material straight downward through a cylindrical discharge zone, the design removes the unnecessary conical surface area that would otherwise expose material to excessive heat loss, thereby reducing energy waste while maintaining discharge functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If a conical discharge zone is used, then material flow is directed to exit, but agglomeration and blockages occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial dischargeVSAvoidflow continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge device segments the material flow into multiple controlled streams using radial movement members with blades. This segmentation prevents material from aggregating into large masses that could block the discharge path. Each movement member handles a specific radial sector, ensuring continuous and controlled flow that maintains reliability and prevents agglomeration-related blockages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Temperature

If peripheral material is in contact with cooler wall, then cooling efficiency increases, but discharge time varies radially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoiduniformity of discharge time

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The movement members with radial blades segment the material flow radially, ensuring that material from different starting positions is conveyed in a controlled manner. This segmentation allows peripheral material to benefit from wall contact cooling while simultaneously controlling the discharge timing, as each radial sector is managed by dedicated movement members that synchronize material flow rates, achieving both efficient cooling and uniform discharge times.

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

The solution enables continuous, uniform, and controlled discharge of granular material, reducing the risk of blockages and material loss, ensuring all particles spend equal time inside the container, and promoting energy recovery by minimizing the discharge zone height.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of movement members 14, each having a rotary shaft 15 rotatable around its own axis of rotation Y, disposed radially and converging toward the longitudinal axis X

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 2

it is fundamental that all the material inside the vessels flows uniformly, from the top downward due to gravity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3337602B1Containing unit with a discharge device to remove the material contained in a container in a controlled manner

Publication Date: 2019.05.08 DANIELI & C OFFICINE MECCANICHE SPA

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AI summary

Containing unit of material (12) used in iron and steel process comprising a container (11) having at least one lateral wall (17) that defines an internal cavity (17a) and provided with a plurality of through lateral apertures (16); a discharge device (10) installed at least partly in said container (111) to divide said internal cavity (17a) into a first zone (13) disposed above said discharge device (10), and a discharge zone (31) disposed below said discharge device (10) and through which said material (12) is discharged, in a controlled manner, by said discharge device (10).