Rotating Oven Char Fragmentation via Ferrous Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
The processing of organic materials with low calorific value, such as wood, through pyrolysis and gasification is inefficient due to the presence of unrecovered energy in the carbonic residue (char) which prolongs the overall processing time, reducing efficiency in waste conversion systems.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing a rotating oven with ferrous elements and an electromagnet to break the char into smaller pieces by controlled impact, increasing surface area and facilitating faster gasification, while monitoring gas composition to optimize oxygen introduction and processing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the oxygen content is increased to gasify the char, then the energy recovery is improved, but the processing time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The char is broken into smaller pieces through impact with ferrous elements, segmenting the large char particles into smaller fragments. This increases the surface area to volume ratio, allowing faster gasification and reducing the time required to recover energy from the char while maintaining efficient energy recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The char is mechanically broken down before the gasification process begins. This preliminary size reduction action prepares the char for faster subsequent gasification, enabling efficient energy recovery without extending the overall processing time.
2Productivity
If the char is broken into smaller pieces, then the reaction rate with oxygen is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The ferrous elements serve multiple functions: they act as impactors to break the char, they can be magnetically controlled for positioning and release, and they may also serve as heat transfer media. This multi-functionality increases productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ferrous elements act as an intermediary mechanism between the magnetic field control system and the char material. The electromagnet indirectly controls the char breaking process by manipulating the ferrous elements, which then physically impact the char. This intermediary approach enables precise control of the size reduction process.
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 the overall processing time by enhancing the reaction rate of char with oxygen, thereby increasing the efficiency of energy recovery and utilization in waste processing systems.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnet disposed in or adjacent said oven so as to create a magnetic field therein
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of ferrous elements freely disposed within the oven
Implementation Method 3
the ferrous elements fall, under the influence of gravity, into the second portion
Implementation Method 4
an inlet for receiving hot gas having a low or zero oxygen content to heat the material therein
Implementation Method 5
Gasification and Pyrolysis of organic matter are known techniques in which the material is heated in the absence of oxygen
Implementation Method 6
heated in a low oxygen environment (gasification) to produce syngas
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
This invention provides an apparatus for pyrolysing or gasifying material containing an organic content. The apparatus comprising an oven (10) mounted for rotation on at least one support (16). The oven (10) has an inlet (20) for receiving hot gas having a low or zero oxygen content to heat the material therein so as to process it to produce syngas, and an outlet (24) for said syngas. An electromagnet (28) is disposed in or adjacent the oven (10) so as to create a magnetic field therein and a plurality of ferrous elements (30) are freely disposed within the oven (10). A controller (32) is provided for controlling the electromagnet (28) and the rotation of the oven (10). When activated the electromagnet retains said ferrous elements as the oven rotates.