Screw Conveyor Distribution Plate and Guide Wall for Uniform Fuel Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for filling storage rooms with lumpy fuel, such as pellets or wood chips, using screw conveyors result in uneven distribution due to the formation of a material cone, especially when filling from the edge side, which hinders optimal use of storage volume.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a ring-shaped distribution plate at the outlet end of the screw conveyor, interacting with an ejector, and a guide wall with a sloping peripheral edge that prevents fuel from being thrown directly against the storage room walls, ensuring even distribution by controlling the ejection of fuel over the storage space's area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the screw conveyor discharges fuel through a fixed outlet opening, then the device structure is simple, but the fuel distribution becomes uneven due to cone formation
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet opening is segmented into multiple circumferential sections, each with adjustable closing elements that can independently control fuel flow. This segmentation allows the complex discharge pattern to be divided into manageable sections, achieving uniform distribution without requiring complete structural redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The closing elements are made adjustable and movable, allowing dynamic control of the outlet opening configuration. This enables the system to adapt the discharge pattern to different operational requirements, transforming the static outlet into a dynamic control mechanism for optimized fuel distribution
2Volume of stationary object
If the screw conveyor is positioned at the edge of the storage room, then the storage volume utilization improves, but the fuel distribution becomes increasingly uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet device provides different discharge characteristics for different circumferential sections, with each section's closing element independently adjustable. This local quality control compensates for the edge position effect, ensuring uniform fuel distribution across the storage room regardless of the conveyor's location
Solution Approach 2:
The opening width and discharge direction of each outlet section can be adjusted as independent parameters. By changing these parameters, the system compensates for the asymmetric position of the edge-mounted conveyor, achieving uniform fuel distribution while maintaining optimal storage volume utilization
3Productivity
If the outlet opening width is increased to improve discharge speed, then the filling productivity increases, but the fuel distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet opening is divided into multiple independently controllable sections. This allows the total discharge quantity to be maintained for high productivity, while each section's individual opening width can be adjusted to ensure uniform distribution patterns
Solution Approach 2:
Not all outlet sections need to be fully open simultaneously. By selectively opening sections and adjusting their individual widths, the system achieves sufficient total discharge rate for productivity requirements while maintaining distribution uniformity through controlled partial opening of sections
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 solution allows for uniform filling of storage spaces by adjusting the guide wall sections to match the screw conveyor's position, ensuring even fuel distribution and optimal use of storage volume, even when filling from the edge side.
Implementation Method 1
a vertical screw conveyor (1) with a screw conveyor (2) which is driven by a motor (3)
Implementation Method 2
interacts with at least one ejector (7) rotating with the screw shaft (4), and that the distribution plate (6) is surrounded by a guide wall (11)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The device has a circular distribution plate (6) coaxial to a screw shaft (4) and provided at an outlet end of a screw housing (5) of a vertical screw conveyor (1). The plate co-operates with an ejector (7) rotated with the screw shaft. The distribution plate along a peripheral section is enclosed by a guide wall (11). A peripheral edge (14) of the guide wall protrudes from the distribution plate. The peripheral edge of the guide wall is declined in rotational direction of the screw shaft in connection to a guide wall section (12) with a contour parallel to the circular distribution plate.