Slag Shaft Gate Valve Module for Waste-to-Energy Plants

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Solution Overview

Problem

In waste-to-energy plants, the slag shaft's slide mechanism fails to close reliably and safely due to extreme contamination and high humidity, leading to slag accumulation and safety hazards, and existing solutions like the high-temperature wind slag slide valve face challenges with high operational forces and caking issues.

Innovation Solution

A slag shaft slider module with a retractable slider plate surrounded by a steel frame, featuring a push rod system and steel rollers for smooth movement, ensures complete closure and prevents caking by pushing the slider plate beyond the shaft wall, maintaining a clean area and sealing the shaft effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the slide valve plate is used to close the slag shaft, then the shaft can be sealed, but slag builds up on the inner walls making it impossible to close properly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidslag accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The strip is pushed into the shaft wall in advance before the slide valve plate arrives, creating a clean receiving surface that prevents slag accumulation and ensures reliable sealing when the valve closes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the door plate slides to close the discharge opening, then sealing is achieved, but hot air and coal dust deform the door plate creating gaps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoiddoor plate integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The strip is pushed into the shaft wall before the slide valve plate arrives, creating a clean surface that prevents deformation and maintains structural integrity during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the valve plate is pressed down by hot medium, then sealing contact is improved, but the forces required to open the valve increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing contactVSAvoidoperational force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The strip is pushed into the shaft wall in advance, creating a clean surface that maintains sealing without requiring excessive closing force, thereby reducing the force needed to operate the valve

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If the slide valve operates in a contaminated environment, then the shaft can be closed, but contamination prevents tight closure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure capabilityVSAvoidclosure tightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The strip is pushed into the shaft wall before the valve plate arrives, creating a clean surface in advance that ensures tight closure despite the contaminated operating environment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The strip automatically pushes itself into the shaft wall using the motion of the slide valve plate, cleaning the surface without requiring additional systems or interventions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 ensures reliable, safe, and long-lasting sealing of the slag shaft, preventing slag accumulation and maintaining operational safety by effectively managing contamination and caking, thus ensuring tight closure and reducing operational forces.

Implementation Method 1

steel rollers for smooth movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP4202300B1Slag shaft gate valve module for a waste-to-energy plant
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 ENERGIELINK GMBH
  • EP4202300B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4202300B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4202300B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

This slag shaft valve module includes a valve plate (2) which can be inserted and retracted transversely into the shaft (1) cross-section (17). The valve plate (2) can be slid with its front face (3) beyond the free shaft cross-section (17) into the shaft cross-section (17) by means of a section (4) in the shaft wall (5) directly in front of the front face (3) of the valve plate (1), designed as a strip (7) that is recessed from the shaft wall (5) and can be slid into it from the plane (8) of the shaft wall (5). This allows the valve plate (2) to reliably cross the entire shaft cross-section (17) and pushes any deposits downwards into the slot that is released by the strip (7) when it is retracted.