Trench Silo Material Homogenization With Controlled Scraping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for processing loose and incoherent materials, such as composting biodegradable waste, are labor-intensive, energy-consuming, produce significant emissions, and result in ineffective homogenization, with substantial dust formation and dependence on operator skill.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a trench silo with partitions, a scraper, and control means for controlled displacement and mixing of material, minimizing energy consumption and dust formation, while ensuring accurate and efficient homogenization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a shovel is used for mixing and homogenizing material, then the material can be processed, but the operation becomes labor-intensive and energy-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical shovel-based mixing system with a conveyor belt system that automatically transports and redistributes material. The conveyor belt moves material through the silo in a controlled manner, eliminating the need for a heavy-duty shovel motor and reducing energy consumption while achieving automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the conveyor belt automatically circulates material through the silo without requiring external intervention. The material is continuously moved and redistributed by the conveyor system itself, eliminating the need for operator skill and manual mixing operations.
2Productivity
If a shovel is used for loading and mixing, then material can be processed, but substantial emissions of CO2, NOx, soot and dust occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the emission-intensive shovel-based system with a closed conveyor belt system that operates within the silo. This substitution eliminates the combustion engine required for shovels, thereby preventing CO2, NOx, and soot emissions, while the enclosed design minimizes dust formation during material handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The silo creates a closed, controlled environment that prevents dust and emissions from escaping into the atmosphere. The conveyor belt operates within this enclosed space, containing any potential dust generation and preventing harmful factors from being released to the external environment.
3Manufacturing precision
If a shovel is used for mixing, then material can be homogenized, but the homogenization accuracy depends on driver skill and is not very accurate
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt system performs the homogenization function automatically through continuous circulation and redistribution of material. The system does not rely on operator skill or manual intervention, providing consistent and accurate homogenization results every time the system operates.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor belt provides continuous material movement and redistribution throughout the silo, ensuring thorough and consistent mixing. This continuous action eliminates the intermittent, skill-dependent shoveling operations and achieves superior homogenization accuracy through uninterrupted material circulation.
4Power
If heavy-duty shovel motor is used, then material can be lifted and reloaded, but substantial amount of fuel is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fuel-consuming heavy-duty shovel motor with an electrically-powered conveyor belt system. The conveyor belt achieves material transport and redistribution using significantly less energy, eliminating the need for a large combustion engine while maintaining adequate lifting and moving capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor belt system operates at a lower energy level by utilizing the existing silo structure and gravity-assisted material flow. Instead of using a powerful motor to lift and reload material, the system creates a balanced, low-energy operation where material moves continuously through the silo with minimal energy input required.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus for processing and mixing and thus homogenizing of a mass loos or incoherent material and comprises at least one trench silo provided with an inlet opening which is divided in compartments in longitudinal direction. The top layer is scraped from a stack of material present in a compartment by a scraper and deposited in the next compartment. This scraping operation is repeated until the previous compartment is completely empty. After a compartment has thus been completely filled, the material present therein is given the opportunity to be processed. A fully emptied compartment is filled again with material from a previous compartment. The material present in the end compartment, after being processed, is removed by a discharge conveyor belt. The invention also focuses on the operation of such a device.