Tubular Ejector for Granulate Transport in Liquid Tanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for transporting granulate from a tank with liquid face issues such as granulate collection at the lowest point of bends and uneven distribution of air and water flow, leading to inefficient transport and potential clogging.
Innovation Solution
Replacing the bend with a tubular ejector and using pressurized transport water with a spray nozzle inlet, combined with a ring-shaped gas supply, ensures a directional vector for granulate transport and maintains turbulence to prevent channeling, while a vertical conduit and replaceable wear components minimize wear and ensure continuous flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a bend is used in the tube for granulate transport, then the device structure is simple, but granulate collects at the lowest point of the bend causing transport inefficiency and potential clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful bend section is extracted and removed from the transport tube. The invention replaces the bend with a vertical tube configuration, eliminating the location where granulate would collect and causing transport problems.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a horizontal bend to change direction, the invention inverts the approach by using a vertical tube with upward flow. The granulate is transported vertically upward against gravity through the combined action of water flow and compressed air, reversing the conventional horizontal transport approach.
2Productivity
If compressed air injector is positioned at the bottom of the inclined riser, then granulate transport is aided, but air may flow backwards up through the tank causing operational issues
Solution Approach 1:
The compressed air injector is extracted from the inclined riser and repositioned to the bottom of a vertical tube. This changes the flow dynamics so that air and water mix and rise together vertically, preventing air from flowing backwards into the tank.
Solution Approach 2:
Water acts as an intermediary medium between the compressed air and granulate. The pressurized water flow carries the granulate upward while the compressed air mixes with the water, creating a two-phase flow that transports granulate efficiently without air directly contacting the tank interior.
3Device complexity
If cooling water from the tank is used for granulate transport, then the system is simple, but flow speed is insufficient for efficient transport
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses separate pressurized water specifically for transport purposes, while cooling water remains in the tank for cooling. This multi-functionality allows optimized flow speeds for transport without compromising the cooling function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using the existing cooling water system for transport, the invention creates a separate copy of the water supply system dedicated to granulate transport. This copy can be independently pressurized to achieve the required flow speeds without affecting the cooling water level or temperature in the tank.
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 ensures momentary and efficient transport of granulate by maintaining higher flow speeds and preventing granulate collection, with reduced wear and easy installation, enhancing the overall transport efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
By replacing the bend in the tube previously used by an ejector the risk that the granulate could collect at the lowest point of the bend in the tube is eliminated. Use of pressurized transport water instead of cooling water in the tank for transport of granulate offers the possibility of maintaining a higher flow speed in the water.
Implementation Method 2
The first conduit is dimensioned to let gas transport the water and granulate upwards through the first conduit during successive expansion of the gas and acceleration of the water and granulate.
Implementation Method 3
The inlet for the pressurized transport water is preferably in the form of a spray nozzle. A spray nozzle lends increased streaming speed to the transport water, which increases the turbulence in the ejector and contributes to keeping the granulate in suspension in the water during transport through the ejector.
Implementation Method 4
The inlet for the pressurized transport water is preferably in the form of a spray nozzle. A spray nozzle lends increased streaming speed to the transport water, which increases the turbulence in the ejector and contributes to keeping the granulate in suspension in the water during transport through the ejector.
Implementation Method 5
Since the conduit is vertical there is no risk that the granulate should tend to collect on one side and the gas on the other side of the conduit.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
In order to ensure a momentary transport upwards of granulate from a granulation tank (1) by means of liquid and air, a suitably mainly horizontal ejector (10) is located under the tank. The ejector (10) has a side inlet (11) for granulate, an end (12) with an inlet (13) suitably formed as a spray nozzle for pressurized transport liquid, and a second end (15) with an inlet (16) for pressurized gas and downstream from there an outlet (18) shaped as a spray nozzle for a three-phase flow of liquid, granulate, and gas. A mainly vertical first conduit (6) has its lower end connected with the outlet (18) of the ejector for further transport upwards of the three-phase flow with expansion of the air and acceleration of the granulate and liquid. The ejector (10) comprises a replaceable tubular ejector housing (21) that is provided with an internal wear liner (22) and an outlet (18) that is shaped as a spray nozzle consisting of a durable material and is also replaceable. The inlet (10) for pressurized gas preferably comprises a ring-shaped chamber (19) that surrounds the periphery of tubular ejector (10) and is connected with the inside of the ejector (10) through a ring-shaped slit (20) that directs the pressurized gas towards the outlet (18) of the ejector.