Variable Speed Plug Screw Feeder for Biomass Plugging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feeding arrangements for biomass with low material density, such as non-wood plant material, often result in plugging issues with plug screw feeders, which can lead to equipment breakdowns, especially when feeding into pressurized treatment vessels.
Innovation Solution
A feeding arrangement that includes a plug screw feeder and a force-feeding screw with a monitoring device to track energy consumption parameters and an adjustment mechanism to vary the rotational speed of the plug screw based on load conditions, ensuring optimal biomass filling and compression without plugging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the plug screw feeder operates at constant speed to maintain simple control, then the operation is easy to manage, but plugging occurs especially when feeding bulky low density biomass
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from constant speed operation to variable speed operation of the plug screw feeder. The rotational speed is dynamically adjusted based on monitored load parameters (torque, current, or power), allowing the system to adapt to varying biomass characteristics and prevent plugging while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by monitoring at least one load parameter of the plug screw feeder and using this information to adjust the rotational speed. This closed-loop feedback system detects plugging conditions through increased load and automatically reduces speed to prevent equipment damage, thereby improving reliability while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Productivity
If the rotational speed of the plug screw is increased to improve feeding efficiency, then productivity increases, but the load on the screw increases leading to plugging
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the rotational speed of the plug screw based on real-time load monitoring. When biomass density or flow rate increases, the system automatically reduces speed to prevent plugging, while under normal conditions it maintains higher speeds for optimal productivity. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between feeding efficiency and equipment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter (rotational speed) based on monitored load conditions. By adjusting speed as a variable parameter rather than maintaining a fixed value, the system optimizes productivity while preventing plugging. The monitoring device detects changes in biomass characteristics and the control system相应地 adjusts speed to maintain reliable operation.
3Quantity of substance
If force-feeding is applied to increase material density of low density biomass, then the biomass can be fed into pressurized treatment vessels, but plugging occurs especially when fed at constant speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by coupling the force-feeding screw and plug screw feeder through variable speed control. The plug screw speed is dynamically adjusted based on load monitoring to complement the force-feeding action, ensuring that increased material density from force-feeding does not result in plugging. The system adapts speed to match the compressed biomass flow characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism monitors the load on the plug screw feeder and adjusts speed in response to the denser biomass flow produced by force-feeding. This ensures that the increased material density achieved through force-feeding is maintained without causing plugging, as the system automatically reduces speed when density increases beyond optimal levels.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a feeding arrangement for feeding biomass with a low material density to a treatment vessel, a system for treating said biomass comprising said feeding arrangement, a method for treating said biomass and the use of said method for controlling the load of the plug screw in the feedi ng arrangement.