Vessel Outlet System for Lignocellulosic Material Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outlet systems for transporting comminuted lignocellulosic material from a vessel to a pump are inefficient and prone to material buildup, requiring mechanical stirring and frequent maintenance, especially when replacing high-pressure feeders in pulping processes.
Innovation Solution
An outlet system with a bottom portion featuring wedge-shaped surfaces and a chip transfer arrangement that connects to a pump, eliminating the need for mechanical stirring and allowing for efficient, even movement of chip slurry without plugging, using a design that includes a circular upper circumference and rectangular lower circumference with wedge-shaped surfaces to facilitate smooth transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bottom scraper is used to facilitate material movement towards the outlet opening, then the outlet of chip slurry becomes more even, but the movable mechanical parts are subjected to wear and tear requiring maintenance and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the bottom scraper component entirely from the system. Instead of using a mechanical scraper that contacts the material, the outlet system relies on the geometric configuration of the bottom portion and chip transfer arrangement to facilitate material flow, thereby eliminating wear and maintenance requirements while maintaining outlet evenness
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet system is designed to facilitate material movement through its own geometric structure rather than requiring external mechanical assistance. The wedge-shaped surfaces and chip transfer arrangement create natural flow paths that guide material to the outlet without mechanical intervention, making the system self-sufficient and maintenance-free
2Device complexity
If existing outlet systems are used to transport chip slurry to a pump, then the system structure is simple, but the material transport is uneven and prone to plugging
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies specific geometric features (wedge-shaped surfaces with particular angles, circular upper circumference, rectangular lower circumference) to specific regions of the bottom portion to optimize material flow in different areas. The chip transfer arrangement has specially configured sides that correspond to the bottom portion geometry, creating localized flow enhancement zones that prevent plugging while maintaining overall system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom portion is designed with an asymmetric geometry featuring a circular upper circumference and a rectangular lower circumference with wedge-shaped surfaces. This asymmetric configuration creates natural flow paths that guide material evenly toward the outlet, preventing stagnation and plugging without requiring complex mechanical components
3Productivity
If a high-pressure feeder is used to transfer cellulosic material, then the material can be transferred to the digester, but the equipment represents high capital cost and requires significant regular maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the complex mechanical high-pressure feeder system with a simplified outlet system consisting of a specifically geometric bottom portion and chip transfer arrangement. This design eliminates the need for expensive high-pressure mechanical feeders while maintaining effective material transfer capability to the digester, significantly reducing both capital cost and maintenance requirements
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an outlet system for transporting comminuted lignocellulosic material from a vessel, said bottom portion (1) having an upper circumference (15) that is essentially circular and a lower circumference (16) comprising at least two essentially straight portions (16a, 16c) opposite each other. The invention also relates to a vessel having such an outlet system.