Vibratory Conveyor Trough Air Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for conveying hot materials, such as hot ash, often rely on water cooling, which leads to operational difficulties and inefficiencies, particularly in ash recovery processes from coal-fired boilers, due to the need for drying wet ash for construction and manufacturing applications.
Innovation Solution
A vibratory conveyor system with a trough assembly composed of modular segments allowing thermal expansion, coupled with an air cooling system that directs air through the trough to cool the material while minimizing sliding abrasion and maintaining ash integrity, avoiding the use of water as a cooling fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If water cooling is used to convey hot materials, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but operational difficulties and inefficiencies arise due to the need for drying wet ash
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces water cooling with air cooling by directing air through passages in the trough assembly. The air flow cools the hot material as it passes through the trough, eliminating the need for water and subsequent drying operations while maintaining cooling effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the cooling medium from liquid (water) to gas (air), fundamentally altering the cooling process to avoid the operational issues associated with wet ash handling and drying requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modular trough segments are used to allow thermal expansion, then adaptability to thermal conditions is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple segments and joints
Solution Approach 1:
The trough assembly is divided into multiple modular segments that can expand and contract independently in response to thermal conditions. This segmentation allows the structure to accommodate thermal expansion while maintaining the overall functionality of the conveyor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The trough segments are designed with dynamic characteristics that allow them to move relative to each other in response to thermal expansion and contraction. The joints between segments are configured to permit this movement while maintaining structural integrity and sealing.
3Ease of operation
If air is directed through passages in the trough, then cooling without water is achieved, but cooling air requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air cooling system operates continuously as air flows through the passages in the trough assembly throughout the entire conveying process. This continuous air flow ensures consistent cooling without the need for intermittent water application and drying cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
Air serves as an intermediary cooling medium that transfers heat from the hot material to the surrounding environment. The air flow acts as a heat transfer medium, cooling the material as it passes through the trough without direct contact with liquid water.
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 system effectively transports hot materials with reduced cooling air requirements, maintaining ash integrity and potentially improving heat recovery and boiler efficiency by using air instead of water, thus overcoming the inefficiencies of traditional wet ash recovery methods.
Implementation Method 1
vibrating the trough to direct material along the trough
Implementation Method 2
directing air through passages in the trough in a first direction, and diverting air that has passed through the passages in a second direction along a surface of the trough
Implementation Method 3
the space between the edges may allow relative motion between adjacent trough segments caused by differences in thermal expansion
Data Source
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AI summary
A conveyor includes a frame (82), a trough (80) supported on the frame, and a vibratory generator (84) operatively coupled to the trough. The trough has a trough wall with a first plurality of apertures (170), and a plurality of baffles (174) are spaced above the first plurality of apertures in the trough wall, the baffles defining a second plurality of apertures (176) through which air exiting the first plurality of apertures may pass.