Vortex Dust Collector Inlet Self-Cleaning in Paper Mills

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dust-handling devices in paper-making environments face reliability issues due to clogging of the inlet, making it difficult to maintain the collector's efficiency and increasing the risk of fire and health hazards.

Innovation Solution

A dust-handling device with an elongated collector and a dust removal device, such as a rotating blade or fluid nozzle, is used to efficiently clear dust from the inlet, ensuring continuous operation by automatically removing accumulated dust at predetermined intervals or upon detection of clogging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If water is introduced into the collector to encapsulate dust particles and rinse interior walls, then dust collection effectiveness and fire risk reduction are improved, but operational reliability deteriorates due to inlet clogging by dust

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire risk and dust encapsulation effectivenessVSAvoidoperational reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A dust removal device is mounted on the elongated collector to proactively remove dust that has clogged the inlet before it can disrupt water introduction and dust encapsulation operations. This preliminary action prevents the harmful effect of inlet clogging on operational reliability while maintaining the fire risk reduction benefits of water introduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the inlet is positioned to induce air vortex for dust-laden air flow, then dust collection efficiency is improved, but inlet accessibility for cleaning deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust collection efficiencyVSAvoidinlet accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The dust removal device is mounted on the elongated collector and automatically removes dust from the inlet without requiring manual intervention. This self-service mechanism maintains the vortex-inducing inlet positioning for efficient dust collection while eliminating the need for difficult manual cleaning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical cleaning operation is replaced by an automated dust removal device that can be activated remotely or automatically. This substitution maintains the optimal inlet positioning for vortex induction while providing easy dust removal capability without requiring physical access to the difficult-to-reach inlet location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If a manual cleaning method is used for the inlet, then device complexity is reduced, but maintenance difficulty increases due to difficult inlet location

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidinlet cleaning ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The dust removal device enables the inlet to service itself by automatically removing accumulated dust without requiring external manual intervention. This maintains relatively simple device structure while dramatically improving maintenance ease by eliminating the need for difficult manual cleaning operations at the hard-to-reach inlet location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution enhances the reliability of dust collection by preventing inlet clogging, reducing operational disturbances, and maintaining a clean environment, thereby minimizing health hazards and fire risks.

Implementation Method 1

A source of underpressure is connected to the collector and dust-laden air can be drawn into the collector

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUnderpressure: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

upon drawing the dust-laden air into the collector, an air vortex is induced with the dust-laden air such that the induced air vortex flows between the collector inlet and the collector exit opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir vortex: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 3

Water is introduced into the collector such that it collides with the dust-laden air and encapsulates dust particles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEncapsulation: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 4

The introduction of water can rinse the interior walls of the collector such that the interior of the collector remains in a relatively clean condition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRinsing: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP3269875B1A dust-handling device for collecting and handling dust in a paper-making environment
Publication Date: 2019.03.20 VALMET S P A IT
  • EP3269875B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3269875B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3269875B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a dust-handling device (1) for collecting and handling dust in a paper-making environment wherein the dust-handling device (1) comprises a source of underpressure (2) and an elongated collector (3) that extends along a longitudinal axis. The elongated collector (3) is connected to the source of underpressure (2) such that underpressure can be generated inside the elongated collector (3) and the elongated collector (3) has an inlet (5) through which dust-laden air can enter the elongated collector (3) and an exit opening (6) through which dust-laden air can be evacuated from the elongated collector. The inlet (5) of the elongated collector (3) is disposed in such a relation to the longitudinal axis of the elongated collector (3) so that upon drawing the dust-laden air into the elongated collector (3), an air vortex is induced with the dust-laden air wherein the induced air vortex flows between the collector inlet (5) and the collector exit opening (6). A source of water (7) is connected to the elongated collector such that water can be introduced into elongated collector (3) so that dust of the dust-laden air can be exposed to and mix with the water introduced into the elongated collector (3). According to the invention, a dust removal device (8, 10) is mounted on the elongated collector and arranged to act against the inlet (5) to remove dust that has clogged the inlet (5).The invention also relates to a method in which dust clogging the inlet (5) is removed.