EA009355B1 - System and method of pulverizing and extracting moisture - Google Patents

Abstract

A venturi receives incoming material through an inlet tube and subjects the material to pulverization. The material, as it undergoes pulverization, is further subject to moisture extraction and drying. An airflow generator, coupled to the venturi, generates a high speed airflow to pull the material through the venturi and into an inlet aperture in the airflow generator. The airflow generator directs the received pulverized material to an outlet where the material may be subsequently separated from the air.

Description

Technical field

The present invention mainly relates to materials processing technologies that allow materials to be crushed and moisture removed.

State of the art

In various industries, it is necessary to solve the laborious task of grinding materials into fine particles and even into fine powder. For example, at thermal power plants it is required to grind pieces of coal into powder (coal dust) before burning in furnaces to generate electricity. Limestone, chalk and many other minerals also in many cases need to be crushed into powder. The crushing of solid materials and their grinding into powder is a process using various mechanical devices. Usually used ball mills, hammer crushers and other mechanical devices for impact with pieces of material and their crushing. These systems, despite the fact that they correspond to their functional purpose, are inefficient and provide relatively slow processing.

Various industries also require the removal of moisture from a wide variety of materials. When processing food, wastewater, harvesting, mining and many other industries, moisture removal is required. In some industries, materials have to be sent to waste because moisture cannot be removed efficiently. The same materials, if they are dried efficiently, can bring commercial profit. In other industries, such as waste management, water removal is an ongoing challenge and there is a huge need to create improved ways to remove water. Despite the fact that there are already various technologies for dehydration (dehydration) of materials, there is a growing need to increase the efficiency of moisture removal.

Thus, progress in existing technologies will be the creation of more efficient processes for grinding materials and removing moisture from materials. This is precisely the object of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In FIG. 1 shows a side view of a material sprayer;

in FIG. 2 is a plan view of the atomizer shown in FIG. one;

in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the venturi of the atomizer when the venturi receives material;

in FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of a grinding system in accordance with the present invention;

in FIG. 5 is a plan view of the grinding system shown in FIG. 4;

in FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a casing of an air generator and exhaust restrictors;

in FIG. 7 is a cross section of a first embodiment of an air generator housing;

in FIG. 8 is a cross section of a venturi and a neck calibrator;

in FIG. 9 schematically shows the components of an alternative grinding system;

in FIG. 10 schematically shows another embodiment of a grinding system in accordance with the present invention;

in FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an air flow generator suitable for use with a system in accordance with the present invention;

in FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the airflow generator shown in FIG. eleven;

in FIG. 13 is a plan view of the inner portion of the airflow generator shown in FIG. eleven;

in FIG. 14A is a plan view of the trailing edge of the blade of the airflow generator shown in FIG. eleven;

in FIG. 14B is a plan view of an alternative trailing edge of the blade of the airflow generator shown in FIG. eleven;

in FIG. 15A is a perspective view of a portion of the airflow generator shown in FIG. eleven;

in FIG. 15B is a perspective view of a portion of an alternative embodiment of the airflow generator shown in FIG. eleven;

in FIG. 16 is a side view of the blade of the airflow generator shown in FIG. eleven;

in FIG. 17 is a section along line 17-17 of FIG. 16 of the blade shown in FIG. sixteen;

in FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a portion of the airflow generator shown in FIG. eleven;

in FIG. 19 is a side view of yet another embodiment of a grinding system in accordance with the present invention.

Description of preferred embodiments of the invention

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 1 and 2, which show an atomizer 10 for grinding (spraying) the material and removing moisture, which contains the inlet pipe 12. The inlet pipe 12 has a first end 14 that is connected to the free space (with the external environment), and the opposite, second end 16, which is connected to the venturi 18.

The inlet pipe 12 creates a certain distance to the venturi 18, in which the material can be accelerated to the desired speed. A filter (not shown) may close the first end 14 to prevent

- 1 009355 rotation of the influx of foreign particles into the atomizer 10. The inlet pipe 12 further has an elongated hole 20 on its upper part to allow communication with the open lower end of the hopper 22. The hopper 22 is open at its upper end 24 for receiving materials. Alternatively, the spray gun 10 does not have a hopper and the material is simply introduced into the elongated hole 20 by various known conventional methods.

The venturi 18 has a tapering portion 26 connected to the inlet pipe 12. The tapering portion 26 has a gradually decreasing diameter from the diameter of the inlet pipe 12 to a diameter smaller than that of the inlet pipe 12. The venturi 18 also has a neck 28 that has a constant diameter equal to the smallest diameter of the inlet pipe 12.

The venturi 18 also has an expanding portion 30, which is connected to the neck 28 and has a gradually increasing diameter in the direction of flow of the air stream. The expanding portion 30 may be connected to the neck 28 by co-casting using thread or other known means. You can see that the tapering section 26 has a greater longitudinal length than the expanding section 30.

The venturi 18 is in communication with an air flow generator 32, which generates air flow flowing from the first end 14 through the inlet pipe 12, through the venturi 18 and into the air flow generator 32. The speed of the created airflow can range from 350 miles per hour to supersonic. The air velocity is greater in the venturi 18 than in the inlet pipe 12.

The air flow generator 32 is driven by the drive motor 34. The drive motor 34 rotates the drive shaft 33. The power of the selected drive motor 34 may vary and depends on the type of material being processed, the material flow rate and the size of the air flow generator. A larger sprayer 10 can be used in the treatment of municipal waste, while a smaller sprayer 10 can be used in the treatment of wastewater aboard the ocean liner.

The airflow generator 32 comprises a plurality of radially extending vanes that rotate by means of a shaft 33 and produce airflow at high speed. An air flow generator 32 is located inside the housing 35, which has an outlet 36 for air and materials. The casing 35 is connected to the venturi 18 and has an inlet (not shown) that provides a connection between the venturi 18 and the inside of the casing 35. The blades form radially extending channels through which air passes to the outlet 36 at their periphery to exit the dusty material and air. One embodiment of an airflow generator 32 suitable for use in accordance with the present invention is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 11-18.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 3, which shows a venturi 18 during operation during the grinding operation. In operation, material 38 is introduced into the inlet pipe 12. Material 38 may be solid or semi-solid. The airflow generator 32 generates airflow at a speed in the range of 350 mph to supersonic, which flows through the inlet pipe 12 and through the venturi 18. In the venturi 18, the air flow increases substantially. The material 38 is driven by air flow at high speed in the direction of the venturi 18. The particles of material 38 are smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the inlet pipe 12, and therefore there is a gap between the inner surface of the inlet pipe 12 and the material 38.

When the material 38 enters the tapering portion 26, said gap becomes smaller and ultimately the material 38 substantially reduces the cross-sectional area of the tapering portion 26 through which air can flow. A recompression shock wave 40 accompanies the material, and a nasal shock wave 42 is created in front of the material 38. Where a tapering portion 26 mates with the neck 28, a standing shock wave 44 is created. The action of these shock waves 40, 42, 44 destroys the material 38 and leads to grinding material and remove moisture from it. The pulverized material 45 continues to move through the venturi 18 and exits into the air flow generator 32.

The particle size of the crushed material depends on the type of crushed material and the size of the atomizer 10. By increasing the air flow rate, grinding can be enhanced and a larger reduction in particle size can be obtained for some materials. Thus, the atomizer 10 allows the user to select the desired particle size by changing the air velocity. System 10 is of particular use for grinding solid materials into fine dust. System 10 has additional applications for removing moisture from semi-solid materials such as municipal waste, paper pulp, animal by-product waste, fruit pulp, and the like.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 4 and 5, an embodiment of a system 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown for grinding material and removing moisture from the material. The system 100 shown comprises a mixer 102 for mixing materials in a pretreatment stage. The source material may contain polymers that facilitate clumping of the material into granules. The granules can be large and, thanks to the polymers, can resist fracture into the desired powder form.

The presence of polymers is typical of urban waste, as polymers are introduced into

- 2 009355 wastewater treatment time to bring together the waste particles. The waste is processed on a belt press and a material is obtained which is mainly semi-solid. In some processes, the material may be approximately 15-20% solid, and the rest is moisture.

In the pretreatment step, the drying agent is mixed with the starting material to break down the polymers and granulate the material. Unpolymerized products can be processed without mixing. The source material is introduced into the mixer 102, in which the material is mixed with a certain amount of drying agent. The drying agent may be selected from the group consisting of attapulgite, coal, lime, and the like. The drying agent may also be a crushed and dry form of the starting material. The mixer 102 mixes the material with a drying agent to obtain a suitable moisture content and granule size.

The source material is transferred from the mixer 102 to the hopper 22 using any of various means, including through the use of moving means 104, such as a belt conveyor, a screw conveyor, an extruder, or other motorized devices. In the shown embodiment, the means of movement 104 is an inclined tray, which allows gravity to feed the source material into the hopper 22. The means of movement 104 is located below the flow controller 106 located on the lower portion of the mixer 102.

Alternatively, the hopper 22 may be excluded and the material may flow directly into the elongated hole 20 of the inlet pipe 12.

One or more sensors 108 control the flow of material passing from the mixer 102 into the inlet pipe 12. The sensor 108 is in communication with the central processor 110 to control the flow. The sensor 108 may be located close to the means of movement 104, close to the hopper 22, inside the hopper 22, or even between the hopper 22 and the elongated hole 20 to control the flow of material. The central processor 110 is in communication with a flow controller 106, which allows, if necessary, to increase or decrease the flow. Alternative methods for controlling and controlling the flow rate may also be used, including visual inspection and manual adjustment of the flow controller 106. The hopper 22 receives material and delivers the material into the elongated hole 20 of the inlet pipe 12. The air flow draws the material from the inlet pipe 12 through the venturi 18. In the shown embodiment, the first end 14 of the inlet pipe 12 is made in the form of a conical flange, the diameter of which gradually decreases to the diameter of the inlet pipes 12.

In the shown embodiment, the expanding section 30 has a direct connection with the casing. The largest diameter of the expandable section 30 is not necessarily equal to the diameter of the inlet pipe 12. Alternatively, the expandable section 30 may be connected to an intermediate component, such as a cylinder or pipe, previously connected to the casing 35.

One or more airflow regulators 111 are located on the expanding portion 30 and provide for the introduction of additional air into the interior of the casing 35 and into the airflow generator 32. In a first embodiment, two flow controllers 111 are mounted on the expanding portion 30. The system 100 may operate with the flow controllers 111 partially or fully open. If the material begins to clog (clog) the airflow generator 32, the flow controllers are closed to create additional traction for passing the material through the airflow generator 18. Flow controllers 111 are controllable and are in electrical communication with a central processing unit 110 for control. Despite the fact that the manual adjustment of the flow controllers 111 does not go beyond the scope of the present invention, computer control greatly facilitates the process.

The venturi 18 creates a collision point between the shock waves having a higher velocity and the shock waves having a lower velocity. Shock waves provide grinding and removal of moisture inside the venturi 18. During operation, there are no visible signs of moisture inside the venturi 18 or at the outlet 36 of the casing. The amount of moisture removed is significant, although a residual amount of moisture may be present. The grinding operation further reduces the particle size of the materials. Experimental work showed that some materials having a diameter of 2 (50 mm) at the entrance to the venturi 18 are crushed into fine powder with a diameter of 20 μm in one grinding operation. The reduction in particle size depends on the type of material being processed and the number of grinding operations (cycles). Separation from water material has various uses, for example, in dehydration of the material, and significantly reduces the number of pathogens.

The present invention may find particular application in the treatment of municipal waste. The preliminary operation of mixing the drying agent allows one to obtain waste material that can be easily processed using system 100. It can be assumed that the process of grinding and removing moisture significantly reduces the number of pathogenic pathogens in the waste material due to the rupture of the walls of their cells. A second source of pathogen reduction is moisture removal. Analytical data obtained from the processing of municipal waste show that the present invention allows the removal of most bacteria of the intestinal group, fecal bacteria,

- 3 009355 (E. coli) and other pathogens.

The present invention may find particular use in removing moisture from fruits and vegetables. In a first application, system 100 can be used to dehydrate (dehydrate) fruits and vegetables such as apples, oranges, carrots, nectarines, peaches, melons, tomatoes, and the like. Removed moisture, which is relatively hygienic, can be condensed and reused to produce pure juice.

In another application, the invention can be used to grind and remove moisture from certain crops, such as banana stems, palm trees, sugarcane, rhubarb, and the like. When chopping the fibers of banana stems, the fibers are separated and moisture is removed.

Material, moisture and air flow pass through the air flow generator 32 and exit through the outlet 36 of the casing. The outlet 36 of the casing is connected to the exhaust pipe 112, which directs the material into the cyclone 114 to separate the material and air.

The diameter of the exhaust pipe 112 affects the degree of drying occurring in the pipe 112. A large volume of air is required for additional drying of the materials. In the exhaust pipe 112, rapidly moving air passes through the material and removes the remaining moisture therein. Air and steam pass into cyclone 114, where they are separated from the solid material.

The grinding operation creates heat, which helps to dry the material. In addition to grinding, the rotation of the air flow generator 32 creates heat. The dimensions between the casing 35 and the airflow generator 32 are selected so that friction creates heat during rotation. The heat flux exits through the outlet 36 of the casing and the exhaust pipe 112 and further dehydrates the material as it moves toward the cyclone 114. The generated heat also allows the material to be partially sterilized in some applications.

The diameter of the outlet 36 of the casing can be increased or decreased to adjust the resistance and the amount of heat passing through the outlet 36 of the casing and the exhaust pipe 112. The diameter of the exhaust pipe 112 and the outlet 36 of the casing affects the removal of moisture from the pulverized material. The regulation of the diameter of the discharge is discussed further in more detail.

Heavier materials with less water content, such as ore materials, require less moisture removal. When processing such materials, the diameters of the outlet 36 of the casing and the exhaust pipe 112 can be increased, since a lower degree of drying is required. Conversely, when processing wetter materials, the diameters of the outlet 36 of the casing and the exhaust pipe 112 can be reduced to increase the amount of air and heat to ensure proper dewatering of the material.

The angle of the exhaust pipe 112 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the venturi 18 and the air flow generator 32 also affects the dewatering characteristics.

The angle of inclination of the exhaust pipe to the horizontal may be approximately from 25 to 90 °, to facilitate the removal of moisture. Material moving upwards rolls down due to gravity, while air is less affected by gravity. This allows air to move faster than the material and increase moisture removal. The specified angle can be adjusted to increase or decrease the effect of removing moisture.

Cyclone 114 is a well-known device for separating particles from the air stream. The cyclone 114 typically comprises a settling chamber in the form of a vertical cylinder 116. The cyclones may have a tangential inlet, an axial inlet, a peripheral outlet, or an axial outlet. Air flow and particles enter cylinder 116 through inlet 118 and rotate rapidly in a vortex when air flows downward in cylinder 116. The cone section 120 causes the diameter of the vortex to decrease until the gas reverses and rotates in the center rises to release 122. Particles are centrifuged in the direction of the inner wall and accumulate due to inertial collisions. The accumulated particles move downward in the gas boundary layer and enter the cone collector 124, from where they exit through the air plug 126 and enter the storage hopper 128.

In some applications, the system 100 may further comprise a condenser 130 for receiving airflow from the cyclone 114. The condenser 130 condenses the steam in the airflow into a liquid, which then enters the reservoir 132. The outlet 134 is connected to the condenser 130 and serves as an outlet for air. Capacitor 130 has particular application in food processing. Alternatively, the capacitor 130 is replaced with an alternative processing device, such as a carbon filter, etc. The choice of condensation or filtration depends on the type of material and type of application. Outlet 134 may comprise a filter or may be connected to a filter (not shown) to filter sediment, particles, steam, and the like.

Passing the material through the system 100 several times allows you to further dehydrate the material and further reduce the particle size. When treating municipal waste, several cycles through the system 100 may be required to achieve the desired dewatering results. In accordance with the present invention provides for the use of multiple lips

- 4,009355 sequentially updated systems 100, in which there are several Venturi tubes 18 and several grinding operations are provided. Due to this, a single transmission cycle through several sequentially installed systems 100 can achieve the desired results. Alternatively, the material may be passed several times through the same system 100 to achieve the desired particle size and degree of moisture content.

In one embodiment, the resulting product exiting the system 100 is analyzed to determine the size of the powder granules and / or the percentage of moisture. If the product does not meet the threshold size and / or percentage moisture, then it is re-passed through one or more processing cycles until the product has the desired parameters.

System 100 allows the homogenization of various materials. To do this, various materials are introduced together into the inlet pipe 12 and processed by passing through a venturi 18, where they are crushed. The resulting product is mixed and homogenized, and is also dehydrated and has a reduced particle size.

A particular application of the present invention provides for the homogenization of wastewater with coal. After grinding and removing water, the combined and homogenized wastes and coal are used in a coal furnace to obtain optimal combustion rates to generate steam for the power plant. In this case, the waste is used more for energy production, and not for normal disposal.

Optionally, the material can be mixed in the mixer 102 before grinding or in the intermediate stage between grinding operations. Mixing materials can enhance homogenization with some materials.

Materials mixed in the pretreatment stage can be passed through several stages of grinding to ensure the desired homogenization. The first material can be processed by passing through several stages of grinding and then homogenized with the second material. Between the grinding stages, the second material can be mixed with the material processed in the preliminary stage. The first and second materials then go through one or more stages of grinding to obtain a homogenized, finished product.

As an example, you can specify that the first material can be passed through three stages of grinding. After the third grinding step, the second material can be mixed in the mixer 102 with the first material. Before mixing, the second material may be passed through a venturi 18 to grind and reduce particle size. The first and second materials can then be passed together through one or more additional grinding steps to obtain the desired moisture content, particle size and homogenization for industrial use.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 6, which shows a perspective view of a casing 200 that has a casing outlet 202. The casing 200 encloses internally the operating components of the airflow generator 32. The casing 200 is shown in section so that it can be seen located inside the generator 32 air flow. To allow for a change in the outlet stream, a restrictor 204 may be introduced into the outlet 202 of the casing. Limiter 204 increases airflow resistance and also increases heat generation. The change in resistance and volume of the air flow is made depending on the type of material to be processed.

The restrictor 204 has a neck 206 introduced into the interior of the casing outlet 202 and a restriction hole 208. The restriction hole 208 has a cross section smaller than the cross section of the casing outlet 202. The restriction hole 208 may be rectangular, round, or may have another suitable shape. The neck 206 provides a convergent transition from the cross section of the outlet 202 to the final cross section of the restriction opening 208. Several restrictors 204 with different opening sizes may be provided to control the output stream and thus adjust the system 100 to the material to be ground.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 7, a cross-sectional view of an airflow generator 32 inside a housing 200 is shown. The airflow generator 32 does not have to be axially mounted inside the housing 200. In one embodiment, the airflow generator 32 comprises a deflector plate 250 that has a blade (cutting blade) edge) 252 close to the (outlet) of the airflow generator 32. The blade 252 of the deflection plate 250 directs the pulverized material into the outlet 202 of the casing. The deflecting plate 250 is connected to the inside of the casing 200 and can be connected to the inside of the outlet 202 of the casing.

The deflecting plate 250 prevents additional rotation of the pulverized material inside the casing 200. By itself (as such), the deflecting plate 250 is the first means of separating the pulverized material from the air, which continues to rotate inside the casing 200. Subsequent extraction of the pulverized material from the air is carried out using a cyclone. 114. If the dusty materials continue to rotate inside the casing 200, then the dusty materials may accumulate and ultimately clog the airflow generator 32. Blade 252 changes the volume of air flow passing through the casing 200.

- 5 009355

The position of the deflecting plate 250 can be adjusted to increase or decrease the gap between it and the air flow generator 32. Adjustment may be required depending on the type of material being processed or in order to change the volume of air flow. The adjustment can be controlled by the central processor 110, which is in communication with an electromechanical or pneumatic device for moving the deflector plate 250. The blade 252 has a bevel that matches the shape of the airflow generator 32.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 8, which shows a cross-section of a venturi 18 together with a throat component calibrator 300. The neck calibrator 300 is a removable component that, when inserted, is installed inside the neck 28. The neck calibrator 300 reduces the effective diameter of the neck 28 and increases the air speed. Changing the diameter of the neck may be required depending on the type of material, the desired dehydration and the desired reduction in particle size. Thus, although the airflow generator 32 allows the airflow to be controlled, it is also desirable to further vary the diameter of the neck of the venturi 18.

The neck 28 may have a protrusion 302, on which sits the collar 304 of the neck calibrator 300. The castellated element 306 is connected to the collar 304 and mates with the inner surface of the converging portion 26. The neck calibrator 300 includes a sleeve 308 that corresponds to the inner surface of the neck 28 and extends along most of the neck of the venturi, to calibrate the venturi 18.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 9, a system 400 is shown which comprises two grinding stages 402, 404. Whenever a material passes through a venturi 18, grinding, dehumidification, and particle size reduction occurs. As already mentioned here above, this process can be repeated several times using a single venturi 18 or carried out using a plurality of sequentially connected venturi 18 until the desired amount of water is removed and the desired particle size of the product is reached. This process can be continued until the desired percentage of water removal is achieved.

Although the system 400 shows two stages of grinding, it should be borne in mind that the system can have three, four, five or more stages of grinding. The first grinding stage 402 is similar to that described previously with reference to FIG. 4 and 5. The first grinding stage 402 comprises a hopper 22, a mixer 102, a moving means 104, a flow regulator 106, a venturi 18, a casing 35 (with an air flow generator 32 installed inside it) and an exhaust pipe 112. The system 400 may further have a regulator flow 405 in the exhaust pipe 112, allowing you to adjust the air flow.

As in previous embodiments, the exhaust pipe 112 is connected to the cyclone 114 to separate the treated product from the air. The system 400 further comprises a second cyclone 406, which receives air from the outlet 122 of the first cyclone 114. The second cyclone 406 further purifies the air from residual particles and supplies the cleaned air to the condenser 130. The first reservoir 132 is in communication with the second cyclone 406 to receive condensed liquid from condenser 130. Exhaust 134 provides an outlet for air passing through condenser 130 and second cyclone 406. Residual particle hopper 408 is designed to receive residual particles from second cyclone 406.

Particles separated by the first cyclone 114 enter the hopper 410 using any known means of transportation, including by gravity. Although not shown, particles from both the first and second cyclones 114, 406 can be sent to the hopper 410. The hopper 410 receives particles, which then pass through the second grinding stage 404. The hopper 410 delivers particles to the second inlet pipe 412, which is connected to the second venturi 414, as in the first grinding stage 402.

One or more flow controllers 416 are mounted on the second venturi 414 and are in electrical communication with the central processor 110. The flow controllers 416 operate similarly to the controllers 111 described previously.

The second venturi 414 is in communication with a second air flow generator (not shown) located in the casing 418. The second air flow generator creates a high velocity air flow through the venturi 414. The second casing 418 is connected to the second exhaust pipe 420, which supplies air and the processed material into the third cyclone 422. The second exhaust pipe 420 is inclined at an angle of approximately 25 to 90 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second venturi 414. The second flow regulator 424, which is located inside the second exhaust pipe Uba 420 regulates the air flow in it. Like the first flow controller 404, the second flow controller 424 is in electrical communication with the central processing unit 110 to provide control.

The third cyclone 422 separates the particles from the air and delivers the product to another transport means 425. The fourth cyclone 426 receives air from the third cyclone 422, further purifies the air and removes residual particles. Residual particles from the fourth cyclone 426 enter the hopper 428 of the residual particles. A fourth cyclone 426 supplies air to a second condenser 430, in which the steam

- 6 009355 is densified in the liquid entering the second tank 432. The outlet 434 is connected to the second condenser 430 and allows air to escape (into the environment).

System 400 further comprises a heat generator 436 that directs heat flow through inlet pipes 12, 412 and venturi tubes 18, 414 and facilitates drying of the materials. Heat is not required to remove water and is simply used to further increase the drying speed. The heat generator 436 may be in communication with the hoppers 22, 438 or with the inlet pipes 12, 412. The heat generator 436 can also be used in a similar way in the designs shown in FIG. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

Shown in FIG. 9, the heat generator 436 is in communication with a first heating control valve 440, which allows heat to be supplied to the first hopper 22. The first heating control valve 440 is in electrical communication with a central processor 110 to control the supply of heat. Alternatively, the heating control valve 440 may be manually controlled. The heat generator 436 further communicates with a second heating control valve 442 that controls the heat flow entering the hopper 438. Heating of the material during the second grinding step 404 may be desirable for some materials or applications. If heating is required, hopper 438 receives particles from the first cyclone 114. Otherwise, material may pass into hopper 410, as shown in FIG. nine.

System 400 may have one or more grinding stages for additional dewatering and particle size reduction. The transfer means 425 may feed the product back to the mixer 102 or to the hopper 22 to further pass the product through the grinding stages 402, 404. The second and fourth cyclones 406, 426 provide additional air purification. In some applications, capacitors 130, 430 may be removed, or another type of processing device, such as a filter, may be used.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 10, an alternative embodiment of a grinding and moisture removal system 450 is shown. The system 450 is similar to the system shown in FIG. 4 and 5, and further comprises a second cyclone 406 that is connected to the first cyclone 114, a residual particle hopper 408 for collecting particles from the second cyclone 406, a condenser 130 that is connected to the second cyclone 406, a reservoir 132 that is connected with a capacitor 130, and an outlet 134 connected to the capacitor 130. The system 450 further comprises a bypass valve 452 connected to the first cyclone 114.

The bypass valve 452 directs particles obtained from the first cyclone 114 to the first outlet 454 or to the second outlet 456. The first outlet 454 is connected to a collector 458, such as a bag, hopper, tank, and the like. The second outlet 456 is connected to the recirculation pipe 460, for reintroducing the pulverized material into the system 450. The recirculation pipe 460 is connected at its opposite end to the first end 14 (inlet pipe). Alternatively, the recirculation pipe 460 may direct the pulverized material to the hopper 22 or directly to the elongated hole 20.

During the operation of the system, the material is crushed as it passes through the system 450, and by the bypass valve 452 is again routed through the system 450 for an additional grinding operation. This can be repeated until a finished product is obtained, which is then sent via a bypass valve 452 to the collector 458.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 11, an embodiment of an airflow generator 500 is shown. Various metals can be used to make an air flow generator depending on the material to be processed. To process abrasive material, a generator made of hard alloy steel is used. Specialists will easily understand that the material is chosen taking into account the balance between strength and expected wear. The manufacture of the airflow generator 500 is preferably carried out by casting, since welding creates poor quality welded joints due to the heat affected zones.

An air flow generator 500 is installed inside the casing, as shown in FIG. 6. The casing 200, at least partially, covers the airflow generator 500, and advantageously completely surrounds the airflow generator 500, so that only the outlet 36 of the casing is visible. The airflow generator 500 can be installed in the casing 200 with a small gap to create additional friction and heat. Heat is useful to facilitate additional drying of the materials passing through the air flow generator 500 and into the exhaust pipe 112.

The airflow generator 500 has a front plate 502 (FIG. 11) with a concentrically arranged inlet 504 to receive incoming materials. The diameter of the inlet 504 is variable and depends on the particle size of the material being processed and on the expected air volume. The rear plate 506 is parallel to the front plate 502 and has a concentrically located shaft hole 508. A hole 508 is used to receive the drive shaft of the generator 500. Alternatively, in accordance with the present invention, an air flow generator 500 can be used that has a single back plate connected to the blades, or a generator with only radially extending blades.

The back plate 506 may further have bolt holes 509, these holes

- 7 009355 are arranged concentrically around the bore 508. A corresponding bolt (not shown) attached to the drive shaft is inserted into each of the bore holes 509. Bolts are attached to the back plate 506 using nuts or other suitable elements.

Many blades 510 are located between the front and rear plates 502, 506. The number of blades 510 may be different and partially depends on the type of material being processed. The thickness of the blades 510 may also depend on the type of material being processed.

In one embodiment, the blades 510 pass through the front and rear plates 502, 506 and form ribs 511 of the blades (see FIG. 15) on the outside of the front and rear plates 502, 506. The ribs 511 of the blades can protrude approximately 12 mm from the front or the back plates 502, 506. The ribs 511 of the blades create an air cushion between the air flow generator 500 and the interior of the casing 200. The ribs 511 of the blades further remove materials that may be between the casing 200 and the air flow generator 500.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 12, which shows the cross section of the hole 508. The hole 508 is used to receive a drive shaft that rotates the air flow generator 500. Each bolt hole 509 is attached to the rear plate 506. In this embodiment, the drive shaft has a transition from a first diameter with protruding bolts to a second diameter suitable for insertion into the hole 508. Each bolt hole 509 may have a socket 515 for receiving a nut screwed onto the bolt.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 13, which shows a top view of the interior of the airflow generator 500 with a single blade 510. The single blade 510 is shown to illustrate the unique characteristics of the blades 510 integrated in the airflow generator 500. The remaining blades 510 have a similar configuration.

The blade 510 extends from the trailing edge 512, located at the perimeter 513 of the rear and front plates 502, 506, to the leading edge 514, located near the hole 508. The blade 510 has a tapered section 516 near the edge 512. The tapered section 516 has a thicker cross section to increase pressure and air flow. Wedge-shaped section 516 provides increased wear resistance, which is desirable when processing certain materials.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 14A, an enlarged plan view of a wedge-shaped portion 516 is shown. The shape of the wedge-shaped portion 516 affects the airflow volume, airflow rate and material flow through the airflow generator 500. The configuration of the wedge-shaped portion 516 can be changed in the circumferential direction and in the longitudinal direction, which allows you to change the volume of the air flow, air velocity and material flow. The use of casting technology mainly allows you to make changes in three directions and create any number of circular (circumferential) and longitudinal profiles of the wedge-shaped section 516.

The increased thickness of the wedge-shaped section 516 increases the service life of the airflow generator 500, since it is in this section that the blade 510 usually undergoes the greatest wear. The material used for the manufacture of the wedge-shaped portion 516 and its hardness may also differ from the characteristics of the rest of the blade 510.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 14B, an alternate embodiment of a tapered portion 518 is shown that includes a replaceable wear tip 520. When the airflow generator 500 rotates clockwise, then the replaceable wear tip 520 has the greatest contact with the material being processed. Although the thickness of the wedge-shaped portion 518 is increased in order to increase its wear resistance, the wedge-shaped portion 518 is subjected to more wear than other components of the airflow generator 500, which can lead to faster wear. By replacing the replaceable wear tip 520, the replacement of the entire airflow generator 500 is avoided. The replaceable wear tip 520 is attached to the rest of the tapered section 518 using any known fastener, such as a bolt 522 with a nut. The replaceable wear tip 520 can be made of harder material than the rest of the blade 510. The replaceable wear tip 520 can be replaced by another replaceable wear tip 520 having a different circular (circumferential) and longitudinal profile. According to yet another embodiment, the entire wedge-shaped portion 518 is replaceable.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 15A, which shows a perspective view of the airflow generator 500, where you can see the wedge-shaped portion 516 and the front and rear plates 502, 506. Also shown are the ribs 511 of the blade, which protrude from the outer surface of the front and rear plates 502, 506. You can see that the wedge-shaped portion 516 is significantly thicker than the corresponding ribs 511 of the blades. The ribs 511 of the blades experience less wear than the wedge-shaped portion 516, and therefore can be made thinner than the wedge-shaped portion 516.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 15B, a perspective view of an airflow generator 500 with an alternative wedge-shaped portion 516 is shown. The wedge-shaped portion 516 increases in thickness and the size of the circular (circumferential) profile in the longitudinal direction from the front plate 502 to the rear plate 506. The wedge-shaped portion 516 also increases by tol

- 8 009355 in the radial direction to the perimeter.

The pulverized material entering the airflow generator 500 tends to accumulate close to the back plate 506. A longitudinal increase in thickness helps to keep the pulverized material centered between the front and back plates 502, 506 instead of accumulating along the back plate 506. The casting technology allows for a wedge-shaped portion 516 with resizing in three directions. Replaceable wear tip 520 may also have a longitudinal increase in thickness. If a different shape of the tapered portion 516 is desired, another replaceable wear tip 520 may be used without a longitudinal increase in thickness or with a more pronounced longitudinal increase in thickness. Thus, the flow direction of the pulverized material can be changed in the longitudinal direction through the use of wedge-shaped sections 516 with various circular and longitudinal configurations.

Referring again to FIG. 13, which shows that the blade 510 has a transition from a position perpendicular to the back plate 506 to an inclined position (to an angle with the back plate 506). The blade 510 has a transition as you look from the wedge-shaped portion 516 to a location in front of the leading edge 514. The tilted position causes the blade 510 to have an angle of inclination in the direction of air flow.

In the shown embodiment, the rear portion 524 of the blade 510 along with the wedge-shaped portion 516 extends perpendicularly from the rear plate 506. The rear portion 524 may be approximately one fourth to half of the blade 510 along the length of the blade 510 from the trailing edge 512 to the leading edge 514. The front portion 526 forms the remainder of the blade 510 extending from the rear portion 524 to the leading edge 514. The front portion 526 shown has an angle rotation from a position perpendicular to the rear plate 506 to an inclined position.

The tilted position is characterized by an angle called the angle of attack, since it allows the leading edge 514 to crash into the incoming air stream. In FIG. 13, the final angle of attack of the blade 510 at the leading edge 514 is approximately 25 °. The transition from a perpendicular position to an inclined position can be carried out along the entire length of the blade 510 or in any part thereof. The angle of attack can be selected over a wide range of angles based on the expected air velocity, material flow rate and type of material being processed. The angle of inclination can range from approximately 20 to 60 °.

Alternatively, the blade 510 may remain perpendicular along its entire length. The blade 510 may also have an angle of attack along its entire length. Despite the fact that the angle of attack is along the entire length of the blade, this angle can change when you look from the trailing edge 512 to the leading edge 514 of the blade 510.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 16, which shows a leading edge 514. Typically, this edge is relatively straight and angled toward the back plate 506. Shown in FIG. 16, the leading edge 514 near the rear plate 506 has an outwardly curved portion 528, which then passes into an inwardly curved portion 530. An outwardly curved portion 528 helps to trap air entering the inlet 504 of the airflow generator 500. A leading edge 514 with such a profile is capable of crashing into the air.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 17, which shows a section of the leading edge 514 along line 17-17. The leading edge 514 has an oval cross section that facilitates cutting into the incoming air stream.

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 18, which shows a perspective view of an airflow generator 500 without a front plate 502 to show the blades 510. The shown embodiment contains nine blades 510, however, their number may be different. Each blade 510 has a tapered section 516 with increased wear resistance, which allows to increase the pressure and volume of the air flow. Each blade 510 has a transition from a perpendicular position to a position with an angle of attack.

During operation, the rotating blades 510 create airflow at high speeds ranging from 350 mph or more in the venturi and suck air and dusty material into the inlet 504. The leading edges 514 of the blades 510 cut into the air and into the dusty material and direct the air together with dusty material into the channels 532 between the blades 510, extending from the inlet 504 to the perimeter 513 of the front and rear plates 502, 506. The wedge-shaped sections 516 push air and dusty material to the outlet 202 of the casing, which is located inside casing 200.

The systems 10, 100, 400, 450 described herein may be stationary. Alternatively, the system may be mounted on a vehicle, such as a truck, trailer, railroad car (railroad car), ship, barge, and the like. Any vehicle that creates a fairly flat seat can be used. The use of a mobile system is preferred in some applications, such as harvesting, processing in remote areas, demonstrations (displays), etc.

- 9 009355

Turning now to the consideration of FIG. 19, which schematically shows a movable system 600. The system 600 includes the components previously described here, such as inlet pipe 12. Venturi 18, airflow generator 32, casing 35, engine 34, exhaust pipe 112, and the first and second cyclones 116, 406. System 600 may also contain additional components, such as a mixer 102, a central processor 110, a capacitor 130, and the like. Systems with multiple grinding stages can be installed on a vehicle in a similar way.

System 600 includes a vehicle, generally designated 602 and providing sufficient support for system components. The system 600 further comprises a plurality of supports 604. The system 600 may further have a housing 606 that encloses system components. Housing 606 protects system components and drowns out sound during operation.

One or more components of the system 600 may be removable to facilitate transportation. For example, the first and second cyclones 116, 406 can be removed from the casing 606 during transport. Cyclones 116, 406 can be removed completely or partially, and they are disassembled before transportation. Similarly, the mixer 102 can be removed during transport. The need to remove components depends on the size of the system 600, vehicle 602, and other design limitations.

A control room may be located in the housing 606, from which the operator can control the system 600. The housing 606 may also have windows for monitoring the components and access for monitoring, performing work, repairing and introducing the material to be processed.

Claims (28)

CLAIM 1. A method of grinding material and removing moisture from it, including the use of an air flow generator having a connection with a venturi; creating air flow using an air flow generator through a venturi and in the direction of the air flow generator; introducing the material into the air flow and passing the material through the venturi, characterized in that it provides for the introduction of a controlled air flow from the outer space into the expanding section of the venturi. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it involves passing pulverized material through an exhaust pipe, inclined at an angle in the range from 25 to 90 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the venturi. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that it further provides flow control in the exhaust pipe. 4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises passing the pulverized material from the exhaust pipe to the cyclone to separate the pulverized material from the air. 5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises passing air from the first cyclone to the second cyclone to remove residual particles from the air. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises passing air into the condenser to condense the evaporated moisture. 7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises heating the air upstream of the venturi. 8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further includes controlling the flow of material upstream of the venturi. 9. A method of homogenizing materials, including the use of an air flow generator having a connection with a venturi; creating air flow using an air flow generator through a venturi and in the direction of the air flow generator; introducing the first and second materials into the air stream and passing the first and second materials through the venturi to grind and homogenize the materials, characterized in that it involves the introduction of a controlled air flow from the outer space into the expanding section of the venturi. 10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises heating the air stream. 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it further comprises grinding the first material by passing it through a venturi before introducing the first and second materials into the air stream. 12. A device for grinding material and removing moisture from it, containing an inlet pipe; a venturi located upstream of the inlet pipe; and an air flow generator, characterized in that it is connected to the outlet end of the venturi to suck in the air flow through the inlet pipe and through the venturi, due to which - 10 009355 the material introduced into the air stream passes through the venturi and is subjected to grinding and moisture removal, characterized in that it contains means for introducing a controlled air flow from the outer space into the expanding section of the venturi. 13. The device according to p. 12, characterized in that it further comprises a heat generator, which is connected to the inlet pipe, for heating the air flowing in the direction of the venturi. 14. The device according to item 12 or 13, characterized in that it further comprises an exhaust pipe connected to the outlet of the air flow generator, said pipe having a slope at an angle in the range of 25 to 90 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the venturi. 15. The device according to 14, characterized in that it further comprises a cyclone connected to the specified exhaust pipe, for separating air from the pulverized material. 16. The device according to p. 15, characterized in that it further comprises a second cyclone, which is in communication with the first cyclone, for receiving air and separating residual particles. 17. A device for grinding material and removing moisture from it, which contains an inlet pipe; a venturi connected to the inlet pipe; an air flow generator comprising a front plate, an inlet located in the front plate, a rear plate and a plurality of blades located between and associated with the rear and front plates; and a casing at least partially covering the air flow generator, the casing having an outlet characterized in that it is connected to the inlet of the air flow generator, wherein the air flow generator is connected to the venturi to direct air flow through the venturi and the inlet, while the material introduced into the air stream passes through the venturi and is subjected to grinding and moisture removal, characterized in that it contains means for introducing a controlled flow into air from the outside to the expanding section of the venturi. 18. The device according to 17, in which each blade contains a wedge-shaped portion located next to the perimeter of the front and rear plates, and the wedge-shaped portion has a thickness greater than the rest of the corresponding blade. 19. The device according to p, in which each wedge-shaped section increases in thickness as it is longitudinally removed from the front plate to the rear plate, to control the direction of the longitudinal flow of material in the air stream. 20. The device according to p, in which each wedge-shaped portion contains a removable wear tip. 21. The device according to p, in which each wedge-shaped section is removable to replace it. 22. The device according to p, in which each blade has a transition from a position perpendicular to the rear plate, in an inclined position, as the blade approaches the inlet. 23. The device according to item 22, in which the angle of the inclined position of the blade is approximately from 20 to 60 ° from the position perpendicular to the rear plate. 24. The device according to 17, in which each blade has a leading edge close to the inlet and a trailing edge close to the perimeter of the front and rear plates, and the leading edge has an outwardly curved portion close to the rear plate and an inwardly curved portion close to the front plate. 25. The device according to paragraph 24, in which the leading edge has an oval cross-sectional shape. 26. The device according to 17, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of ribs located on the outer surface of the front and rear plates. 27. The device according to 17, in which the casing further comprises a deflecting plate connected to the inner part of the casing near the outlet and having a blade close to the air flow generator. 28. The device according to item 27, in which the deflecting plate is connected with the possibility of adjustment with the inner part of the casing, to change the distance from the end of the blade to the air flow generator.