EP0742854B1 - Chip bin assembly - Google Patents

Chip bin assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0742854B1
EP0742854B1 EP95909253A EP95909253A EP0742854B1 EP 0742854 B1 EP0742854 B1 EP 0742854B1 EP 95909253 A EP95909253 A EP 95909253A EP 95909253 A EP95909253 A EP 95909253A EP 0742854 B1 EP0742854 B1 EP 0742854B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
discharge
chip bin
hollow
bin assembly
transition portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP95909253A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0742854A1 (en
Inventor
Jerry R. Johanson
John W. Baldwin
Victor L. Bilodeau
Mark D. Barrett
John Pietrangelo
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Andritz Inc
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Andritz Inc
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Priority claimed from US08/189,546 external-priority patent/US5500083A/en
Application filed by Andritz Inc filed Critical Andritz Inc
Publication of EP0742854A1 publication Critical patent/EP0742854A1/en
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21C—PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE BY REMOVING NON-CELLULOSE SUBSTANCES FROM CELLULOSE-CONTAINING MATERIALS; REGENERATION OF PULPING LIQUORS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • D21C7/00—Digesters
    • D21C7/06—Feeding devices

Definitions

  • chips were fed into the top of the chip bin, e.g. through an air lock, where they were subjected to steam before moving downwardly through the bin into a chip meter, and then a low pressure feeder, subsequently to a horizontal steaming vessel where the removal of air in the chips with steam was completed, and then either a feed mechanism on top of a batch digester, or more commonly to a high pressure feeder for a continuous digester.
  • the chip bin provides a storage volume sufficient to ensure supply of the continuous digester, and/or like components, on a regular basis even though the chips are not continuously fed from a chip heap or pile to the pulping system. This is especially important in winter weather conditions in cold climates, where many pulp mills are located, because of interruptions in an ability to continuously feed chips from a heap or pile to the pulping system due to freezing of the chips in the pile, or other weather related disruptions. Numerous problems of channelling or "rat-holing" are caused by inhomogeneous chip feed. Frozen chips have different flow properties than normal chips, wet different than dry, and sawdust and pin chips different than whole chips.
  • a method and apparatus are provided which specifically address the problems of reliability and maintenance of conventional vibratory discharge, and the problems of chip bin pluggage, bridging and/or channelling. While the invention is primarily directed to chip bins having a maximum diameter of about 3.66m (12 feet) or more, many aspects thereof are appropriate for bins in general, and of almost any size.
  • the invention utilises mass flow (as contrasted with the "funnel flow" of US-A-5 454 490 in the chip bin, which has significant benefits in promoting uniform steaming, and in minimising channelling.
  • the vibratory discharge is replaced with a simpler, less troublesome, more easily maintained structure while, not only not sacrificing discharge efficiency and the ability to steam the chips, but actually enhancing them.
  • the chip meter - a conventional and necessary piece of equipment associated with most chip bins for continuous digester systems - can be eliminated without elimination of its metering function, thereby resulting in the potential for equipment and maintenance savings for the chip feeding system as a whole.
  • the present invention provides a method of feeding comminuted cellulosic material to a digester using a vertical open interior chip bin having a top and bottom, a maximum diameter of at least 3.66m (12 feet), and a discharge operatively connected to a digester, the discharge having a cross-sectional area less than half of the cross-sectional area of the chip bin at the maximum diameter thereof, the method comprising the steps of
  • Step (e) may be practised by feeding the comminuted cellulosic material directly from the discharge to a low pressure feeder and then from the low pressure feeder to a digester.
  • commuted cellulosic material may be fed directly from the discharge to a chip meter, and then from the chip meter to the digester.
  • Steps (b) and (c) may be practised by causing the comminuted cellulosic material to flow into two distinct volumes through a transition having a first pair of opposed side walls which converge towards one another in a single dimension, and a second pair of side walls that do not converge, the second pair of opposed side walls being positioned below the first pair of opposed side walls each distinct volume comprising about half of a main volume defined by a substantially circular cross-section top and a substantially rectangular cross-section bottom, and a larger cross-sectional area at the top thereof than at the bottom thereof, and causing the material to move from each distinct volume to the discharge using oppositely directed feed screws, the discharge being located approximately midway between the two distinct volumes.
  • Steps (b) and (c) may be further practised by causing the comminuted cellulosic material when flowing in the flow path through the transition having a first pair of opposed side walls which converge towards one another in a single dimension, and a second pair of side walls that do not converge, the second pair of opposed side walls being positioned below the first pair of opposed side walls to flow between a first volume having a circular cross-section of at least about 3.66m (12 feet) and a discharge having a rectangular cross-sectional area of less than half of the first volume.
  • Step (d) is typically practised by adding steam to the distinct volumes by introducing the steam into a substantially vertical chip bin wall interruption in the chip bin in one non-vertical gradually tapering side of each of the distinct volumes.
  • the invention also provides a chip bin assembly comprising a hollow substantially right circular cylindrical main body portion having a substantially vertical central axis, a top and a bottom, and having a first diameter; a top wall closing off said main body portion, and having means for introducing wood chips into said hollow main body portion; a hollow, non-vibrating discharge operatively connected to said bottom of said hollow main body portion; a hollow transition portion disposed between said main body portion and said discharge, the hollow transition portion having one dimensional convergence and side relief; means for introducing steam to the hollow interior of said chip bin assembly; and means for operatively connecting said discharge to a digester.
  • the hollow transition comprises: a first, uppermost, portion having a generally right rectangular parallelepiped configuration including opposite side faces having generally triangular shapes, and providing a first pair of opposed side walls which converge towards one another in a single dimension, and a second pair of side walls that do not converge, the second pair of opposed side walls being positioned below the first pair of opposed side walls; a second portion tapering from a generally rectangular parallelepiped configuration at an upper part thereof to a generally circular configuration at a lower part thereof and having opposite side faces having generally triangular shapes which align with said first portion generally triangular shapes to define substantially diamond shaped wall portions; a third portion substantially the same as said first portion, only smaller, and connected to said second portion lower part; and a fourth, lowermost portion substantially the same as said second portion only smaller, and connected to said third portion in the same manner as said section portion is connected to said first portion, and connected to said discharge.
  • said means for introducing steam comprises means for introducing steam in to at least one of said main body portion and said hollow transition portion to steam wood chips therein, and more preferably into at least one of said generally triangular shapes of said side faces of said second portion of said hollow transition portion, and still more preferably into both of said generally triangular shapes of said side faces of said second portion of said hollow transition portion.
  • Said main body portion may include at least one conical ring insert for relieving compaction pressure on chips in said main body portion.
  • said discharge is circular in cross-section, and has a second diameter which is about one-third or less than said first diameter.
  • said discharge is operatively connected to a high pressure feeder, and to a continuous digester.
  • Said main body portion first diameter may be at least 3.66m (12 feet).
  • said hollow transition portion comprises a first transition portion; and further comprises a second transition portion disposed between said first transition portion and said discharge, said second transition portion having a first pair of opposed side walls which converge towards one another in a single dimension, and a second pair of side walls that do not converge, the second pair of opposed side walls being positioned below the first pair of opposed side walls.
  • said first transition portion has a top that is circular in cross-section, and a bottom which is substantially a right rectangular parallelepiped in cross-section.
  • said second hollow transition portion has a top with a substantially right rectangular parallelepiped cross-section, and a bottom with a substantially circular cross-section, and said hollow discharge has a circular cross-section and the width dimension thereof has a second diameter; and wherein said hollow discharge is connected directly to said bottom of said second hollow transition portion.
  • said hollow transition portion has a top which is circular in cross-section, and a bottom which is substantially a right rectangular parallelepiped in cross-section.
  • said hollow transition portion comprises a first transition portion; and further comprises a pair of second hollow transition portions disposed between said first hollow transition portion and said hollow discharge, each of said second hollow transition portions having a first pair of opposed side walls which converge towards one another in a single dimension, and a second pair of side walls that do not converge, the second pair of opposed side walls being positioned below the first pair of opposed side walls and collectively having a cross-sectional area at the top portion thereof which is substantially the same as the cross-sectional area of a bottom portion of said first hollow transition; and wherein said hollow discharge comprises a pair of hollow discharges, one connected to a bottom portion of each of said second hollow transition portions.
  • the hollow transition portion is connected to said bottom of said main body portion, and has a substantially circular cross-section open top and a substantially rectangular cross-section open bottom, and a larger cross-sectional area at said top thereof than at said bottom thereof, and opposite non-vertical, gradually-tapering side walls.
  • the assembly may further comprise at least one feed screw mounted adjacent said open bottom of said transition portion, in a housing; a discharge operatively connected to said feed screw housing; and means for rotating said at least one feed screw to move particulate material from said bottom of said transition portion to said discharge.
  • Said discharge may be connected to a comminuted cellulosic fibrous material digester, and wherein said main body portion has a maximum diameter of at least 3.66m (12 feet).
  • said hollow discharge has a substantially right rectangular parallelepiped configuration and comprises a bottom portion of said hollow transition portion, and wherein said feed screws are mounted immediately below said hollow discharge.
  • said discharge is offset from said main body portion, and wherein said at least one screw comprises a single screw that transports particulate material substantially horizontally in a single direction from said transition portion to said offset discharge.
  • said at least one feed screw comprises oppositely-directed first and second feed screws mounted at said bottom of said transition portion, a junction being provided between said screws, and each screw being mounted for rotation about a common generally horizontal axis; and further comprising a baffle disposed within said transition portion above said screw junction; and wherein said discharge comprises a substantially right rectangular parallelepiped discharge operatively mounted to said screws substantially at said screw junction and remote from said transition portion outlets, whereby said discharge receives particulate solid material from both said screws.
  • said at least one screw comprises first and second screws, one mounted above the other, for rotation about parallel axes, said first screw having a housing mounted to said transition portion and having an outlet therefrom offset from said main body portion, and said second screw having a housing with an inlet connected to said first screw housing outlet, and having said discharge as said outlet, said discharge being substantially concentric with said main body portion; and wherein said means for rotating said at least one screw comprises means for rotating said first and second screws so that they transport particulate material in opposite substantially horizontal directions.
  • said at least one feed screw may comprise first and second oppositely-directed feed screws mounted at said bottom of said transition portion, a junction being provided between said screws, and each screw being mounted for rotation about a common generally horizontal axis; wherein said discharge comprises a substantially right rectangular parallelepiped discharge operatively mounted to said screws substantially at said screw junction and remote from said transition portion, whereby said discharge receives particulate solid material from both said screws.
  • the assembly may further comprise an agitator disposed at said screw junction; a chip meter operated by a motor, said chip meter being connected to said discharge; and a controller for coordinating the operation of said chip meter motor and said means for rotating said screws.
  • said hollow transition portion comprises a first transition portion, and further comprises a second hollow transition portion between said first transition portion and said at least one feed screw, said second transition portion comprising a hollow structure having a substantially race course oval cross-section with an open top and open bottom and having a larger cross-sectional area at said bottom than at said top, and said cross-sectional area of said top being approximately the same as the cross-sectional area of said bottom of said first transition portion; and wherein said bottom of said second transition portion has a length of at least five times its width.
  • the assembly may further comprise at least one air blaster mounted to said hollow transition portion for selectively supplying air under pressure to said hollow transition portion to breakup hung-up wood chips therein.
  • said at least one air blaster comprises first and second air blasters mounted to each of said first and third portions of said hollow transition on opposite sides of said first and third portions spaced from said faces having generally triangular shapes.
  • said means for introducing steam may also introduce steam into the main body.
  • said air blasters in at least said first portion are connected to a nozzle mounted within a support ring extending horizontally outwardly from said hollow transition portion.
  • said lower part of said second portion of said hollow transition portion is circular in cross-section, having a third diameter, and wherein said third diameter is at least 50% greater than said second diameter and at least 30% less than said first diameter.
  • the invention also provides a system for making chemical pulp from wood chips, the system comprising:
  • the present invention provides for the effective feeding of particulate material, such as wood chips, downwardly in a bin without the necessity of a vibratory discharge, even where the diameter of the bin is 3.66m (12 feet) or more.
  • FIGURE 1 schematically illustrates a chip bin 10 according to the present invention, having a closed top 11 with a conventional inlet 12 in the top thereof for the introduction of wood chips or other comminuted cellulosic material.
  • an air lock 13 is preferably connected to the inlet 12, and a vent pipe 14 is next to the inlet 12. Chips are introduced through the air lock 13 in the conduit 12 through the top 11 of the chip bin 10, as indicated schematically by arrow 15.
  • the chip bin 10 also has other conventional vents, reliefs, and the like associated therewith, and also typically has an internal level sensing mechanism, such as a conventional gamma source level control illustrated schematically by reference numeral 17 in FIGURE 1.
  • Steam is supplied to the chip bin 10 to start steaming of the chips within it.
  • the steam is typically low pressure steam, such as provided through lines 18 and 19 from conventional sources within the pulp mill.
  • Line 18, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, is shown connected to the main body portion of the chip bin 10, while line 19 is operatively connected to a lower portion thereof.
  • the mechanisms for control of the steam addition to the chip bin, and for sensing and control of the level of chips within the bin 10, the control of air lock 13, and the control of various vents associated therewith, are conventional.
  • the chip bin 10 is a vertical vessel with a discharge at the bottom thereof typically connected to a chip meter 21.
  • the chip meter 21 is shown illustrated in dotted line in FIGURE 1 since it is not necessary in all embodiments of the chip bin according to the invention.
  • metering action is inherently provided by components of the chip bin which take the place of a conventional vibratory discharge (such as shown in U.S-A-4,124,440).
  • a low pressure feeder 22 which feeds the chips after initial steaming from the chip bin 10 into a conventional horizontal steaming vessel 23.
  • the vessel 23 typically has a vent conduit 24, and a header 25 connected to the low pressure steam source 19 for the introduction of steam, and a chips outlet 26.
  • An internal screw is typically provided in the steaming vessel 23. From the outlet 26 the steamed chips are then fed - as illustrated schematically at 27 in Figure 1 - to a high pressure feeder and continuous digester, or to a feed mechanism on top of a batch digester, or the like, through various conventional treatment and/or feed mechanisms.
  • FIGS 2 through 17 illustrate various embodiments and details of the chip bin 10 of Figure 1.
  • the accessories such as an air lock, vent pipes, steam conduits, etc. are not shown associated therewith, but would of course commonly be provided.
  • the chip bin 10 according to the present invention typically has a maximum diameter of 3.66m (12 feet) or more, typically 4.27m (14 feet) or more, which is where significant problems occur in conventional systems having vibratory discharges, there are many aspects of the invention that are applicable to chip bins of any size, and some aspects of the invention applicable to bins in general.
  • the internal conical-insert bin, construction of US-A-5 454 490 may be utilised.
  • FIGS 2 through 5 illustrate one embodiment of a chip bin according to the invention which may be referred to as a "chisel design".
  • the vibratory discharge conventional in prior art chip bins has been eliminated.
  • components comparable to those in Figure 1 are shown by the same reference numeral only preceded by a "1".
  • the chip bin 110 includes a hollow substantially right circular cylindrical main body portion 30 having a substantially vertical axis, a top 111, and an open bottom 29. It has a maximum (and preferably substantially uniform) internal diameter 31, which typically is 3.66m (12 feet) or more, e.g. 4.27m (14 feet) or more, for example 4.88m (16 feet).
  • the top 111 is defined by a top wall which has the conduit 112 (connected to the conventional air lock, etc., not shown in Figures 2 through 5) which comprises means for introducing particulate material, typically wood chips or other comminuted cellulosic fibrous material, into the main body portion 30.
  • a steam introduction header 32 which introduces steam at a plurality of points around the circumference of the main body 30, may be provided as the sole, or as one of several, mechanisms for steaming chips within the bin 110.
  • the bin 100 also comprises a hollow transition portion 33 having a substantially circular cross-section open top 34 and a substantially rectangular cross-section open bottom 35 (see Figure 4 in particular).
  • the transition portion 33 top 34 - which is continuous with the bottom 29 of the main body portion 30 - has opposite side non-vertical gradually tapering side walls 36.
  • the side walls 36 make an angle 37 (see Figure 3) with respect to the vertical, which angle 37 is typically about 20-35°, and preferably about 25-30°, but will vary depending upon the particular material handled by the bin 110 (e.g. the particular species of wood chips commonly used).
  • the ends 38 of the transition 33 are continuously curved surfaces, as indicated by the shading in Figures 2 and 3, and as also seen in Figure 4.
  • the main body portion 30 is welded to the transition portion 33 to provide a continuous fluid-tight wall so that steam introduced into the hollow interior of the portions 30, 33 cannot escape, except through designed vents.
  • the transition 33 has a height 39 which is typically less than the diameter 31, e.g. in one embodiment for a diameter 31 of 4.88m (16 feet) the height 39 would be about 3.66m (12 feet).
  • a baffle 40 is illustrated within the transition 33 for causing the chips flowing downwardly from the main body portion 30 to flow into two different volumes on opposite sides thereof.
  • the baffle 40 is not seen in FIGURE 4, but spans the entire volume between the non-vertical gradually tapering side walls 36, and makes an angle with respect to the vertical approximately the same as the angle 37.
  • two feed screws 41, 42 are provided mounted on separate shafts 43, 44 driven by motors 45, 46 respectively, and with a junction 47 therebetween.
  • the details of the bearings, etc. for mounting the shafts 43, 45 are not illustrated, nor are the details of the feed screws 41, 42.
  • the feed screws 41, 42 are conventional per se, and may be single screws, multiple screws, or any suitable conventional type.
  • the motors 45, 46 rotate the screws 41, 42 in opposite directions, so that the screws feed the chips toward the middle (below the baffle 40), typical screw speeds being about 10-100 rpm.
  • the first and second feed screws 41, 42 may be different hand (right and left) screws on a common shaft (43) rotated by a common motor (45). In both cases the screws are "oppositely directed".
  • the housing for the screws 41, 42 preferably has substantially the same width as the width of the open bottom 35 of the transition 33.
  • Operatively connected to the feed screw housing remote from the transition 33 (typically on the opposite side thereof) is the discharge 49.
  • the discharge 49 typically comprises a hollow substantially right rectangular parallelepiped conduit, connection, or transition, centrally located just below the junction 47, and having a diameter 50 which is approximately the same as the width of the housing for the screws 41, 42 (essentially the same as the screw 41, 42 diameters).
  • the length of each screw 41, 42 should be at least about 2.5 times the diameter of the screws, and these dimensions will be taken into account when designing the diameter 50, the screws 41, 42, etc.
  • the discharge 49 may be connected directly to a conventional low pressure feeder 122 (that is a chip meter is not necessary), and in fact the discharge 49 may comprise the inlet connection to the low pressure feeder 122. Since the screws 41, 42 provide a metering action (which is controlled by controlling the speed of rotation thereof by controlling the motors 45, 46) the typically necessary chip meter (21 in FIGURE 1) can be eliminated.
  • steam may be introduced into the transition 33.
  • the preferred manner in which this is done is illustrated in FIGURE 5.
  • Steam introduction is not effective in inwardly angled walls such as the gradually tapering side walls 36 of the transition 33 since the steam ports would have a tendency to clog.
  • this problem is alleviated according to the present invention, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, by providing a substantially vertical wall interruption 53 of at least one of the non-vertical gradually tapering side walls 36 (and preferably at multiple locations along each of the walls 36).
  • a steam conduit 54 such as connected to a steam header 55 supplied with low pressure steam, penetrates the transition 33 at the substantially vertical wall interruption 53, the interruption 53 being a minor discontinuity in the slope of the wall 36.
  • the arrangement of FIGURE 5 is provided in each of the subsequent embodiments of chip bins according to the invention, but will not be shown or described in detail with respect to the other embodiments.
  • FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of chip bin according to the invention. Components in the FIGURES 6 and 7 embodiment comparable to those in the FIGURES 1 through 5 embodiments are shown by the same two digit reference numeral only preceded by a "2".
  • the hollow substantially right circular cylindrical main body portion 230 is the same as the main body portion 30 in the FIGURES 2 through 5 embodiment, as are the screws 241, 242, and associated components at the bottom of the chip bin 210 to their counterparts.
  • the difference between the FIGURES 6 and 7 embodiment and the FIGURES 2 and 3 embodiment is the nature of the transition 233.
  • the transition 233 of FIGURES 6 and 7 incorporates the basic design features of U.S.-A-4,958,741 which is supplied commercially under the trademark "Diamond Back Hopper” by J.R. Johanson, Inc. of San Luis Obispo, California.
  • the hollow transition portion 233 has one dimensional convergence and side relief, provided by triangular shaped substantially flat side panels 58 connected together by curved end wall portions 59, the portions 58 making an angle 237 comparable to the angle 37 in the FIGURES 2 and 3 embodiment (e.g. about 20-35°).
  • a second hollow transition 61 having generally the configuration of a rectangular parallelepiped (with rounded ends) has flat triangular, substantially vertical side panels 62 on each side thereof, and rounded end portions 64, and leads the chips from the transition 233 to the screws 241, 242, in two separate flow paths, with the one dimensional convergence and side relief of each minimizing the possibility of hangup (bridging).
  • Expansion joints 63 preferably mount each of the sides of second transition 61 defining different flow paths to the housing for screws 241, 242.
  • FIGURES 8 and 9 components comparable to those in the FIGURES 1 through 7 embodiments are shown by the same two digit reference numeral only preceded by a "3".
  • the chip bin 310 of FIGURES 8 and 9 no screws 41, 42, 241, 242 are provided, and rather the metering function they provide is instead supplied by the conventional chip meter 321.
  • one dimensional convergence and side relief is provided, in this case using components having the same basic configuration as those illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 in U.S.-A-4,958,741.
  • transition 333 is substantially the same as the transition 233, the transition 361 is different, having the triangular side walls 68 which are substantially flat, and connected together by the curved end portions 69, providing the smooth transition from the substantially rectangular bottom of the transition 333 to the circular discharge 349, having a configuration similar to that of a truncated right triangular prism.
  • FIGURE 10 In the construction of the FIGURES 2 through 5 embodiment, some time there are restrictions on the sizes of components that are too restrictive for some installations.
  • the necessary dimensional relationship that provides such restrictions is -- as earlier indicated -- the necessity of having the length of the outlet of the transition at least about 2.5 times the outlet width for proper feeding.
  • this is accommodated by providing a single screw 71 in a screw housing 70 mounted to the substantially rectangular open bottom 35 of the transition 33, the screw 71 driven by the motor 72 and moving the chips in the direction of the arrow illustrated in FIGURE 10 to an outlet 73 that is offset with respect to the main body portion 30 (and transition 33).
  • a conduit 74 may be provided in the housing 70 at the end thereof remote from the outlet 33 to act as a vent, or to allow steam for steaming the chips to be introduced thereat.
  • the outlet 73 As the direct connection to a low pressure feeder, or the rest of the digester system 27 (from FIGURE 1), however in many situations it is more desirable to have the ultimate discharge from the chip bin to be concentric with the vertical axis of the main body portion 30.
  • a second screw 76 in screw housing 75 located below the first screw 71 and first screw housing 70, and illustrated in dotted line in FIGURE 10, is provided.
  • the screw 76 driven by motor 77, moves the chips from the conduit 73 back toward the center of the chip bin 110 to the substantially right rectangular parallelepiped discharge 49 which is concentric with the main body portion 30.
  • the screws 71, 76 preferably rotate about parallel axes in a common substantially vertical plane.
  • FIGURES 11 through 12 deals with the same dimensional problem that the FIGURE 10 embodiment deals with only in a different way.
  • a second hollow transition portion 80 is provided between the first transition portion 33 and the at least one screw (screws 41, 42 in FIGURES 11 through 13).
  • the second hollow transition 80 has a cross-sectional configuration substantially the same as a race course oval with substantially vertical side walls 81 but with the end walls 82 thereof slightly curved, and with a baffle 83 located in the center bottom portion thereof above the junction 47.
  • the open top 84 which has the same cross-sectional area as the open bottom 35 of the first transition 33, is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the open bottom 85, both the top 84 and bottom 85 being substantially oval (as seen in FIGURE 13).
  • FIGURE 13 illustrates the dimensional relationship that is highly desirable, namely the width W of the bottom 35/top 84 (which is essentially the same as the diameter of the screws 41, 42) requires an outlet length (for each screw 41, 42) greater than about 2.5 W.
  • the discharge 49 is substantially concentric with the main body portion 30 yet the desired dimensional relationship W/greater than 2.5 W, is readily achieved.
  • the baffle 83 divides the flow of chips into two different volumes, and prevents short circuiting of the chips directly to the discharge 49.
  • FIGURES 14 and 15 show an embodiment similar to that in FIGURES 2 and 3 only without a baffle. Since the central discharge 49 could be prone to short circuiting, a conventional chip meter 121 is included in this embodiment, run by a motor 86, even though the screws 41, 42 are provided. With such an arrangement it is necessary to control the speeds of the motors 45, 46 (or a single motor taking the place of motors 45, 46), 86 to prevent starvation of the chip meter 121, as by using the controller 87. Also in this embodiment there is the possibility of chip hangup at the junction between the screws 41, 42, and to eliminate this possibility it is desirable to provide the agitator 88, driven by a motor 89, located at the junction between the screws 41, 42.
  • the screws 41, 42 do not provide a metering function (as they do, for example, in the FIGURES 2 arid 3 embodiment), but rather only a transporting function, facilitated by the agitator 88.
  • the same advantages with respect to the length/diameter ratio of the screws 241, 242 as are obtained in the Figures 11 through 13 embodiment for the "chisel" bin design are obtained for the "Diamond Back" ® design of Figures 6 and 7.
  • a truncated substantially right triangular prism (with rounded ends, simulating a race tack oval) transition 90 is provided, having substantially vertical planar side plates 91, and the rounded ends 92.
  • a baffle 93 is mounted within the transition 90 above the junction 247 for the screws 241, 242 to divide the chips flow into two different volumes.
  • the second transition 90 has a substantially rectangular shaped open top 94 and a substantially rectangular shaped open bottom 95, the area of the open top 94 being significantly less than the area of the open bottom 95.
  • chip bins according to the invention can be used as bins per se rather than exclusively in chemical pulping systems, they are particularly suitable for use with a method of feeding comminuted cellulose material to a digester and where they have a maximum diameter of about 3.66m (12 feet) or more, and with a discharge which is operatively connected to a digester and has a cross-sectional area less than half of the cross-sectional area of the chip bin.
  • the comminuted cellulose material is fed into the top of the chip bin 110 through the conduit 112, to flow downwardly in a column in the chip bin 110 toward the bottom (where the discharge 49 is located).
  • the comminuted cellulose material is caused to move in a gradually restricting open flow path in the interior of the chip bin until the open flow path has a cross-sectional area (in the transition 33) less than half of the cross-sectional area at the maximum diameter portion (30) of the chip bin 110. Then without vibrating the chip bin or the chip bin discharge, a substantially uniform flow of the comminuted cellulose material is provided in the gradually restricting open flow path, substantially without bridging of the cellulose material.
  • the comminuted cellulosic material While in the bin, and typically also while in the gradually restricting open flow path, the comminuted cellulosic material is steamed, as by introducing steam at 32 and 55 (see FIGURES 2 and 5), and subsequently the partially steamed comminuted cellulosic material is discharged from the bottom of the transition 33, metered by the screws 41, 42, into the discharge 49. From the discharge 49 the cellulose material is fed to the digester (27 in FIG. 1), as through the low pressure feeder 122 and the other conventional components illustrated in FIGURE 1.
  • FIGURES 18 through 20 is a preferred embodiment for use in place of conventional chip bin assemblies.
  • the chip bin assembly illustrated in FIGURES 18 and 19 is shown generally by reference numeral 400, and includes a hollow substantially right circular cylindrical main body 401 having a substantially vertical center axis 402, a top (see 403 in FIGURE 18), a bottom 404, and a first diameter 405. Typically the diameter 405 is greater than 12 feet, e.g. about 15 feet. An inspection portal 406 may be provided too.
  • the top is defined by a top wall 403 which closes off the main body 401, and includes an inlet 407 for introducing wood chips (or like comminuted cellulosic fibrous material) into the hollow main body 401.
  • a nonvibrating discharge 408 is operatively connected to the bottom 404 of the main body 401, through the hollow transition 410.
  • the discharge 408 is circular in cross section, having a second diameter 411 which is typically much less than -- e.g. about 1/3 or less -- than the first diameter 405.
  • the diameter 411 may be about 1.22m (4 feet) when the first diameter is about 4.58m (15 feet).
  • the discharge 408 is a combination expansion joint and transition. As an expansion joint it accommodates thermal expansion in the assembly 400, and between assembly 400 and adjoining assemblies (e.g. pipes, chip meters, feeders, etc).
  • the discharge 408 is operatively connected to a continuous digester, typically through a high pressure feeder 413.
  • a chip meter 414, and associated other conventional components such as a low pressure feeder 412, a horizontal steaming vessel (not shown), and chip chute are provided for supplying wood chips to the low pressure circulation of the high pressure feeder 413.
  • high pressure pump 416 displaces the chips from the high pressure feeder 413 and feeds them to the top of a continuous digester.
  • the low pressure feeder 412 and associated steaming vessel and chip chute may be replaced by a slurry pump (not shown) connected directly to the high pressure feeder 413. In this case high pressure feeder exhaust is connected to line 437.
  • the hollow transition 410 for the chip bin assembly 400 provides for the optimum feeding of the chips while allowing steaming during feeding, and minimising the chance for chip hang-up even though the chips flow path is greatly reduced in size, e.g. from a 4.58m (15 feet) diameter to a 1.22m (4 feet) diameter.
  • the preferred hollow transition 410 illustrated in Figures 18 and 19 comprises a double Diamondback ® type of configuration, sold by J R Johanson, Inc. of San Luis Obispo, California, and as generally disclosed in US-A-4,958,741.
  • the hollow transition 410 includes a first uppermost portion 418 having a generally right rectangular parallelepiped configuration (with opposite end faces curved) and including opposite side faces having generally triangular shapes 419, and providing one dimensional convergence and side relief.
  • a second portion 420 tapers from a generally rectangular parallelepiped configuration at an upper part 421 thereof to a generally circular configuration at an upper part 421 thereof to a generally circular configuration at the lower part 422 thereof It also has opposite side faces having generally triangular shapes 423 which align with the first portion 418 generally triangular shapes 419 to define substantially diamond shaped wall portions, as clearly seen in Figure 18.
  • the transition 410 also includes a third portion 426 which is substantially the same as the first portion 418 (including the generally triangular shapes 427 on opposite side faces), only smaller, and a fourth portion 429 substantially identical to the second portion 420, only smaller, and including the generally triangular shapes 430 which cooperate with the shapes 427 to define substantially diamond shaped wall portions as also clearly seen in Figure 18.
  • the lower part 422 of the second portion 420 has a third diameter which is generally intermediate the first and second diameters, typically being at least 50% greater than the second diameter and at least 30% less than the first diameter. For example, where the first diameter is about 4.58m (15 feet) and the second diameter is about 1.22m (4 feet), the third diameter - indicated at 432 in Figure 19 - is about 2.44m (8 feet).
  • the chip bin assembly 400 also includes means for introducing steam into at least one of the main body 401 and hollow transition 410 to steam wood chips therein.
  • steam is introduced into both.
  • a conventional steam header assembly 433 (see Figure 18) introduces steam into one or more places along the main body 401, while steam is introduced from source 434 into the hollow transition 410.
  • low pressure steam from source 434 is introduced into the transition 410 utilizing conduits 435 provided in the faces 423 of the second portion 420.
  • steam relief 437 from the low pressure feeder 412 may be provided to one of the generally triangular shapes 423, via conduit 438, as seen in both FIGURES 18 and 19.
  • a wide variety of other mechanisms for introducing steam, utilizing headers, branches, conduits, nozzles, or the positioned wherever desired, may also be provided.
  • the main body 401 also may include conical ring inserts, such as the conical insert 440 seen in FIGURE 18, for relieving compaction pressure on chips in the main body 401.
  • conical insert rings 440 are fully described in US-A-5 454 490.
  • transition 410 is normally effective to prevent hangups, because there is such a large diameter reduction from the main body 401 to the discharge 408, and because no vibratory action is provided at the discharge 408 (or other components), it is preferred that some sort of mechanism be utilized to break up hangups if they do occur.
  • This is preferably provided by utilizing one or more air blasters, such as shown schematically at 442 in FIGURES 18 through 20, connected at the appropriate places to the transition 410.
  • Air blasters are conventional structures per se, which supply either high powered air, nitrogen, or like gas, for the purpose of dislodging trapped or hung-up solids (wood chips).
  • the air blasters 442 may be of the conventional type manufactured by Global Manufacturing, Inc. of Little Rock, Arkansas.
  • first and second air blasters (which may include first and second connections to a common air blaster) are provided connected to nozzles 443 on the end walls (generally perpendicular to the side faces containing the generally triangular portions 419) of the first portion 418, and nozzles 444 connected to the end walls of the third portion 426.
  • the nozzle 443 is disposed at an angle 446 -- which is preferably about 45 degrees -- to the end wall of the portion 418, and is disposed within a support ring 447 which extends outwardly from the portion 418.
  • the dimension 448 may be about 15.2 cm (6 inches), and the dimension 449 about 30.5 cm (one foot).
  • the air blasters 442 may be operated manually when the hangup is noticed by an operator, or blasters 442 may be operated automatically by sensing the flow rate through the discharge 408, or in other desired manners.
  • the blasters 442 may be mounted elsewhere in the main section of the bin (i.e. not necessarily within support rings 447).
  • the shapes 419, 423, 427, 430 need not be truly triangular.
  • the term "generally triangular" as used in the present specificatino and claims includes shapes such as those illustrated at 419' and 423' in FIGURE 21 (the reference numerals in FIGURE 21 are the same as those in FIGURE 18, only followed by a ""'), or other modifications thereof.

Landscapes

  • Paper (AREA)
  • Disintegrating Or Milling (AREA)
  • Processing Of Stones Or Stones Resemblance Materials (AREA)
  • Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)
EP95909253A 1994-02-01 1995-01-17 Chip bin assembly Expired - Lifetime EP0742854B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/189,546 US5500083A (en) 1994-02-01 1994-02-01 Method of feeding cellulosic material to a digester using a chip bin with one dimensional convergence and side relief
US366581 1994-12-30
US189546 1994-12-30
US08/366,581 US5628873A (en) 1994-02-01 1994-12-30 Chip bin assembly including a hollow transition with one dimensional convergence and side relief
PCT/US1995/000616 WO1995021287A1 (en) 1994-02-01 1995-01-17 Chip bin assembly including a hollow transition with one dimensional convergence and side relief

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0742854A1 EP0742854A1 (en) 1996-11-20
EP0742854B1 true EP0742854B1 (en) 2002-09-18

Family

ID=26885270

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95909253A Expired - Lifetime EP0742854B1 (en) 1994-02-01 1995-01-17 Chip bin assembly

Country Status (12)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0742854B1 (zh)
JP (1) JP2991500B2 (zh)
CN (1) CN1048778C (zh)
AU (1) AU1727995A (zh)
BR (1) BR9506682A (zh)
CA (1) CA2181892C (zh)
DE (1) DE69528252T2 (zh)
ES (1) ES2182889T3 (zh)
FI (1) FI119329B (zh)
PT (1) PT742854E (zh)
RU (1) RU2124600C1 (zh)
WO (1) WO1995021287A1 (zh)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE522778C2 (sv) 2001-10-24 2004-03-09 Metso Paper Inc Behållare för uppsamling och utmatning av flis
US20090020244A1 (en) * 2007-07-16 2009-01-22 Andritz Inc. Impregnation vessel with convergence side relief and method for heat injection at convergence
SE532060C2 (sv) * 2008-03-20 2009-10-13 Metso Fiber Karlstad Ab Matningssystem innefattande parallella pumpar för en kontinuerlig kokare
SE532083C2 (sv) * 2008-03-20 2009-10-20 Metso Fiber Karlstad Ab Matningssystem innefattande parallella pumpar för en kontinuerlig kokare
SE532931C2 (sv) * 2008-03-20 2010-05-11 Metso Fiber Karlstad Ab Matningssystem innefattande parallella pumpar för en kontinuerlig kokare
US8956505B2 (en) * 2009-06-11 2015-02-17 Andritz Technology And Asset Management Gmbh Compact feed system and method for comminuted cellulosic material
EP2335531A1 (en) * 2009-12-17 2011-06-22 Nestec S.A. Powder dispensing canister
US8628623B2 (en) * 2009-12-21 2014-01-14 Andritz Technology And Asset Management Gmbh Method and process for dry discharge in a pressurized pretreatment reactor
RU2474636C1 (ru) * 2011-09-06 2013-02-10 Открытое акционерное общество "Группа "Илим" Устройство для комплексной переработки щепы древесины лиственницы
WO2014142724A1 (en) 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 Valmet Ab Bin for collecting and discharging smaller ligno-cellulosic material
SE2151392A1 (en) * 2021-11-15 2023-05-16 Valmet Oy Vessel having internal vibrator body

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE300755B (zh) * 1964-04-16 1968-05-06 Kamyr Ab
US4071399A (en) * 1976-09-01 1978-01-31 Kamyr, Inc. Apparatus and method for the displacement impregnation of cellulosic chips material
US4721231A (en) * 1980-09-08 1988-01-26 Kamyr, Inc. Chips bin blockage preventing
US4958741A (en) * 1989-06-14 1990-09-25 Jr Johanson, Inc. Modular mass-flow bin

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1995021287A1 (en) 1995-08-10
DE69528252D1 (de) 2002-10-24
EP0742854A1 (en) 1996-11-20
FI119329B (fi) 2008-10-15
JPH09507536A (ja) 1997-07-29
AU1727995A (en) 1995-08-21
CN1048778C (zh) 2000-01-26
JP2991500B2 (ja) 1999-12-20
FI963000A (fi) 1996-09-30
PT742854E (pt) 2003-01-31
CA2181892C (en) 2001-07-24
CA2181892A1 (en) 1995-08-10
DE69528252T2 (de) 2003-05-08
BR9506682A (pt) 1997-11-18
FI963000A0 (fi) 1996-07-29
RU2124600C1 (ru) 1999-01-10
ES2182889T3 (es) 2003-03-16
CN1139968A (zh) 1997-01-08

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