Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
  • F23K—FEEDING FUEL TO COMBUSTION APPARATUS
  • F23K3/00—Feeding or distributing of lump or pulverulent fuel to combustion apparatus
  • F23K3/16—Over-feed arrangements
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
  • F23G—CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION
  • F23G5/00—Incineration of waste; Incinerator constructions; Details, accessories or control therefor
  • F23G5/44—Details; Accessories
  • F23G5/442—Waste feed arrangements
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10J—PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES; CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
  • C10J2200/00—Details of gasification apparatus
  • C10J2200/09—Mechanical details of gasifiers not otherwise provided for, e.g. sealing means
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
  • F23G—CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION
  • F23G2205/00—Waste feed arrangements
  • F23G2205/14—Waste feed arrangements using hopper or bin
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
  • F23K—FEEDING FUEL TO COMBUSTION APPARATUS
  • F23K2203/00—Feeding arrangements
  • F23K2203/10—Supply line fittings
  • F23K2203/102—Flashback safety, e.g. inertizing devices

Definitions

• the invention relates to a seal mechanism for a gate valve operable between a solid fuel feed system and a combustion space, such as a gasifier combustion chamber, the fuel feed system comprising a hopper having at least its bottom end portion shaped substantially cylindrical, whereby the gate valve controls the discharge opening of the feeder hopper bottom end, and the gate valve open/closed positions being controllable by means of a gate valve actuator mechanism in such a fashion that a seal is provided between the hopper bottom end and the gate valve.
• the combustion space such as the combustion chamber of a gas generator and the portion of the fuel feed system downstream of the fuel feed point generally need to be isolated from each other for process control and safety reasons.
• This kind of isolation is frequently complicated since fuel residues such as chips, peat clumps or the like objects may remain on the sealing surfaces, whereby safe sealing is problematic.
• the high temperature in the combustion chamber sets high demands on the sealing arrangement.
• Conventional gate valves generally operate hingedly so that the gate plate is rotated downward to open and respectively upward to close the gate valve. Then, at the closure of the gate valve, residues of solid fuel may remain between the gate valve and its seat surface. As a result, the gate valve fails to close tightly.
• the sealing arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the bottom end of the hopper is equipped with a sealing member having a circular edge that is sharpened over its entire peripheral length.
• sealing member is a seal ring detachably mounted to the bottom portion of the hopper.
• a still another sealing arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the seal ring is made from a metallic material.
• a still further another sealing arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the actuator mechanism of the gate valve is adapted to first lower the gate valve plate slightly downward from its closed position and thereupon rotate the gate valve plate aside so as to uncover the discharge opening of the feeder hopper and that the closure of the gate valve is adapted to take place in a reverse order.
• a benefit of the invention is that any fuel residue possibly remaining between the gate valve plate and the sealing member edge is cut into pieces by the sharp edge of the sealing member, whereby the gate valve can close tightly.
• the gate valve plate is moved hydraulically thus allowing a sufficient force to be imposed thereon for cutting any solid fuel clumps possibly jamming the gate valve.
• FIG. 1 shows schematically a solid fuel hopper, a gate valve located thereunder and a combustion space below the gate valve in a closed position of the gate valve;
• FIG. 2 shows the same view now with the gate valve driven slightly open
• FIG. 3 shows schematically a view taken from below the fuel hopper, now the gate fully opened, that is, rotated aside from below the hopper.
• a solid fuel hopper that has its bottom portion made at least partially cylindrical and is adapted to feed fuel further into a combustion space 2.
• a gate valve 3 that can be driven closed so as to cover the cylindrical bottom opening of the hopper.
• the function of gate valve 3 is to provide sealed isolation of the fuel feed system from the combustion space.
• annular seal member 4 To the bottom portion of the hopper is made or attached an annular seal member whose lower edge tapers downward so as to form a sharp annular cutting rim in cooperation with gate valve plate 3.
• seal member 4 As the seal member 4 is metallic, it offers an extremely good service life in regard to conventional seals. By way of using a dismountable annular seal as the seal member, the seal can be removed for resharpening when necessary.
• reference numerals 5 and 6 designate the actuator mechanism of gate valve plate 3 employed for opening and closing the gate valve. In FIG. 1 , gate valve 3 is shown in its closed position in which the sharp edge of the annular seal member 4 faces gate valve plate 3.
• the gate valve plate is first lowered by the gate valve actuator mechanism 5, 6 slightly apart from the annular seal member 4 as shown in FIG. 2.
• the same mechanism performs the rotation of the gate valve into the position shown in FIG. 3, wherein the gate valve is entirely removed from below hopper 1 thus allowing the solid fuel to fall from hopper 1 into combustion space 3.
• gate valve plate 3 is rotated aside, its top surface meets a doctor blade 7 that sweeps the gate valve plate 3 clean from debris.
• the gate valve plate is rotated from the horizontal position of FIG. 2 to a closing position below feeder hopper 1. Also during this movement, doctor blade 7 cleans the top surface of gate valve plate 3.
• the gate valve plate is elevated against the annular sealing member 4 applying a vigorous force exerted by hydraulical means, for instance, such that any possible debris still adhering to the gate valve plate top surface is cut apart by the sharp edge ofthe annular sealing member thus permitting sealed closure of the gate valve.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)
• Combustion Methods Of Internal-Combustion Engines (AREA)
• Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=8564857

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (5)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2002
  • 2002-11-01 FI FI20021945A patent/FI113782B/fi active
• 2003
  • 2003-10-21 JP JP2004547677A patent/JP2006504923A/ja active Pending
  • 2003-10-21 DE DE60328510T patent/DE60328510D1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-10-21 WO PCT/FI2003/000779 patent/WO2004039923A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2003-10-21 AT AT03753628T patent/ATE437212T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-10-21 EP EP03753628A patent/EP1560899B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-10-21 AU AU2003271793A patent/AU2003271793A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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