GB1586358A

GB1586358A - Method and apparatus for pelletizing batch material

Info

Publication number: GB1586358A
Application number: GB25928/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Corp
Current assignee: Owens Corning
Priority date: 1977-06-24
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1981-03-18
Also published as: DE2827407C3; BE868408A; NO143739B; AU3717678A; NZ187666A; IT1095922B; FI63004B; CA1094298A; NL7806474A; AU518153B2; FR2395479B1; NO782194L; FI63004C; JPS5411118A; NO143739C; BR7803944A; ZA783468B; DE2827407B2; FI782006A; SE431291B

Description

(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PELLETIZING BATCH MATERIAL (71) We, OWENS-CORNING FIBERGLAS CORPORATION, of Fiberglas Tower, Toledo, Ohio 43659, United States of America, a Corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Ohio, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for pelletizing batch material, e.g.

glass batch prior to being supplied to a melting unit and to a method and apparatus for preparing molten glass utilizing glass pellets.

It has been found to be advantageous to collect the products of combustion or hot gases over molten glass in a glass melting furnace or unit and to pass them in heatexchange relationship with the batch material being supplied to the melting furnace. The batch can thus be preheated to elevated temperatures to save significant amounts of energy subsequently required to melt the batch. The exhaust gases otherwise are simply expelled to the atmosphere in many instances with a considerable waste of heat and energy.

Preferably, the heat-softenable batch material is in the form of balls or pellets in the heat-exchange chamber through which the hot gases are passed. However, it has been discovered that uniformity of the pellet size is a critical factor to success. It has also been discovered that pellet size is important in addition to uniformity.

The invention is accordingly aimed at the preparation of pellets of controlled size and improved uniformity.

According to the invention there is provided a method of pelletizing particulate batch material on a rotatable disc pelletizer, which method comprises supplying particulate batch material and water to the pelletizer surface, sensing the depth of the material on a predetermined portion of the pelletizer, and changing the ratio of the water and the batch material in response to the sensed depth.

Preferably the sensing is carried out by a sensor in direct contact with said portion of the batch material.

Preferably the said depth is sensed by a pivotally movable sensor.

Preferably the sensor is pivoted upwardly under contact from said batch material.

The invention includes steps of pelletizing glass batch material as described above, discharging the pellets from the pelletizer, supplying the pellets to a chamber, passing hot gases from a melting unit through said chamber to preheat the pellets, and subsequently supplying the preheated pellets from the chamber to the melting unit.

The invention further includes apparatus for pelletizing particulate material comprising a rotatable disc pelletizer, means for supplying particulate batch material and water to the pelletizer, means for sensing the depth of the batch material on a predetermined portion of the pelletizer surface and means for changing the ratio of water to the particulate material in response to the depth sensed.

Preferably the apparatus includes a sensor arranged for directly contacting said portion of the batch material.

Preferably the sensor is pivotally movable under contact from said batch material.

The invention includes apparatus as described above, means for forming a heatexchange chamber, means for supplying glass pellets from the pelletizing apparatus to the heat-exchange chamber, a melting unit, means for passing hot gases from said melting unit to said heat exchange chamber to pre-heat the pellets, and means for supplying the preheated pellets from the chamber to the melting unit.

Other preferred features of the invention will be found set out in the claims.

An embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention, illustrating the preferred method, is hereafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic view in elevation of overall apparatus for handling heat-softenable batch material; Figure 2 is a front view in elevation of pelletizing apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top, plan view of the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged, diagrammatic view of a portion of the pelletizing apparatus; and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of controls for sensing batch material in the pelletizing apparatus and for controlling the flow of water to the apparatus.

Referring to Figure 1, particulate, heatsoftenable batch material is transported to a supply hopper 10 and supplied to a pelletizer 12. The particulate batch material is formed into pellets which are discharged onto a trough 14 having openings 16 (Figures 2 and 3) through which smaller or broken pellets can be separated. The pellets are supplied to a horizontal conveyor 18 and then carried up by a vertical conveyor 20 to the top of a heat-exchange hopper 22 which forms a heat-exchange chamber. The pellets next move down a supply tube 24 to a feeder 26 which carries the pellets into a melting unit or furnace 28.

Hot exhaust gases or products of combustion from the furnace 28 are carried up an exhaust stack 30 to the bottom of the hopper 22. The exhaust gases are then drawn through the hopper 22 by a blower 32 and discharged. The heat-exchange hopper 22 is large enough that the exhaust gases passing therethrough will be at a low velocity and not carry some of the pellets out through the blower 32. A substantial portion of the heat in the exhaust gases is transferred to the pellets in the hcat-exchange hopper 22 so that the pellets are at an elevated temperature when they enter the furnace 28. A substantial increase in efficiency of the furnace 28 is thereby achieved.

The size uniformity of the pellets themselves is very important. If the pellet size varies too much, the pellets tend to nest together in the hopper 22 and excessively restrict the flow of the exhaust gases therethrough. However, if the pellets are of sufficiently uniform size, there will be sufficient voids among them that exhaust gases can pass through without excessive impediment.

The nominal diameter of the pellets is also important because pellets which are too small provide excessive restriction to the flow of the exhaust gases. On the other hand, if the pellets are too large, their surface-toweight ratio is lower and the heat transferred to them is decreased. Further, in the large pellets, moisture tends to be trapped therein and turned to steam by the exhaust gases, causing the pellets to explode. More specifically, by way of example, pellets having a nominal diameter of one-half inch with a range of three-eighths to five-eighths inch have been found to be the ultimate for obtaining maximum heat transfer from the exhaust gases to the pellets in the heatexchange hopper 22.

The pelletizer 12 is intended to form the particulate batch material into the one-half inch nominal diameter pellets. Unfortunately, the components of the batch material supplied to the pelletizer 12 and specifically to the supply hopper 10 tend to segregate during transportation. Such segregation is not deleterious to the operation of the furnace 28 since the components of the pellets supplied thereto will average out over a period of time. However, the short variations in the batch components do affect the pellet-forming ability of the batch material.

In other words, variations in the components of the batch material supplied to the pelletizer 12 will result in a change in pellet size, with other factors maintained constant. The feed rate of the batch to the pelletizer will also vary and change the pellet-forming ability and the pellet size with other factors being constant.

Water, is supplied to the pelletizer 12 and it has been found that the water quantity or the ratio of the water to the batch material will affect the pellet size. An increase in the amount of water or an increase in the ratio of the water to batch material results in larger pellets being produced, while less water results in smaller pellets, at least with most batch materials. Also, in accordance with the invention, it has been found that certain physical characteristics of the batch material on the pelletizer 12 can be sensed to control the flow of water or the water to batch material to maintain the pellet size in the desired range.

More specifically, the depth of the batch material or the pellets being formed at certain portions of the pelletizer can be measured, with the water flow then controlled accordingly. An increased depth of the nuclei or seeds of the batch material on which the pellets are formed indicates that the seeds are tending to stick together more and thus increase in depth. This occurs when the amount of water or ratio of water to batch material increases. When the depth increases, the amount of water supplied to the pelletizer is then reduced because a continued excess of water otherwise would cause fewer but larger pellets to be formed. Also, when the depth of the nuclei or seeds is less, they tend to stick together to a lesser extent, indicating that the water content has decreased and that the pellet size accordingly will be smaller. The amount of water is then increased to prevent this.

Referring to Figs. 2--4, the pelletizer 12 includes a movable surface 34 specifically formed by a rotatable disc. The disc 34 is rotatably carried on a bearing housing 36 (Fig. 1) which is pivotally mounted on arms 38 carried on an axle 40 which is mounted on a stand 42. The disc 34 is moved or rotated by a suitable motor 44. A wall 46 surrounds the rotatable member 34 with the pellets tumbling over this wall and down a spout 47 to the trough 14 when of the final size. An outer cleaning plow 48 (Fig. 2 and 3) and an inner cleaning plow 49 clean the surface of the rotatable member 34.

Batch from the supply hopper 10 is supplied to a lower central portion of the rotatable member 34, as indicated in Fig. 4, by a suitable feeder 50. In this instance, the feeder 50 is shown as having a belt conveyor 52 (Fig. 2) driven by a motor 54; however, other conveyors such as vibratory conveyors can be equally well employed.

While the feeder is intended to supply a constant quantity of batch, as a practical matter, the feed rate of substantially any feeder is subject to some variation. This requires changes in the water supply even though the batch components do not vary.

In addition, water is supplied to a lower central portion of the rotatable member 34, at a portion thereof shown in Fig. 4, by a supply line or spout 56. With the rotatable member 34 rotating in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 4, the batch is carried in generally elliptical paths as it moves up the surface, the surface being maintained at a preset angle to the horizontal, such as 45 , as determined by the position of the legs 38.

Actually, the wet batch moves in three rather distinct streams or paths as it is carried up the moving surface and falls back.

In the outer path are seeds or nuclei of the batch on which the pellets form. In the middle path are partially formed pellets having diameters in the range of one-fourth to three-eighths inch when pellets having a nominal diameter of one-half inch are to be produced. In the inner path are finished pellets which roll in a tight elliptical path until they tumble over the annular wall 46.

As the seeds or nuclei form, the particulate batch material gathers thereon in continuous layers to gradually increase the diameters of the partially formed pellets until the desired size is attained. As moisture or water is introduced to the agitated mass of particulate material, the capillary force of the water and the mechanical force of the agitation of the particulate material against the moving surface causes packing and coalescing of the material into firm bodies.

The batch material in the outer stream and also, at least to some extent, in the middle stream, tends to stick together more when there is more moisture or water in the batch, with the depth of the stream correspondingly increasing. When this depth reaches a predetermined value, the water is cut back with the build-up of the batch material accordingly decreasing again. Otherwise, with the higher water content, the batch tends to agglomerate onto existing nuclei or seeds readily, rather than forming more new seeds, with fewer or larger pellets thereby resulting. Oppositely, with less moisture or water, the agglomeration tendency of the particulate batch material is decreased with more nuclei or seeds forming, which results in more but smaller pellets since there are more nuclei on which a given amount of batch can form, and there is a lesser tendency for the batch to agglomerate.

The water supply through the spout 56 to the moving surface 34 can be controlled by the system shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5. Accordingly, water is supplied to the spout 56 through a first branch passage or line 58 having a manually-controlled valve 60 therein. Water can also be supplied to the spout 56 through a second branch passage or line 62 having a solenoid-operated valve 64 and a manually-controlled valve 65 for adjustment. Water for both of the lines 58 and 62 can be supplied through a suitable supply line 66. The flow of water through the line 58 to the spout 56 is such as to be less than the amount needed to produce the desired size pellets on the pelletizer 12.

However, the flow of water through both of the lines 58 and 62, when the valve 64 is open, is in excess of the amount needed for producing pellets of the desired size.

By way of example, with a typical batch material which is supplied to the pelletizer 12 at the predetermined rate of 2000 pounds per hour, for example, a water supply of forty gallons per hour may be required to produce pellets of a given nominal diameter.

However, for short variations in the batch components, the amount of water may need to be varied from perhaps 35-45 gallons per hour in order to maintain the pellet size relatively constant. In that instance, the water flow through the first branch passage 58 can be set at 30 gallons per hour, below the minimum required. The supply of water through the second branch passage 62 can then be set at 20 gallons per hour. The combined flow through both of the passages 58 and 62 will then be 50 gallons per hour, which is in excess of the maximum quantity of water required. Thus, liquid flow through the passage 58 is supplemented from timeto-time by flow through the passage 62 to obtain the pellets of the desired nominal diameter.

The control of the water through the passage 62 is regulated by a suitable sensing device which senses the depth of the particulate batch material on the surface 34. The sensing device can sense the water content, as previously discussed, and does this by sensing the depth of the nuclei or partially formed pellets moving in the outer or middle streams on the surface 34. In the specific example shown, the solenoid valve 64 is controlled through a timer 68 which, when energized, supplies power through contacts therein to the solenoid of the valve 64 for a predetermined period of time, such as four seconds. Power to energize the timer, in turn, is controlled through a switch 70.

The switch 70 has an actuating stem 72 connected with an arm 74 supporting a sensor or paddle 76. The arm 74, in turn, is pivotally supported by an overhead bar 78 connected to a post 80 at one side of the pelletizer wall 46. The arm 74 is normally held against the step 72 by a spring 82 to keep the switch 70 open.

The paddle 76 is located near the annular wall 46 above an upper, outer portion of the surface 34 of the pelletizer. It preferably is in a position to determine the depth of the seeds or nuclei in the outer path of the batch material on the moving surface 34 but can also sense the depth of the partially formed pellets. When the depth of the batch material, whether seeds or pellets, reaches a predetermined amount or level, the paddle 76 is contacted and moved in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5.

The batch material, as discussed before, reaches the predetermined depth when the water content increases and causes it to stick together and build up. Consequently, when this condition occurs, it is desired to decrease tulle amount of water in the batch or decrease the ratio of the water to batch.

For this purpose, when the paddle 76 is moved, it pulls the actuating stem 72 of the switch 70 outwardly to close the switch and energize the timer 68 for its predetermined period of time. When the timer is energized, it closes the valve 64 and results in only the water from the line 58 being supplied to the spout 56. Each time the paddle 76 is moved, its resets the timer 68 so that the valve 64 remains closed until the paddle is no longer contacted by the batch material for a period of time exceeding the period set on the timer. With this arrangement, the water content can be maintained substantially constant in the batch so that the desired nominal size of the pellets will be produced.

If desired, the sensor, or paddle, can be employed to control the flow of the batch material by the feeder 50. With the arrangement shown, the motor 54 can be a twospeed motor to drive the belt 52 at different speeds. If a vibrating feeder is employed, the rate of vibration can be controlled for the same purpose. Thus, instead of increasing the flow of water, the batch feed can be decreased, and vice versa.

Different types of sensors other than the paddle can also be employed. Thus, the depth of the pellets can be sensed by an electric eye. Also, ultrasonic waves or microwaves can be employed for this purpose.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A method of pelletizing particulate batch material on a rotatable disc pelletizer, which method comprises supplying particulate batch material and water to the pelletizer surface, sensing the depth of material on a predeterminde portion of the pelletizer and changing the ratio of the water and the batch material in response to the sensed depth.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sensing is carried out by a sensor in direct contact with said portion of the batch material.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the said depth is sensed by a pivotally movable sensor.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the sensor is pivoted upwardly under contact from said batch material.

5. A method of preparing molten glass including steps of pelletizing glass batch material by the method of any preceding claim, discharging the pellets from the pelletizer, supplying the pellets to a chamber, passing hot gases from a melting unit through said chamber to preheat the pellets, and subsequently supplying the preheated pellets from the chamber to the melting unit.

6. A method according to claim 5 arranged to provide and utilize glass batch pellets of one-half inch nominal diameter with a range of diameters from ,' inch to 5 inch.

7. A method according to claim 5 substantially as described herein.

8. Apparatus for pelletizing particulate material comprising a rotatable disc pelletizer, means and water to the pelletizer, batch material and water to the pelletizer, means for sensing the depth of the batch material on a predetermined portion of the pelletizer surface and means for changing the ratio of water to the particulate material in response to the depth sensed.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said sensing means includes a sensor arranged for directly contacting said portion of the batch material.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said sensor is pivotally movable under contact from said batch material.

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 10 wherein said ratio changing means comprises means for changing the amount of the water supplied to said pelletizer.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ratio changing means is arranged to cause the supply of water to decrease when the said depth reaches a predetermined value.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. example shown, the solenoid valve 64 is controlled through a timer 68 which, when energized, supplies power through contacts therein to the solenoid of the valve 64 for a predetermined period of time, such as four seconds. Power to energize the timer, in turn, is controlled through a switch 70. The switch 70 has an actuating stem 72 connected with an arm 74 supporting a sensor or paddle 76. The arm 74, in turn, is pivotally supported by an overhead bar 78 connected to a post 80 at one side of the pelletizer wall 46. The arm 74 is normally held against the step 72 by a spring 82 to keep the switch 70 open. The paddle 76 is located near the annular wall 46 above an upper, outer portion of the surface 34 of the pelletizer. It preferably is in a position to determine the depth of the seeds or nuclei in the outer path of the batch material on the moving surface 34 but can also sense the depth of the partially formed pellets. When the depth of the batch material, whether seeds or pellets, reaches a predetermined amount or level, the paddle 76 is contacted and moved in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5. The batch material, as discussed before, reaches the predetermined depth when the water content increases and causes it to stick together and build up. Consequently, when this condition occurs, it is desired to decrease tulle amount of water in the batch or decrease the ratio of the water to batch. For this purpose, when the paddle 76 is moved, it pulls the actuating stem 72 of the switch 70 outwardly to close the switch and energize the timer 68 for its predetermined period of time. When the timer is energized, it closes the valve 64 and results in only the water from the line 58 being supplied to the spout 56. Each time the paddle 76 is moved, its resets the timer 68 so that the valve 64 remains closed until the paddle is no longer contacted by the batch material for a period of time exceeding the period set on the timer. With this arrangement, the water content can be maintained substantially constant in the batch so that the desired nominal size of the pellets will be produced. If desired, the sensor, or paddle, can be employed to control the flow of the batch material by the feeder 50. With the arrangement shown, the motor 54 can be a twospeed motor to drive the belt 52 at different speeds. If a vibrating feeder is employed, the rate of vibration can be controlled for the same purpose. Thus, instead of increasing the flow of water, the batch feed can be decreased, and vice versa. Different types of sensors other than the paddle can also be employed. Thus, the depth of the pellets can be sensed by an electric eye. Also, ultrasonic waves or microwaves can be employed for this purpose. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A method of pelletizing particulate batch material on a rotatable disc pelletizer, which method comprises supplying particulate batch material and water to the pelletizer surface, sensing the depth of material on a predeterminde portion of the pelletizer and changing the ratio of the water and the batch material in response to the sensed depth.

7. A method according to claim 5 substantially as described herein.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims

8 to 12 wherein said water supplying means comprises first passage means for supplying a given amount of water to said surface, second passage means for supplying an additional amount of water to said surface, and electrically-operated valve means located in said second passage means to control the flow of water therethrough.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 including time-delay means for closing said valve means for a predetermined period of time when said sensing means senses the depth of material of said predetermined value.

15. Apparatus for preparing molten glass including pelletizing apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 13, means for forming a heat-exchange chamber, means for supplying glass batch pellets from the pelletizing apparatus to the heat-exchange chamber, a melting unit, means for passing hot gases from said melting unit to said heat exchange chamber to pre-heat the pellets, and means for supplying the preheated pellets from the chamber to the melting unit.

16. Apparatus according to claim 8 substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. Pellets produced by the method according to any of claims 1 to 4, or using apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 14 and 16.