IE52827B1

IE52827B1 - Feeder/distributor apparatus for granular material

Info

Publication number: IE52827B1
Application number: IE302681A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corp
Priority date: 1980-12-22
Filing date: 1981-12-22
Publication date: 1988-03-16
Also published as: GB2090216B; ES507816A0; IE813026L; ES8300997A1; CA1173084A; NL8105742A; GB2090216A; JPS57141312A

Abstract

Feeder/distributor apparatus for granular material comprises an enclosure having two inlets (12, 14) and one outlet (16) defined by a frame (10), with one of the inlets (12) receiving granular material from an external source, a conveyor (20) disposed within the enclosure for receiving the material and conveying the material to the vicinity of the outlet (16), and a discharge hopper assembly (30) disposed in the outlet (16) for receiving material from the conveying means (20). The hopper assembly (30) includes a plurality of spaced discharge outlets 30b and a mechanism (32) for dividing the material into a plurality of streams for introduction into the outlets (30b). A source of pressurized fluid is provided via a duct (36) for providing pneumatic assistance to the flow of material through the outlets (30b).

Description

The present invention relates to feeder/distributor apparatus and, more particularly, to such an apparatus for distributing granular material in a plurality of outlet streams.

Many applications exist for a feeder/distributor apparatus which receives a single relatively large stream of granular material and divides same into a plurality of outlet streams for introduction into external equipment.

For example, many weigh belt feeders are on the market for feeding a granular ifiaterial .having a relatively wide particle size range, such as coal and/or limestone, into a boiler or combustor, for example a fluidized bed boiler. However, the great majority of these devices, although providing proper metering and controlling of the flow rate of the materials, discharge the multiple streams of material through a common outlet passage.

According to the present invention, feeder/distributor apparatus for granular material comprises a frame defining an enclosure having two inlets and one outlet; an inlet duct connected to one inlet for supplying granular material to the enclosure; a conveyor within the enclosure for receiving such material and transporting it to the vicinity of the outlet; a discharge hcpper assembly extending through the outlet for receiving material frcm the conveyor, which hcpper assembly defines a plurality of spaced discharge outlets and includes means for dividing received material into a plurality of streams for introduction into the outlets; and means associated with the other inlet for introducing a pressurized fluid such as air, into material as it flows through the discharge hopper assembly to assist the flow of material through the outlets. Means may be provided for vibrating the inlet duct to facilitate the distribution and flow of material through the inlet and to the conveyor.

In use, the apparatus is normally oriented such that granular material flows under the force of gravity from the inlet duct, through the inlet, and onto the conveyor. It is also preferred that the material flows from the conveyor to the discharge hopper assembly under gravity. Apparatus according to the invention can be used with granular material having a varying particle size range.

The discharge hopper assembly typically includes a plurality of divider bars disposed therein for dividing material received from the conveyor and defining a plurality of flow passages communicating with the outlets. Whatever the form of dividing means used, the cross-sectional area of the hopper assembly will normally reduce from a relatively large area at its inlet end to a relatively small total area at the outlets.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the apparatus of the present invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken along the lines 2-2 and 3-3, respectively of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the reference numeral 10 refers in general to a frame which defines an enclosure having two inlets 12 and 14 at the upper portion thereof and an outlet 16 at the lower portion thereof. A vibratory-type inlet duct 18 communicates with the inlet 12 and is connected relative to the frame 10 by an expandable bellows 19. The duct 18 is adapted to receive granular material which may be of varying sizes such as crushed coal of a relatively wide particle size range or a mixture of crushed coal and limestone. The duct 18 is vibrated by an external power source (not shown) in a conventional manner to insure a more even distribution of the granular material as it flows through the duct and the inlet 12 into the interior of the enclosure defined by the frame .

An endless conveyor belt 20 is disposed within the enclosure defined by the frame 10 and extends around two pulleys 22 and 24. The pulley 22 is located below the inlet 12 so that the left end of the upper surface of the belt 20, as viewed in Fig. 1, receives the granular material from the inlet and the pulley 24 is located over the outlet 16 so that the material is discharged from the right end of the upper surface of the belt into the outlet. The pulley 24 is connected to a drive mechanism, such as an electrical motor 26, by a drive belt 28 so that the upper portion of the belt 20 moves in a direction from left to right and therefore transports the material from the-inlet 12 to the outlet 16.

A discharge hopper assembly, shown in general by the reference numeral 30, is disposed within the outlet 16 and is better shown in connection with Figs. 3 and 4. In particular, the hopper assembly 30 includes an inlet mouth portion 30a which is disposed immediately below the discharge end of the conveyor belt 20 for receiving the granular material, and a plurality of spaced outlets 30b at· the lower portion thereof. A plurality of spaced, parallel flow divider bars 32 are disposed within the discharge hopper assembly 30 and define a plurality of flow passages communicating With the inlet 30a and the outlets 30b.

As noted from Fig. 1, the cross section of the assembly 30 is tapered from the relatively large inlet 30a to the relatively small outlets 30b, with the flow divider bars being shaped accordingly.

A fluid inlet duct 36 communicates with the inlet 14 of the enclosure defined by the frame 10 and is in vertical alignment with the discharge hopper assembly 30. The duct 36 is connected to a source (not shown) of pressurized fluid such as air or flue gas, and directs the fluid into and through the granular material flowing through the hopper assembly 30 to provide a pneumatic assist for the material as it passes through the hopper assembly 30 and the outlets 30b.

In operation, the granular material is fed from an external source (not shown) into and through the duct 18 where it enters the inlet 12 of the enclosure defined by the frame 10. The duct 18 may be vibrated to insure a uniform Sistribution onto the upper surface of the conveyor belt 12 which moves continuously within the enclosure defined by the frame 10 to transport the material from the area adjacent the inlet 12 to the discharge hopper assembly 30. Pressurized fluid is injected through the inlet 14 from the inlet duct 36 to aid in conveying the material through the discharge hopper assembly 30. The material is divided into several portions by the flow divider bars 32 as it passes downwardly through the assembly 30 and through the outlets 30b for providing several discharge streams into external equipment such as the inlets of a fluidized bed assembly.

It is thus seen that the device of the present invention enables a uniform discharge of a single source granular material into a plurality of multiple outlets while insuring a uniform aisfribution of the material through the entire system.

Claims

1. A feeder/distributor apparatus for granular material comprising a frame defining an enclosure having two inlets and one outlet; an inlet duct connected to one inlet for supplying granular material to the enclosure; a conveyor 5 within the enclosure for receiving such material and transporting it to the vicinity of the outlet; a discharge hopper assembly extending through the outlet for receiving material from the conveyor, which hopper assembly defines a plurality of spaced discharge outlets and includes means 10 for dividing received material into a plurality of streams for introduction into the outlets; and means associated with the other inlet for introducing a pressurized fluid into material as it flows through the discharge hopper assembly to assist the flow of material through the outlets. 15

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 including means for vibrating the inlet duct to facilitate the distribution and flow of material through the inlet and to the conveyor.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the conveyor comprises an endless belt, and pulley means for 20 driving the belt.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the dividing means comprises a plurality of divider bars disposed within the discharge hopper assembly and defining a plurality of flow passages communicating with the outlets. 25

5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the cross-sectional area of the discharge hopper assembly reduces from a relatively large area at its inlet end to a relatively small total area at the outlets.

6. A feeder/distributor apparatus for granular material 5 substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.