MXPA99007238A - Horizontal moving bed reactor - Google Patents

Abstract

A horizontal moving bed reactor for heat treating particulate material comprises a housing having an inlet for admitting therein the particulate material to be heat treated and an outlet for discharging the heat treated material, at least one tray disposed horizontally inside the housing between the inlet and outlet and having a support surface for supporting a bed of the particulate material, a heating system for heating the bed of particulate material on the support surface, and a conveyor system for moving the bed of particulate material while being heated along a predetermined direction on the support surface. The conveyor system includes a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart rake members extending across the support surface transversely of the predetermined direction and each having a plurality of spaced-apart fingers in sliding contact with the support surface. The rake members are moved to displace with the fingers the particulate material along the predetermined direction, the fingers of any one of the rake members being misaligned with the fingers of any other one of the rake members and being spaced relative to one another such that the fingers rake across substantially the entire support surface of the tray and constantly stir the particulate material while displacing same, thereby constantly exposing fresh surfaces of the particulate material to heat and increasing heat transfer in the bed. The horizontal moving bed reactor of the invention can be used not only for pyrolyzing particulate material, but also for drying particulate material and carrying out various reactions requiring heat.

Description

horizontal mobile bed reactor. In accordance with the present invention, a horizontal mobile bed reactor is provided to treat with material heating in 4 particles, comprising a housing having input means for admitting thereto the particulate material to be treated by heat and means of discharge to discharge the heat treated material, so minus a tray arranged horizontally within the housing% between the inlet and outlet means and having a support surface for supporting a bed of the particulate material, heating means for heating the bed of particulate material on the support surface and a transport system for moving the bed 5 particulate material while being heated throughout a The predetermined direction in the support surface The conveyor system includes a plurality of members of the hopzontalmepte L which extend across the surface transversely to the predetermined direction and each having a plurality of separate fingers in contact with each other. Sliding with the surface of "* F" support, and means for moving the rake members to displace the particulate material along the predetermined direction with the fingers The fingers of any one of the rake members are misaligned with the fingers of any other of the _ _ 1 15 rake members and are separated one from another such that --- »« the fingers rake through substantially from the surface of 1_? entire tray support and constantly stir the particulate material while moving uniformly and completely the same, so that they constantly expose fresh surfaces of material in 20 particles to heat and increase heat transfer in the bed. The Applicant has very unexpectedly found that by using a plurality of rake members as defined above to move a bed of particulate material while being heated in a §_ 25 support surface, the particulate material is stirred _. _. -_ t along an opposite direction. Preferably, the means for moving the rake members comprises a pair of endless chains each having a straight upper course of course and a lower straight course of course and positioned such that the upper straight course of a chain is extends over and adjacent to a side wall of the gutter "upper fpf and the lower straight run course of a chain extends over and adjacent to a side wall of the lower gutter, and the upper straight run course Z of the other chain extends over and adjacent to the other side wall of the lower gutter. upper gutter and straight run course 10 lower of the other chain extends over and adjacent to the other side wall of the lower gutter, and drive means for driving said gutters % '? chains. In such embodiment, each rake member advantageously includes a member with elongate fingers secured to 4 '4- the ends of | same to the chains, the aforementioned fingers I 15 extending outward from opposite sides of the finger carrying member such that the fingers on one of the sides of the carrying member 7 fingers make contact with the bottom wall of one of the gutters when e) rake member moves along one of the gutters and the fingers on the other of the aforementioned sides of the finger carrying member make contact with the bottom wall of the other gutter when the rake member moves along the other gutter. _ *. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, each The finger extends slidably through a respective opening. - * • - f 25 defipida through the finger carrying member of each member of rake for movement along the longitudinal axis of the finger such that the finger projects from the aforementioned opposite sides of the finger carrying member. Each finger is provided with stop means which retain the finger on the finger carrying member of each rake member while permitting limited longitudinal movement of the finger.Thus, when each rake member is moved by the chains from one gutter to the other gutter the fingers of the rake member are turned upside down and fall to make contact with the bottom wall of the other gutter. * s interconnect the first and second series of tubular members, and means to circulate a heated fluid through the tubular members of the first and second series. The horizontal mobile bed reactor of the invention can be used not only for the pyrolysis of particulate material, but also for drying and mixing particulate material and carrying out various reactions that require heat. "i i .- 50 of particulate material. The upper gutter 48b is supported on the lower gutter 48a by a plurality of side arms 64 extending upwardly spaced apart from the side walls 60, 60 'of the lower and upper gutters 48a, 48b, the side arms 64 which are welded at its lower ends to a frame member 66 of L-shaped cross-section defining a rectangular frame and resting on the internal surface 68 of the cylindrical wall 14. A plurality of spaced apart transverse clamp members 70 extend between opposite sides of the body. 66 member of the frame. As shown in Figure 4, an opening 72 is defined in the bottom wall 58 of the upper gutter 48b to discharge particulate material from it to the lower gutter 48a at one end thereof. An opening 74 is also defined in the bottom wall 58 of the lower gutter 48a at the other end thereof for discharging the particulate material from the lower gutter 48a to the discharge orifice 76 (shown in Figure 1) formed in the cylindrical wall. 14. The heating system 52 comprises a first series of spaced parallel tubular members 78a extending below the bottom wall 58 of the lower gutter 48a and contacting therewith, and a second series of parallel tubular members 78b spaced apart which extend below the bottom wall 58 of the upper gutter 48b and make contact with it, as best shown in FIG. 3. The ends of the tubular members 78a are connected to the inlet and outlet manifolds 80 and 82. , while the direct contact of the particulate material with the surface 52 of 3. -, * The heating allows the transfer of heat by conduction and radiation to be significant, which greatly increases the '4 coefficient of heat transfer by contact on the surface of % heating that can be as high as 200-1000 w / m2 ° C, depending on the size of the particulate material. The tubular members 78a, 78b are maintained in contact with the bottom wall 58 of the gutters 48a, 48b by a plurality of spaced transverse retention members 94 having an enlarged U-shape. As shown in Figure 3, each member 94 of The retainer has a sine portion 96 that holds the tubular members 20 in contact with the bottom wall 58 and a pair of arm portions 98 and 98 'attached to the side walls 60 and 60', respectively, of the i. _ \. gutters 48a, 48b. Thus, when a heated fluid is circulated through the tubular members 78b, the heated fluid provides _. * - < * general heat radiation for heating the bed 50 of material in i - 'K 25 particles in the lower gutter 48a. better in Figure 5. With reference to Figure 4, the conveyor system 54 is adapted to move the bed of particulate material along the upper gutter 48b from left to right and to move the bed of particulate material as far as possible. length of the spout arm 130 by screws 134 and welded nuts 136 The arm 132 reects one of the chain links 138 interconnecting the chain rollers 140 and is fixed to the chain pins 142. Each finger 126 extends slidably through an opening 144 - I respective defined through bar 124 for movement along the longitudinal axis of the finger such that finger 126 projects from opposite sides of bar 124 Each finger 126 is provided with two stop members 146 disposed on either side of the bar 124 for hold fingers on the bar while allowing limited longitudinal movement of the fingers. Thus, when each rake member 100 is moved by the chains 102, 102 'from one of the gutters 48a, 48b to the other gutter, the fingers 126 of the rake member 100 are turned upside down and fall to contact the wall 58 of the rake member 100. bottom of the other gutter. Accordingly, the fingers 126 on one side of the bar 124 contact the bottom wall 58 of the lower gutter 48a when the rake member 100 moves along the gutter 48a and fingers 126 on the other side of the bar 124 make contact with the bottom wall 58 of the upper gutter 48b when the rake member 100 moves along the gutter 48b. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the fingers 126 of any one of the rake members 100 are misaligned with the fingers 126 of any other of the rake members 100 and are spaced apart from each other such that the fingers 126 rake through substantially the entire upper surface 62 of the bottom wall 58 of each gutter 48a, 48b and constantly stir the particulate material while displacing the same. As a result, the fresh surfaces of the particulate material are constantly exposed to heat so that heat transfer from the heated bottom wall 58 to the bed 50 of particulate material thereon is increased. As apparent from Figure 1, the lower and upper gutters 48a, 48b together with the heating system 52 and the conveyor system 54 define a modular unit 148 that can be removed from the housing 12 for maintenance, after having disconnected the inlet and outlet ducts 90, 92 and outlet arrow 108. Several units 148 may also be arranged one above the other within a larger housing.

Claims (20)

1. REVIVAL NAMES 1. A horizontal moving bed reactor for treating particulate material heat, comprising: a housing having input means for admitting thereto the particulate material to be heat treated and exit means for discharging the heat treated material; at least one tray disposed horizontally within said housing between said inlet and outlet means and having a support surface for supporting a bed of said particulate material; heating means for heating said bed of particulate material on said support surface; and a conveyor system for moving said bed of particulate material while being heated along a predetermined direction on said supporting surface, said conveyor system 'including a plurality of horizontally spaced rake members extending through said surface of support transversely to said predetermined direction and each having a plurality of fingers separated in sliding contact with said support surface, and means for moving said rake members to move said particulate material along said fingers along said predetermined direction, the fingers of any one of said rake members being misaligned with the fingers of any other said rake members and being spaced apart from each other such that said fingers rake through substantially the entire support surface of said tray and constantly stir said m aterial in particles while uniformly and completely displacing the same, thereby constantly exposing fresh surfaces of said particulate material to heat and increase the heat transfer in said bed.
2. 2. A reactor according to claim 1, wherein said at least one tray is in the form of an open-ended gutter having an enlarged U-shaped cross-section and including a bottom wall and a pair thereof. opposite side walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said bottom wall having an upper surface defining said supporting surface.
3. A reactor according to claim 2, wherein there are two said gutters arranged one above the other and including first discharge means for discharging the particulate material from a top gutter to a bottom gutter.
4. A reactor according to claim 3, wherein said first discharge means comprises a first opening formed in the bottom wall of said upper gutter at one end thereof.
5. A reactor according to claim 3, wherein said housing has a peripheral wall with a discharge orifice formed therein, said discharge orifice defining said Exit means, and wherein said lower gutter includes a second means of discharge to discharge the particulate material therefrom to said discharge orifice.
6. 6. A reactor according to claim 4, wherein said housing has a peripheral wall with a discharge orifice formed therein, said discharge orifice defining said exit means, and wherein said lower gutter includes a second discharge means for discharge the particulate material therefrom to said discharge orifice.
7. A reactor according to claim 6, wherein said lower gutter has an end opposite said one end of said upper gutter and said second discharge means comprises a second opening formed in the bottom wall of said lower gutter in said another end of it.
8. A reactor according to claim 3, wherein said conveyor system is adapted to move the bed of particulate material on the bottom wall of said upper gutter along a direction and to move the bed of particulate material. on the bottom wall of said lower gutter along an opposite direction.
9. 9. A reactor according to claim 8, wherein said means for moving said rake members comprises a pair of endless chains each having a straight upper run course and a lower straight run course and positioned such that the upper straight run course of a chain extends over and adjacent to a side wall of said upper gutter and the lower straight run course of said one chain extends over and adjacent a side wall of said lower gutter, and that the upper straight course of the other chain extends over and adjacent to the other side wall of said upper gutter and the lower straight run course of said other chain extends over and adjacent to the other side wall of said lower gutter, and driving means for driving said chains.
10. A reactor according to claim 9, further including chain support means for supporting each chain along the lower and upper straight courses of the same. eleven .
11. A reactor according to claim 10, wherein said chain supporting means comprises a rail extending along an upper edge of each said side wall, whereby the rail of each said side wall supports said one. chain and the rail of each said other side wall supports said other chain.
12. 12. A reactor according to claim 1, further including chain guide means for guiding and maintaining said chains on said rails.
13. A reactor according to claim 9, wherein each said rake member includes an elongate finger holding member secured at the ends thereof to said chains and wherein said fingers extend outwardly from opposite sides of said carrying member. of fingers such that the fingers on one of said sides of said finger carrying member makes contact with the bottom wall of one of said gutters when said rake member moves along said gutter and the fingers on the other of said sides of said finger carrying member makes contact with the bottom wall of the other gutter when said rake member moves along said other gutter.
14. A reactor according to claim 13, wherein said finger extends slidably through a respectable opening defined through the finger carrying member of each said rake member for movement along a longitudinal axis of said finger. finger such that said finger projects from said opposite sides of said finger carrying member, and wherein each said finger is provided with stop means which retains said finger on the finger carrying member of each said rake member while allowing movement. longitudinally of said finger, whereby when said rake member is moved by said chains of said a gutter to said other gutter the fingers of said rake member are turned upside down and fall to be in contact with the bottom wall of said rake. another gutter
15. 15. A reactor according to claim 14, wherein said heating means is adapted to heat the bottom wall of each said gutter such that heat is transferred from the heated bottom wall to the bed of particulate material thereon. .
16. 16. A reactor according to claim 15, wherein said heating means comprises a first series of tubular members extending below the bottom wall of said lower gutter and contacting therewith a second series of members. tubular which extend below the bottom wall of said upper gutter and contact therewith, means of conduct interconnecting said first and second series of tubular members, and means for circulating a heated fluid through the tubular members of tubular members. said first and second series.
17. 17. A reactor according to claim 16, wherein said tubular members are held in contact with the bottom wall of each said gutter by a plurality of spaced transverse retaining members having an enlarged U-shape with arm portions fixed to the side walls of a respective gutter, with which when said heated fluid is circulated through the tubular members of said second series, said heated fluid provides general heat radiation for heating the bed of particulate material in said lower gutter.
18. 18. A reactor according to claim 16, further including support means interconnecting said lower and upper gutters to support said upper gutter above said lower gutter.
19. 19. A reactor according to claim 18, wherein said support means comprises a plurality of spaced apart upwardly extending side arms fixed to the side walls of said lower and upper trays.
20. 20. A reactor according to claim 18, wherein said lower and upper gutters together with said endless chains, said first and second series of tubular members and said conduit means define a modular unit. SUMMARY A horizontal moving bed reactor for treating particulate material heat comprising a housing having an inlet for admitting the particulate material to be treated with heat and an outlet for discharging the heat treated material, at least a tray arranged horizontally within the housing between the inlet and outlet and having a support surface for supporting a bed of particulate material, a heating system for heating the bed of particulate material on the support surface, and 10 a conveyor system for moving the bed of particulate material while being heated along a predetermined direction on the supporting surface. The conveyor system includes a plurality of horizontally spaced rake members extending to tt V, across the support surface transverse to the direction 1 and predetermined and each having a plurality of fingers separated in sliding contact with the supporting surface. The rake members move to move the particulate material with the fingers along the predetermined direction, the fingers of one of the rake members being misaligned with the fingers of another ? any of the rake members and being spaced apart from each other such that the fingers rake through substantially the entire support surface of the tray and constantly stir the particulate material while displacing the same, thereby exposing constantly cool surfaces of particulate material 25 to heat and increase the heat transfer in the bed. He M - &- horizontal bed reactor of the invention can be used not only for the pyrolysis of particulate material, but also for drying particulate material and carrying out various reactions requiring heat.