Apparatus for grinding material

• US 5,839,673 A
• Filed: 09/10/1996
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bonaire Research & Development Co., Williams Patent Crusher and Pulverizer Company
• Original Assignee: Robert Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Andrea L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KROLIKOWSKI, JULIE
• Application Number:
  US08/711,532
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 241/31, 241/33, 241/48, 241/65, 241/66, 241/79.1, 241/DIG. 14
• US Class Current: 241/48
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 21/00 Disintegrating plant with or without drying of the material for grain B02C9/04
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 23/32 with return of oversize material to crushing or disintegrating zone B02C23/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 23/34 gas being recirculated to crushing or disintegrating zone
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 1/00 Preparation of lump or pulverulent fuel in readiness for delivery to combustion apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2201/10 Pulverizing
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2201/20 Drying
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2203/102 Flashback safety, e.g. inertizing devices
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 17/103 with specific material feeding arrangements, e.g. combined with disintegrating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/2351 Atmospheric particulate matter [PM], e.g. carbon smoke microparticles, smog, aerosol particles, dust

Abstract

Apparatus for grinding material which enters the grinder in a wet condition and is subject to drying heat at the grinder to leave moisture in the ground material directed for independently material separation so the propelling initially hot gases looses its temperature level before returning to the grinder. A portion of the returning gases carrying ground fine with moisture therein is directed into a bag house to recover the fines and a portion of the drying heat is directed into the bag house to independently maintain a temperature level above the dew point temperature level in the bag house to prevent moisture from plugging the bag house. The apparatus provides two circulation loops, each with its independent moisture control, and a common transport for collecting product from each loop.

Claims

1. In apparatus for grinding material the combination which comprises:

a) a first material transporting circuit including a material grinding mill having a material receiving inlet, a ground material outlet connected into a material collecting cyclone separator, and circulating fan means connected to said cyclone separator and said mill to effect movement of ground material into said cyclone separator and return fluid means to said mill;

b) a second transporting circuit connected between said circulating fan means and said mill, a bag house having an inlet for circulating fluid and an outlet for ground material fines, and an exhaust fan connected to said bag house and open to the exterior;

c) heat supply means having an inlet connection to said exhaust fan and an outlet connected into said mill to supply heat to the material in said grinding mill; and

d) bypass means connected between said heat supply means in advance of said mill and said bag house for introducing heat to said bag house for maintaining bag house temperature level above a dew point temperature in said bag house.

2. In the apparatus combination set forth in claim 1 wherein a first temperature control includes sensor means at said mill adjacent the material outlet therefrom and at said heat supply means to adjust a given temperature level in the material outlet from said mill.

3. In the apparatus combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the level of the temperature from said heat supply means to said mill is controlled by sensor mean between said heat supply means outlet and combustion air supply to said heat supply means.

4. In the apparatus combination set forth in claim 1 wherein a temperature level sensor means is in an outlet for fluid gas exhausted from said bag house and the bypass means introducing heat to said bag house to maintain the exhaust temperature above the dew point temperature in said bag house.

5. In apparatus for grinding material for use as a fuel when reduced by grinding, the combination which comprises:

a) a material grinding mill, a cyclone ground material collector and a gaseous fluid fan connected into a first circuit in which the ground product from the mill is collected in the collector and the gaseous fluid is circulated and returned to the mill after substantial removal of the ground material;

b) a bag house and a gaseous medium exhaust fan connected in a second circuit for extracting fines of the ground material from said first circuit and discharging the gaseous medium to atmosphere substantially free of atmosphere pollution, said second circuit having conduit means for a gaseous medium supply connection at said gaseous fluid fan for supply to said bag house;

c) a heat source receiving combustion supporting air and discharge from said second circuit and directing heated fluid into said material grinding mill;

d) heat bypass means connected between said conduit means connected into said bag house and a gaseous fluid return to said mill;

e) control means including first control means to adjust the heat source to obtain a first level of heat in the ground product from the mill, a second control means to adjust the heat level at said bag house to maintain the level above the dew point in said bag house; and

f) transport conduit means connecting said bag house and said collector for directing ground material and material fines to a common discharge.