# US 11,441,266 B2 · Disruptor assembly adjustment system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,266 B2 - Document ID: US11441266B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/953,843 - Filed: 2020-11-20 - Published: 2021-06-24 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-20 - Assignees: Andritz Inc. - Applicants: Andritz Inc. - Inventors: John Phillips - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441266B2 ## CPC - D21C 11/12: Combustion of pulp liquors - D21C 11/122: {Treatment, e.g. dissolution, of the smelt} - D21G 9/0009: {Paper-making control systems} - G01N 29/02: Analysing fluids (using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14 {; constructional or flow details for analysing fluids G01N29/222; optoacoustic fluid cells G01N29/2425}) - D21C: PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE BY REMOVING NON-CELLULOSE SUBSTANCES FROM CELLULOSE-CONTAINING MATERIALS; REGENERATION OF PULPING LIQUORS; APPARATUS THEREFOR - D21G: CALENDERS; ACCESSORIES FOR PAPER-MAKING MACHINES (winders or rewinders for finished products, means for adjustment of wrinkles or lateral extensions B65H) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A disruptor adjustment system comprising: a disruptor assembly configured to disrupt a volume of smelt flowing from a smelt spout into a dissolving tank, wherein the disruptor assembly comprises an actuator operatively engaged to a disruptor, a sensor configured to record process data from the recovery boiler; and a control system configured to receive a sensor output signal from the sensor, wherein the sensor output signal indicates the process data at a measured time, wherein the control system is further configured to compare the sensor output signal to a programmed operation range, and to send a disruptor input signal to the disruptor assembly to adjust a disruptor operating condition if the process data of the sensor output signal is outside of the programmed operation range. In certain exemplary embodiments, the sensor is an image capture device. In certain exemplary embodiments, the disruptor assembly can be adjusted remotely. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A recovery boiler dissolving tank disruptor adjustment system comprising: a dissolving tank; a spout adjacent to the dissolving tank, wherein the spout is configured to convey a volume of smelt into the dissolving tank; a disruptor configured to disrupt the volume of smelt flowing from the spout into the dissolving tank; a sensor configured to record process data from a recovery boiler; and a control system configured to receive a sensor output signal from the sensor, wherein the sensor output signal indicates the process data at a measured time, wherein the control system is further configured to compare the sensor output signal to a programmed operation range for the process condition, and to send a disruptor input signal to the disruptor to adjust a disruptor operating condition when the process data is outside of the programmed operation range. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising an actuator operatively engaged to the disruptor, wherein the actuator is configured to adjust a position of the disruptor in response to a disruptor input signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the position of the disruptor is a disruptor operating condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the position of the disruptor comprises an insertion depth. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the position of the disruptor comprises an angle of the disruptor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the disruptor operating condition further comprises a rate of steam flow. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the process data is selected from the group consisting of: a rate of smelt flow, dissolving tank operational data, and a smelt spout cooling water temperature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a camera configured to capture an image of the smelt in the smelt spout. ### Claim 9 A disruptor adjustment system comprising: a disruptor assembly configured to disrupt a volume of smelt flowing from a smelt spout into a dissolving tank, wherein the disruptor assembly comprises an actuator operatively engaged to a disruptor; a sensor configured to record process data from a recovery boiler; and a control system configured to receive a sensor output signal from the sensor, wherein the sensor output signal indicates the process data at a measured time, wherein the control system is further configured to compare the sensor output signal to a programmed operation range, and to send a disruptor input signal to the disruptor assembly to adjust a disruptor operating condition when the process data of the sensor output signal is outside of the programmed operation range. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the actuator is configured to adjust a position of the disruptor in response to a disruptor input signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the position of the disruptor is a disruptor operating condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the position of the disruptor comprises an insertion depth. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the position of the disruptor comprises an angle of the disruptor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the disruptor operating condition further comprises a rate of steam flow. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the process data is selected from the group consisting of: a rate of smelt flow, dissolving tank operational data, and a smelt spout cooling water temperature. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising a camera configured to capture an image of the smelt leaving the smelt spout. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the control system is further configured to receive a disruptor output signal indicating the disruptor output, wherein the control system is further configured to send an agitator input signal to an agitator to adjust a rate of agitation when the disruptor output signal indicates that the disruptor output is at a maximum and when the sensor output signal indicates that the process data is outside of the programmed operation range. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the control system is further configured to receive a transducer output signal indicating the transducer output, wherein the control system is further configured to send a disruptor input signal to the disruptor to adjust a rate of disruption when the transducer output signal indicates that the transducer output is at a maximum and when the sensor output signal indicates that the process condition is outside of the programmed operation range. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising multiple sensors disposed in, on, or around the recovery boiler, wherein the multiple sensors are configured to measure multiple process data types. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising multiple disruptors disposed above the dissolving tank. ### Claim 21 A disruptor adjustment system comprising: a disruptor assembly configured to disrupt a volume of smelt flowing from a smelt spout into a dissolving tank, wherein the disruptor assembly comprises an actuator operatively engaged to a disruptor; a sensor configured to record process data from a recovery boiler; and a control system configured to receive a sensor output signal from the sensor, wherein the sensor output signal indicates the process data at a measured time, wherein the control system is further configured to compare the sensor output signal to a programmed operation range for the process data, and to send a disruptor input signal to disruptor assembly to change a first disruptor operating condition to a second disruptor operating condition when the sensor output signal is outside of the programmed operation range. ### Claim 22 A method for monitoring and adjusting a disruptor operating condition for a disruptor disposed over a dissolving tank comprising: receiving a sensor output signal from a sensor, the sensor output signal indicating a process condition in a recovery boiler at a measured time; receiving a disruptor output signal from a disruptor assembly disposed over a dissolving tank indicating a current disruptor operating condition; comparing the sensor output signal with a baseline smelt flow position for the process condition; comparing the disruptor output signal with a baseline disruptor operating condition for the disruptor; and sending a disruptor input signal to the disruptor to adjust the disruptor operating condition when the sensor output signal is outside a programmed operation range for the process condition. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 further comprising receiving an agitator output signal from an agitator indicating a rate of agitation, and sending an agitator input signal to the agitator to adjust the rate of agitation when the disruptor output signal is outside of the programmed operation range for the disruptor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 further comprising sending a sensor input signal to the sensor to adjust a sensitivity to the process condition.