Coal Pulverizer Monitoring System and Associated Methods
AssigneeOrlando Utilities Commission
InventorBradley J. Dunst
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coal pulverizer monitoring system and method measures a displacement of wheels in a vertical roll wheel pulverizer using strain gauges bonded to tension rods in an ambient environment outside the hostile environment of the milling area of the pulverizer. Signals from the strain gauges reflecting strain on the tension rods are converted to a displacement of the wheels inside the pulverizer, and thus a coal bed height.
Claims27
A system for monitoring coal being pulverized in a coal pulverizer, the system comprising:
- a coal pulverizer including:
- a base:
- a surface positioned at a fixed distance from the base for receiving coal to be crushed thereon;
- a frame;
- a roller flexibly biased to the frame for rolling on coal placed thereon;
- and
- a tension rod securing the frame to the base;
- a strain gauge affixed directly to the tension rod at a location outside a hostile environment of the roller;
- and
- a processor operable for receiving an electrical signal from the strain gauge and providing a measure of displacement of the roller from the surface, thus a height of coal on the surface of the table in the hostile environment.
A system for monitoring coal being pulverized in a coal pulverizer, the system comprising:
- a coal pulverizer including:
- a base;
- a table positioned at a fixed distance from the base, the table having a surface dimensioned for receiving coal to be crushed thereon;
- a first spring frame;
- a roller rotatable with the first spring frame and operable for rolling on the surface of the table;
- a second spring frame:
- a spring biasing the first spring frame against the second spring frame, wherein the first spring frame moves closer to the second spring frame through an action of the roller traveling over coal carried on the surface of the table;
- and
- a tension rod operable with the second spring frame, wherein the tension rod is fixed to the base, and wherein at least a portion of the tension rod is outside a hostile environment of the spring frames, spring, roller and table;
- a strain gauge affixed directly to the tension rod at the portion thereof;
- a processor operable for receiving an electrical signal from the strain gauge and providing a measure of displacement of the first spring frame from the second spring frames and thus a height of coal on the surface of the table in the hostile environment of the coal pulverizer, wherein the processor employs a spring constant of the spring and strain measured by the strain gauge to determine the displacement.
A method for monitoring a coal pulverizer having a surface positioned at a fixed distance from a base for receiving coal to be crushed thereon and a roller flexibly biased to a frame for rolling on the surface and coal therebetween, a tension rod securing the frame to the base, the method comprising:
- bonding a strain gauge to a portion of the tension rod, wherein the portion is located outside a hostile environment of the roller;
- operating the coal pulverizer for pulverizing coal placed on the surface thereof;
- sensing changes in strain signals from the strain gauge;
- correlating the strain signals to a displacement of the roller;
- and
- determining a coal bed height therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.