Pulverizer mill protection system
AssigneeInnovative Combustion Technologies, Inc.
InventorRichard Paul Storm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for suppressing and inhibiting fires in coal pulverizer mills can include a fire suppression solution storage tank, a flow control cabinet, an equipment control/pumping enclosure, an air distribution system, and injection piping and nozzles installed at various positions in one or more pulverizer mills. A first set of nozzle assemblies in communication with the fire suppression solution can be positioned in the mill to disperse the suppression solution within the classifier zone of the mill. A second set of nozzle assemblies in communication with the suppression solution can be positioned within the mill to disperse the suppression solution within the grinding zone. A third set of nozzle assemblies can be positioned within the primary air duct of the mill.
Claims20
A pulverizer mill protection system comprising:
- (a) at least one pulverizer mill comprising a plenum chamber in communication with a primary air duct, wherein the plenum chamber receives a flow of heated air from the primary air duct;
- (b) a fire suppression solution;
- and
- (c) a plurality of nozzle assemblies in communication with the fire suppression solution and adapted to disperse the suppression solution within the plenum chamber.
A pulverizer mill protection system comprising:
- (a) at least one pulverizer mill comprising:
- (i) a housing comprising an upper wall, a base, and a sidewall extending between the upper wall and the base,
- (ii) an inlet opening formed in the upper wall for receiving solid fuel therethrough,
- (ii) a classifying element positioned within the housing for classifying the solid fuel, wherein a classifier zone is defined by an area between the classifying element and the upper wall of the mill,
- (iii) a grinding element positioned within the housing downstream the classifying element for grinding the solid fuel, wherein a grinding zone is defined by an area outside of the classifying element, and
- (iv) a plenum chamber positioned within the housing below the grinding element;
- (b) a fire suppression solution;
- (c) classifier zone nozzle assemblies in communication with the fire suppression solution, and positioned within the housing to disperse the suppression solution within the classifier zone;
- (d) grinding zone nozzle assemblies in communication with the suppression solution, and positioned within the housing to disperse the suppression solution within the grinding zone;
- and
- (e) plenum chamber nozzle assemblies in communication with the suppression solution, and positioned within the housing to disperse the suppression solution within the plenum chamber.
A method for suppressing fires in pulverizer mills comprising:
- (a) providing a pulverizer mill comprising a housing;
- (b) providing a supply of a fire suppression solution;
- (c) providing a plurality of nozzle assemblies, and operatively connecting the plurality of nozzle assemblies to the supply of fire suppression solution;
- (d) installing the plurality of nozzle assemblies to the pulverizer mill whereby the plurality of nozzle assemblies disperses fire suppression solution within the housing;
- (e) providing a programmable logic controller and operatively connecting the programmable logic controller to the plurality of nozzle assemblies;
- and
- (f) programming the programmable logic controller with a plurality of control algorithms instructing each of the nozzle assemblies to disperse suppressant solution at a selected interval, spray pattern and flow range in response to conditions in the pulverizer mill.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.