System and method for manufacturing calcined gypsum with temperature control mechanism
AssigneeUnited States Gypsum Company
InventorBlair C. Walker
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Abstract
Embodiments of a system and a method for manufacturing calcined gypsum can include a calcination unit having a heating unit with at least one variable heater and a calciner temperature control device having a temperature sensor and a controller in operable arrangement with the temperature sensor and the heating unit. The calciner temperature control device is configured to adjust a thermal energy output rate of the heating unit based upon a comparison of the detected temperature and a target set point temperature so as to allow the supply of gypsum to be fed into the calcining chamber at a constant rate.
Claims20
A system for manufacturing calcined gypsum, the system comprising:
- a calcination unit, the calcination unit including a calcining chamber and a heating unit associated with the calcining chamber, the calcining chamber including an inlet for receiving a supply of gypsum therethrough and into the calcining chamber and an outlet for discharging the supply of gypsum from the calcining chamber;
- a calciner temperature control device, the calciner temperature control device including a temperature sensor and a controller in operable arrangement with the temperature sensor and the heating unit, wherein:
- the temperature sensor is positioned to detect at least one of the temperature within the calcining chamber and the temperature at a discharge portion adjacent and downstream of the outlet, the temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal indicative of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor, and
- the controller is configured to adjust a thermal energy output rate of the heating unit based upon a comparison of the temperature signal and a target set point temperature.
A method for manufacturing calcined gypsum, the method comprising:
- feeding a supply of gypsum at a feed rate into a calcining chamber of a calcination unit, the calcination unit including a heating unit having at least one variable heater associated with the calcining chamber;
- monitoring temperature within the calcining chamber using a temperature sensor positioned to detect at least one of the temperature within the calcining chamber and the temperature at a discharge portion adjacent and downstream of an outlet of the calcining chamber, the temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal indicative of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor;
- transmitting the temperature signal to a controller in operable arrangement with the temperature sensor and the heating unit;
- operating the controller to adjust a thermal energy output rate of the heating unit by adjusting at least one variable heater of the heating unit based upon a comparison of the temperature signal and a target set point temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.