US 4,209,292 AGranted

Fluid storage and distribution arrangement mounted on rotary reactor

AssigneeAllis-Chalmers Corporation

InventorEugene F. Rossi

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An arrangement for storing and distributing a fluid on board a rotary reactor such as a rotary kiln. The application discloses a rotary reduction kiln for reducing a metallic oxide such as iron oxide to a lower state of oxidation. A liquid hydrocarbon is used as a reductant in the reduction process for the metallic oxide. The kiln includes a cylindrical chamber adapted to receive the charge of material which is being subjected to the reduction process. A plurality of rows of nozzles are mounted on and supported by the kiln in hydraulic communication with the interior of the reduction chamber. Flow of hydrocarbon liquid to each row of nozzles is controlled by a corresponding flow control valve in accordance with the position of the corresponding row of nozzles relative to the charge of material in the kiln. A plurality of hydro-pneumatic accumulators having the hydraulic sections thereof connected to a common manifold are mounted on and rotatable with the kiln. Each accumulator includes a pneumatic section which is precharged to a predetermined pneumatic pressure. The common manifold of the hydraulic sections of the plurality of accumulators is hydraulically connected to the plurality of rows of nozzles through a pressure regulating device and through corresponding flow control valves whereby to provide a liquid supply at a controlled pressure and flow rate to the nozzles when the corresponding control valves are in "On" position.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A rotary reactor comprising an elongated cylindrical chamber adapted to have a charge of material contained herein upon which a process is being performed in said chamber, a nozzle mounted on and supported by said rotary reactor in fluid communication with said chamber and adapted to dispense a liquid into said chamber required in connection with said process, a hydraulic flow control valve associated with said nozzle to control hydraulic flow to said nozzle, said flow control valve being mounted on and rotatable with said rotary reactor, a hydro-pneumatic accumulator mounted on and rotatable with said rotary reactor, said accumulator including a pneumatic section adapted to receive a pneumatic fluid and a hydraulic section adapted to receive a liquid, said pneumatic section being precharged to a predetermined pneumatic pressure whereby to exert pressure on liquid in said hydraulic section, means hydraulically connecting said hydraulic section of said accumulator to said nozzle through said flow control valve whereby to provide a liquid supply to said nozzle when said flow control valve is in "On" position, a pressure regulating means mounted on and rotatable with said rotary reactor and interposed in the liquid flow path between said accumulator and said flow control valve whereby to maintain a liquid flow rate to said flow control valve of a substantially constant predetermined value when said flow control valve is in an "On" position, conduit means carried by said rotary reactor and in hydraulic communication with said accumulator, said conduit means terminating in a quick detachable connector adapted to detachably engage a stationary source of liquid supply positioned off said rotary reactor, whereby to permit charging said accumulator with liquid, said conduit means being detachable from said stationary source to terminate flow of said liquid from said stationary source of liquid supply to said accumulator.

In combination, a rotary reactor comprising a cylindrical chamber adapted to have a charge of material contained therein upon which a process is being performed in said chamber, a nozzle mounted on and supported by said rotary reactor in hydraulic communication with said chamber and adapted to dispense a liquid into said chamber required in connection with said process, a hydraulic flow control valve in hydraulic communication with said nozzle to control hydraulic flow to said nozzle, said flow control valve being mounted on and rotatable with said rotary reactor, a hydro-pneumatic accumulator mounted on and rotatable with said rotary reactor, said accumulator including a pneumatic section adapted to receive a pneumatic fluid and a hydraulic section adapted to receive a liquid, said pneumatic section being precharged to a predetermined pneumatic pressure whereby to exert pressure on liquid in said hydraulic section, means hydraulically connecting said hydraulic section of said accumulator to said nozzle through said flow control valve whereby to provide a liquid supply to said nozzle when said flow control valve is in an "On" position, conduit means carried by said rotary reactor and in liquid communication with said hydraulic section of said accumulator, a first quick detachable connector carried by said conduit means, a stationary source of liquid supply positioned off said rotary reactor, a flexible conduit means connected to said stationary source of liquid supply, said flexible conduit means terminating in a second quick detachable connector, said first and said second quick detachable connectors being engageable with each other to permit charging said hydraulic section of said accumulator with liquid from said stationary source of liquid supply through said flexible conduit while said reactor is rotating through a substantial part of a single revolution of said rotary reactor, said first and said second quick detachable connectors being disengageable from each other at the completion of said substantial part of said single revolution of said rotary reactor and while said rotary reactor is still rotating, whereby to terminate flow of said liquid from said stationary source of liquid supply to said accumulator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.