Feeding equalization for sludge presses
AssigneeKamyr, Inc.
InventorsErwin Funk, John Bolles, John Baldwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a dewatering press having a number of rotors rotatable in a cylindrical press housing with an inlet channel defining an inlet for a humid mass into the housing, a mechanism for equalizing the amount of mass fed to the inlet channels. A screw feeder is associated with each inlet channel, and equalization is accomplished by providing opening communication between the screw feeders at their pressure ends, adjacent the inlet channels. A module having a conduit associated with each inlet channel, and a cross over tunnel at the portion of the module adjacent the press housing, is disposed between the feeder screw housing and the press housing.
Claims20
Apparatus for extracting liquid from a humid mass, comprising:
- a cylindrical press housing;
- a plurality of annular rotor channels rotatable in said housing about a common axis;
- an inlet channel defining an inlet for a humid mass into said housing for each of said rotors;
- a screen liner associated with each of said annular rotor channels allowing liquid from the humid mass within a rotor channel to pass outwardly from the rotor, and ultimately outwardly of the press housing;
- a liquid outlet from said press housing, and a mass outlet from said press housing;
- a screw feeder associated with each inlet channel for feeding humid mass to each inlet channel, each screw feeder having a pressure end;
- and
- means for equalizing the amount of mass fed to said inlet channels, said means disposed just exteriorly of said press housing at the pressure ends of said screws.
A press for dewatering liquid suspensions, comprising:
- a cylindrical press housing;
- a plurality of annular rotor channels rotatable in said housing about a common axis;
- an inlet channel defining an inlet for a humid mass into said housing for each of said rotors;
- a screen liner associated with each of said rotor channels allowing liquid from the humid mass within a rotor channel to pass outwardly from the rotor, and ultimately outwardly of the press housing;
- a liquid outlet from said press housing, and a mass outlet from said press housing;
- a screw feeder associated with each inlet channel for feeding humid mass to each inlet channel, each screw feeder having a pressure end;
- said screw feeders disposed in a housing;
- and
- a module disposed between said screw feeder housing and said cylindrical press housing at said inlet channels, said module comprising a first plate connected to said cylindrical press housing and a second plate connected to said screw feeder housing, said plates being generally parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotors;
- a plurality of conduits, extending between said first and second plates, one conduit being provided associated with each screw feeder and its associated inlet channel;
- and means defining a cross over tunnel for providing communication between said conduits, said cross over tunnel disposed in operative association with said first plate.
A method of continuously extracting liquid from a humid mass by pressurization of said mass, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) positively feeding under substantial pressure the humid mass to each of a plurality of inlets to each of a plurality of annular channels as a continuous stream, each of the annular channels having perforations in at least a working section thereof;
- (b) creating an axial pressure at the interior of said humid mass;
- (c) continuously moving movable side wall sections of the annular channels rotationally about the axis along at least said working section, the movable side wall section having a surface area greater than the surface area of the remaining side wall sections of the annular channels whereby to continuously displace the mass toroidally along at least the working sections and to generate between the movable side wall sections and the humid mass a dynamic friction force thereby creating a pressure which is inferior to the axial pressure whereby to create between the side wall sections and the humid mass a low pressure zone which causes the liquid in said liquid mass to be displaced transversely to the direction of travel of the humid mass and to flow out of said conduit through the perforations;
- (d) continuously discharging the mass which contains only a small percentage of liquid at an outlet end of the annular channels;
- and
- (e) equalizing the amount of the humid mass fed to the annular channels at the inlets so as to minimize the chance that one annular channel will be overfed and will not produce a discharged mass with as small a percentage of liquid as desired.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.