US 6,749,374 B1Granted

Flow development chamber for creating a vortex flow and a laminar flow

AssigneeEcotechnology, Ltd.

InventorsDarin L. Lane, Walter D. Prince

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Abstract

A pneumatic conveying system for conveying particulate material through a conduit that creates a strong laminar flow of materials and air surrounded by a boundary layer flow of air, such that long transport distances through dramatic elevation and directional changes can be achieved. Embodiments of the system include a blower assembly, an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit and a mixing chamber, wherein the mixing chamber includes an outer barrel, an inner barrel and an accelerating chamber. Low pressure air is supplied to the system by the blower assembly and mixed with particulate material. The air/material mixture is transported through the mixing chamber into the accelerating chamber and through the outlet conduit. In other preferred embodiments, the particulate material is mixed with the air in the accelerating chamber.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A flow development chamber comprising:

an outer barrel having an inlet end, an outlet end and an interior cylindrical surface;
an accelerating chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the accelerating chamber extending concentrically from the outlet end of the outer barrel, the accelerating chamber having a conical interior surface that converges in a direction from the inlet end to the outlet end;
an inner barrel having an exterior cylindrical surface with a first end and a second end, the inner barrel located concentrically inside the outer barrel, wherein the outer barrel, the inner barrel and the accelerating chamber are arranged to form a substantially unobstructed space between the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel and the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel;
an inlet device mounted to the inlet end of the outer barrel to direct gas through the outer barrel into the unobstructed space and directed tangentially to the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel setting up a flow pattern in the unobstructed space such that gas flowing from the inlet conduit into the outer barrel circulates around the inner barrel and traverses the unobstructed space from the inlet end of the outer barrel toward the outlet end of the outer barrel;
a pipe extending from the outlet end of the accelerating chamber;
wherein the first end of the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel is adjacent the inlet device and the second end of the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel is adjacent the accelerating chamber;
wherein the substantially unobstructed space extends from the inlet device to the conical interior surface of the accelerating chamber;

4 more elements

A flow development chamber comprising:

an outer barrel having an inlet end, an outlet end and an interior cylindrical surface;
an accelerating chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the accelerating chamber extending concentrically from the outlet end of the outer barrel, the accelerating chamber having a conical interior surface that converges in a direction from the inlet end to the outlet end;
an inner barrel having an exterior cylindrical surface with a first end and a second end, the inner barrel located concentrically inside the outer barrel, wherein the outer barrel, the inner barrel and the accelerating chamber are arranged to form a substantially unobstructed space between the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel and the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel, the unobstructed space extending from the first end of the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel to the conical interior surface of the accelerating chamber;
an inlet conduit mounted to the inlet end of the outer barrel to direct gas through the outer barrel into the unobstructed space;
a pipe extending from the outlet end of the accelerating chamber;
wherein the first end of the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel is adjacent the inlet conduit and the second end of the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel is adjacent the accelerating chamber;
wherein the inlet conduit is directed tangentially to the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel setting up a flow pattern in the unobstructed space such that gas flowing from the inlet conduit into the outer barrel circulates around the inner barrel and traverses the unobstructed space from the inlet end of the outer barrel toward the outlet end of the outer barrel;

4 more elements

A pneumatic conveying system comprising:

a flow development chamber;
a gas delivery system including a gas delivery conduit to deliver gas to the flow development chamber;
a product delivery system including a housing to hold product to be conveyed and a product delivery conduit connected to the gas delivery conduit at a location upstream of the flow development chamber to deliver the product to the gas delivery conduit such that gas and product are combined prior to entering the flow development chamber;
wherein the flow development chamber includes:
an outer barrel having an inlet end, an outlet end and an interior cylindrical surface;
an accelerating chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the accelerating chamber extending concentrically from the outlet end of the outer barrel, the accelerating chamber having a conical interior surface that converges in a direction from the inlet end to the outlet end;
an inner barrel having an exterior cylindrical surface with a first end and a second end, the inner barrel located concentrically inside the outer barrel, wherein the outer barrel, the inner barrel and the accelerating chamber are arranged to form a substantially unobstructed space between the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel and the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel;
an inlet device mounted at one end to the gas delivery conduit and at the other end to the inlet end of the outer barrel and directed tangentially to the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel;
a cylindrical outlet conduit coupled to the outlet end of the accelerating chamber, the inner diameters of the outlet conduit and the outlet end of the accelerating chamber being substantially the same;
wherein the first end of the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel is adjacent the inlet device and the second end of the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel is adjacent the accelerating chamber;
wherein the substantially unobstructed space extends from the inlet device to the conical interior surface of the accelerating chamber.

8 more elements

A flow development chamber comprising:

an outer barrel having an inlet end, and outlet end and an interior cylindrical surface;
an accelerating chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the accelerating chamber extending concentrically from the outlet end of the outer barrel, the accelerating chamber having a conical interior surface that converges in a direction from the inlet end to the outlet end;
an inner barrel having an exterior cylindrical surface with a first end and a second end, the inner barrel located concentrically inside the outer barrel, wherein the outer barrel, the inner barrel and the accelerating chamber are arranged to form a substantially unobstructed space between the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel and the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel;
an inlet device mounted to the inlet end of the outer barrel to direct gas through the outer barrel into the unobstructed space and directed tangentially to the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel setting up a flow pattern in the unobstructed space such that gas flowing from the inlet conduit into the outer barrel circulates around the inner barrel and traverses the unobstructed space from the inlet end of the outer barrel toward the outlet end of the outer barrel;
wherein the first end of the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel is adjacent the inlet device and the second end of the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel is adjacent the accelerating chamber;
wherein the substantially unobstructed space extends from the inlet device to the conical interior surface of the accelerating chamber;
wherein the conical interior surface of the accelerating chamber is without flow obstructions.

4 more elements

A pneumatic conveying system comprising:

a flow development chamber;
a gas delivery system including a gas delivery conduit to deliver gas to the flow development chamber;
a product delivery system including a housing to hold product to be conveyed and a product delivery conduit connected to the gas delivery conduit at a location upstream of the flow development chamber to deliver the product to the gas delivery conduit such that gas and product are combined prior to entering the flow development chamber;
wherein the flow development chamber includes:
an outer barrel having an inlet end, and outlet end and an interior cylindrical surface;
an accelerating chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the accelerating chamber extending concentrically from the outlet end of the outer barrel, the accelerating chamber having a conical interior surface that converges in a direction from the inlet end to the outlet end;
an inner barrel having an exterior cylindrical surface with a first end and a second end, the inner barrel located concentrically inside the outer barrel, wherein the outer barrel, the inner barrel and the accelerating chamber are arranged to form a substantially unobstructed space between the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel and the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel, the unobstructed space extending from the first end of the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel to the conical interior surface of the accelerating chamber;
an inlet conduit mounted at one end to the gas delivery conduit and at the other end to the inlet end of the outer barrel to direct gas from the gas delivery system and product from the product delivery system through the outer barrel into the unobstructed space;
a cylindrical outlet conduit coupled to the outlet end of the accelerating chamber, the inner diameters of the outlet conduit and the outlet end of the accelerating chamber being substantially the same;
wherein the first end of the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel is adjacent to the inlet conduit, and the second end of the exterior cylindrical surface of the inner barrel is adjacent the accelerating chamber;
wherein the inlet conduit is directed tangentially to the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel to set up a flow pattern in the unobstructed space such that gas flowing from the inlet conduit into the outer barrel will circulate around the inner barrel and traverse the unobstructed space from the inlet end of the outer barrel toward the outlet end of the outer barrel.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/618,695Filed 18 Jul 2000 · continuation
Priority: 11 Dec 1997
Granted: 15 Jun 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B65G 53/526
Adaptations of pipes or tubes: with means for special treatment to facilitate transport
B65G 53/08
Gas pressure systems operating without fluidisation of the materials: with mechanical injection of the materials, e.g. by screw
B65G 53/58
Details: devices for accelerating or decelerating flow of the materials; Use of pressure generators
B65G
Transport or storage devices