EXPLOSION-MONITORING SYSTEM OF A COMMINUTING INSTALLATION, COMMINUTING INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN EXPLOSION-MONITORING SYSTEM

Abstract

An explosion control system of a comminuting installation for materials is provided for controlling unintended releases of energy by the materials. Additionally, a comminuting installation and a method for operating an explosion control system are provided. The explosion control system has at least one pressure control device. The at least one pressure control device allows for control of the propagation of pressure increases as a result of releases of energy by materials in the comminuting installation.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. An explosion control system of a comminuting installation for materials for controlling unintended releases of energy by materials, comprising: at least one pressure control device configured to control the propagation of pressure increases due to releases of energy by materials in the comminuting installation.

17. The explosion control system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one pressure control device comprises or consists of at least one pressure relief device.

18. The explosion control system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one pressure control device comprises or consists of at least one expansion box and/or at least one rupture disc.

19. The explosion control system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one pressure control device is arranged according to one or more of the following arrangements: (i) the at least one pressure control device is arranged downstream of a comminuting device in the direction of conveyance of the materials, (ii) the at least one pressure control device is arranged upstream of, on or in a conveying removal line for comminuted materials, or (iii) the at least one pressure control device is arranged on, in or upstream of at least one exhaust air duct.

20. The explosion control system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one pressure control device comprises or consists of at least one pressure guidance device with which the pressure increase in the comminuting installation is configured to be guided in a controlled manner.

21. The explosion control system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one pressure control device comprises or consists of at least one compartmentalization device.

22. The explosion control system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one pressure control device comprises or consists of at least one compartmentalization device configured to be controlled and/or the at least one pressure control device comprises or consists of at least one automatic-acting compartmentalization device.

23. The explosion control system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one pressure control device comprises or consists of at least one sluice and/or at least one pressure control device comprises or consists of at least one flashback blocking device.

24. The explosion control system according to claim 16, wherein at least one compartmentalization device of the at least one pressure control device has one or more of the following arrangements: (i) the at least one compartmentalization device of the at least one pressure control device is arranged downstream of at least one comminuting device in the direction of conveyance of the materials, (ii) the at least one compartmentalization device of the at least one pressure control device is arranged upstream of at least one conveying removal line for comminuted materials in the direction of conveyance of the materials, (iii) the at least one compartmentalization device of the at least one pressure control device is arranged in, on or upstream of an exhaust air duct for the at least one comminuting device, or (iv) the at least one compartmentalization device of the at least one pressure control device is arranged downstream of a pressure relief device in the direction of conveyance of the materials.

25. The explosion control system according to claim 16, wherein the explosion control system comprises at least one extinguisher for extinguishing releases of energy in the form of sparks and/or fire.

26. The explosion control system according to claim 16, wherein the explosion control system comprises at least one detector configured to detect unintended releases of energy by materials.

27. The explosion control system according to claim 26, wherein the at least one detector is arranged in the vicinity of the at least one pressure control device and/or at least one extinguisher.

28. The explosion control system according to claim 16, wherein the explosion control system comprises at least one control center.

29. A comminuting installation for materials with at least one comminuting device, comprising: at least one material supply line configured to feed materials to be comminuted to the at least one comminuting device; at least one conveying removal line configured to permit removal of comminuted materials from the at least one comminuting device, and at least one explosion control system configured to control unintended releases of energy by materials, wherein the explosion control system comprises at least one pressure control device configured to control the propagation of pressure increases due to releases of energy by materials in the comminuting installation.

30. A method for operating an explosion control system of a comminuting installation for materials, in which any unintended releases of energy by materials are controlled, the method comprising: controlling the propagation of pressure increases, as a result of unintended releases of energy by materials in the comminuting installation, by at least one pressure control device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0068] The FIGURE shows a comminuting installation for materials, which has an explosion control system.

[0069] The same components are marked with the same reference signs in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] The FIGURE shows a comminuting installation 10 for comminuting materials as a functional representation.

[0071] The comminuting installation 10 can be used to comminute materials of, for example, plant origin, in particular wood, waste wood, straw and/or renewable agricultural products, or plastic, composite material or the like, for example, into chips, fibers, wood chips, comminuted material or the like. The comminuted materials may be used to produce material panels, for example pressboard or the like. The comminuting installation 10 can be combined, for example, with an installation (not shown) for producing material boards, in particular a press installation for producing pressed boards.

[0072] The comminuting installation 10 includes a material feeding device 12, by way of example, a plurality of comminuting devices 14, an exhaust air purification device 16, a conveying removal line 18, and an explosion control system 20. A direction of conveyance 40 of the materials in the comminuting installation 10 is indicated by arrows 40.

[0073] The material feeding device 12 is used to hold the material to be comminuted. The material is comminuted with the comminuting device 14. The exhaust air purification device 16 purifies the exhaust air from the comminuting device 14. The conveying removal line 18 transports the comminuted material, for example, to silos or to further processing machines, for example, for the production of material plates.

[0074] The material feeding device 12 comprises, for example, a silo and corresponding metering devices with which the materials to be comminuted are fed to the corresponding comminuting device 14 via the respective material supply line 22.

[0075] By way of example, the comminuting installation 10 shown in the FIGURE has two such comminuting devices 14. The comminuting devices 14 can be operated in parallel. The comminuting installation 10 can also have only one comminuting device 14 or more than two comminuting devices 14. By way of example, the comminuting devices 14 are of substantially identical construction.

[0076] Each comminuting device 14 comprises a communitor 24, by way of example, in the form of a blade ring chipper. In the direction of conveyance of the materials, the comminuting device 14 has a collection space 26 for comminuted materials downstream of the communitor 24. A conveyor 28 is arranged spatially below the collection space 26. By way of example, the comminuted materials are conveyed laterally with the conveyor 28 from the collection space 26 into an execution room 30. A compartmentalization device, by way of example, in the form of a sluice 32, is spatially connected at the bottom to the execution room 30. The sluice 32 is, by way of example, designed as an explosion-proof and flame-proof cellular wheel sluice. A material discharge line 34 leads from the sluice 32 into the conveying removal line 18. The conveying removal line 18 is, by way of example, equipped with a scraper conveyor.

[0077] Furthermore, an exhaust air duct 36 leads out of the collection space 26 of the comminuting device 14. The exhaust air ducts 36 of the comminuting device 14 lead together to the exhaust air purification device 16.

[0078] During operation of the comminuting installation 10, sparks can be generated with which comminuted materials or dust particles can be ignited. The material, in particular waste wood, may contain contaminants, for example metal or stones, which increases the risk of sparking, for example, during comminuting with the communitor 24. Dust particles are generated during comminuting of material, especially of dry materials such as waste wood. The dust particles are highly flammable. The sparks may cause an unintended energy release by materials, for example, explosions or fires. In cases of unintended energy release by materials, the comminuting installation 10 is protected and basic operation is enabled with the aid of the explosion control system 20.

[0079] The explosion control system 20 comprises a plurality of pressure control devices 42, with which the propagation of pressure increases in the comminuting installation 10 in the event of unintended releases of energy from materials can be controlled. Moreover, the explosion control system 20 includes a plurality of extinguishing devices 44, a plurality of spark detectors 46, and an explosion pressure detector 48. Further, the explosion control system 20 comprises temperature detectors, which are not shown in the FIGURE.

[0080] In addition, the explosion control system 20 comprises a control center 50 to which the components of the explosion control system 20, that are provided for this purpose, are connected as regards control and/or signal technology. The control center 50 can be used to monitor and control the explosion control system 20. Moreover, the control center 50 can be functionally connected to a control device of the comminuting installation 10. The control center 50 may also be implemented as part of or integrated into the control device of the comminuting installation 10.

[0081] A pressure control device 42a, in the form of a pressure relief device with an expansion box 52 and a rupture disc 54 is arranged at the collection space 26 of each comminuting device 14, which is to say downstream of the communitor 24, as viewed in the direction of conveyance 40 of the materials. The pressure expansion box 52 has at least one wire mesh through which a flameless pressure relief is made possible. In this manner, the expansion box 52 also acts as a pressure-guidance device by means of which pressure increases can be dissipated in a targeted manner.

[0082] Instead of one expansion box 52, several expansion boxes 52 can also be provided. Accordingly, several rupture discs 54 can also be provided.

[0083] The sluice 32 forms another pressure control device 42b in the form of a compartmentalization device. The sluice 32 is controllably connected to the control center 50. In this way, it can be closed automatically. To close the cellular wheel sluice, the cellular wheel is stopped.

[0084] A further pressure control device 42c, in the form of a compartmentalization device with a flashback blocking device 56, is provided, by way of example, as a check valve, in each exhaust air duct 36, immediately downstream of the respective collection space 26. The flashback blocking device 56 closes automatically if there is an increase in pressure in the collection space 26, for example as a result of an explosion. In this way, the pressure and any sparks are prevented from spreading via the exhaust air duct 36 and thus of reaching the exhaust air purification device 16 and/or the other comminuting device 14.

[0085] A gate valve 58 is disposed in each exhaust air duct 36 in the direction of exhaust air flow, downstream of the flashback blocking device 56. The gate valve 58 can be actuated automatically by the control center 50, or manually. The gate valve 58 can be used to close the exhaust air duct 36. For maintenance purposes, the comminuting device 14 can, for example, be separated from the rest of the comminuting installation 10 with respect to the exhaust air duct 36.

[0086] Additionally, a pressure control device 42a, or at least one expansion box 52 and/or at least one rupture disc 54 can be provided on the side of the exhaust air duct 36 facing the collection space 26. In this way, an increase in pressure can be relieved before reaching the exhaust air duct 36. Alternatively, the exhaust air duct 36 can lead out of the collection space 26 on the side on which the pressure control device 42a shown in the figure is located.

[0087] A spark detector 46 is further provided in the material discharge line 34 and the exhaust air duct 36 of each comminuting device 14.

[0088] An extinguishing device 44 is also disposed in each exhaust air duct 36. In case of spark detection in the exhaust air duct 36 by the corresponding spark detector 46, the corresponding extinguishing device 44 is activated. In so doing, an extinguishing device 44 can, for example, be used to introduce extinguishing agent into the affected exhaust air duct 36 and thus prevent further flame or spark propagation.

[0089] By way of example, two further extinguishing devices 44 are arranged on the conveying removal line 18, with which extinguishing agent can be introduced into the conveying removal line 18 if required. One of the extinguishing devices 44 is located upstream of the mouth of the first material discharge line 34 in the direction of conveyance of the conveying removal line 18. The second extinguishing device is located downstream of the second material discharge line 34 in the direction of conveyance.

[0090] A further pressure control device 42a in the form of a pressure relief device with an expansion box 52 and a rupture disc 54 is provided, by way of example, in the conveying removal line 18 between the two comminuting devices 14 shown in the FIGURE.

[0091] The explosion pressure detector 48 is arranged to detect pressure increases, for example as a result of an explosion in the comminuting installation 10.

[0092] In the event of an unintended release of energy by materials, for example sparking or an explosion, the explosion control system 20 ensures that the propagation of pressure increases in the comminuting installation 10 is controlled in such a way that the pressure increase is relieved in areas where no damage or damage that can easily be repaired is to be expected. In the process, the affected areas are compartmentalized. In this way, more sensitive areas and areas in which repairs can only be carried out with greater effort are protected from the consequences of unintended releases of energy caused by materials, for example pressure increases and/or fires, by means of the explosion control system 20. Active explosion and fire protection, for example with the aid of extinguishing agents, takes place, if necessary, only in areas of the comminuting installation 10 in which any repairs or recommissioning of the activated extinguishing devices 44 can be carried out with comparatively little effort.

[0093] If an unintentional release of energy by materials, for example an explosion, occurs in the area of a collection space 26, the resulting pressure increase is relieved by destroying the rupture disc 54 located there and relieving the pressure through the pressure expansion box 52. In addition, the sluice 32 of the corresponding comminuting device 14 is closed so that the pressure increase and any sparks cannot spread through the material discharge line 34 to the conveying removal line 18. This prevents an explosion or fire in one of the comminuting devices 14 from spreading to the other comminuting device 14.

[0094] Further, in the event of an increase in pressure in the collection space 26, the corresponding flashback blocking device 56 in the exhaust air duct 36 is automatically closed. Moreover, the exhaust air duct 36 is automatically closed by the corresponding gate valve 58, either by motor or manually. In this manner, the exhaust air from the affected comminuting device 14 is not sucked off. In the event of an explosion in the collection space 26, this exhaust air duct 36 is uncoupled.

[0095] Furthermore, one of the comminuting devices 14 with the corresponding gate valve 58 and sluice 32 can be compartmentalized for maintenance purposes from the other comminuting device 14. In this manner, the comminuting device 14 requiring maintenance is protected from unintended releases of energy from materials in other areas of the comminuting installation 10 during maintenance.

[0096] If there is an unintended release of energy by materials in the conveying removal line 18, pressure is relieved with the aid of the pressure control device 42a mounted there. The pressure is relieved by destroying the rupture disc 54 and by flameless pressure relief with the aid of the pressure expansion box 52.

[0097] If the spark detector 46 detects sparks or fire in one of the exhaust air ducts 36, the extinguishing devices 44 there are activated and the sparks or fire in the respective exhaust air duct 36 are extinguished.

[0098] In the event that spark or fire is, for example, detected with a spark detector 46 in one of the material discharge lines 34, the extinguishing devices 44 in the conveying removal line 18 are activated and the sparks or fire are extinguished. Additionally, or alternatively, when sparks or fire are detected, the conveyance in the conveying removal line 18, or the scraper conveyor, is stopped. In this way, the sparks or fire are prevented from spreading further in the conveying removal line 18 and from possibly reaching one of the other comminuting devices 14. Overall, there are a number of areas in which an increase in pressure can spread, for example, as a result of an explosion, without causing major damage, which are equipped with pressure control devices 42a in the form of pressure relief devices and pressure control devices 42b and 42c in the form of compartmentalization devices, so that pressure increases can be relieved there in a controlled manner. For example, in the event of an unintentional release of energy in a collection space 26 or in the conveying removal line 18, the areas respectively not involved, in particular the comminuting device 14 that is not involved, can be compartmentalized with the aid of the sluices 32.

[0099] 10 Comminuting installation

[0100] 12 Material feeding device

[0101] 14 Comminuting devices

[0102] 16 Exhaust air purification device

[0103] 18 Conveying removal line

[0104] 20 Explosion control system

[0105] 22 Material supply line

[0106] 24 Communitor

[0107] 26 Collection space

[0108] 28 Conveyor

[0109] 30 Execution room

[0110] 32 Sluice

[0111] 34 Material discharge line

[0112] 36 Exhaust air duct

[0113] 38 Direction of conveyance of the materials

[0114] 42a Pressure control device

[0115] 42b Pressure control device

[0116] 42c Pressure control device

[0117] 44 Extinguishing devices

[0118] 46 Spark detector

[0119] 48 Explosion pressure detector

[0120] 50 Control center

[0121] 52 Expansion box

[0122] 54 Rupture discs

[0123] 56 Flashback blocking device

[0124] 58 Gate valve