PRODUCTION PLANT AND METHOD

Abstract

A production plant for processing a suspension and a method for dispersing suspensions. The production plant comprises an extractor or a planetary roller mixer (1), a conveying device and a metering device. The planetary roller mixer (1) comprises at least one central spindle (2) with a toothing (3), at least one planetary spindle (4) with a toothing (5) and a housing (6) with an inner toothing (7) or a housing comprising at least one bushing (8) with an inner toothing (7). The planetary roller mixer (1) further comprises at least one product inlet (9) and at least one product outlet (10). During normal operation, the product outlet (10) is above the product inlet (9) and/or comprises an overflow (14) in the product discharge line (13) provided at the product outlet (10) so that the processing zone of the planetary roller mixer (1) can be substantially completely filled with the suspension.

Claims

1. A production plant for processing a suspension with a planetary roller mixer comprising: a housing, which is substantially cylindrical on an inside and provided with an internal toothing, or comprising at least one substantially cylindrical bushing with an internal toothing; at least one product inlet in a first end portion of the housing; and at least one product outlet in a second end region of the housing; a central spindle with toothing arranged in the housing; at least one planetary spindle with toothing arranged in the housing; wherein the toothing of the planetary spindle is operatively connected both to the toothing of the central spindle and to the internal toothing of the housing or the bushing; the product outlet is arranged above or at the level of the product inlet when operated as intended; and the production plant comprises a conveying device which is arranged outside the housing upstream of the product inlet and is in fluid connection with the product inlet, and the production plant comprises a dosing device, m particular a pump or a dosing valve, which is connected downstream of the conveying device.

2. A production plant for processing a suspension with a planetary roller mixer comprising: a housing, which is substantially cylindrical on an inside and provided with an internal toothing, or comprising at least one substantially cylindrical bushing with an internal toothing; at least one product inlet in a first end portion the housing; and at least one product outlet in a second end region of the housing; a central spindle with toothing arranged in the housing; at least one planetary spindle with toothing arranged in the housing; wherein the toothing of the planetary spindle is operatively connected both to the toothing of the central spindle and to the internal toothing of the housing or the bushing; the product outlet is arranged above or at the level of the product inlet when operated as intended; and the production plant comprises a conveying device, namely a pressing device with a stamping element and a storage container, which is arranged outside the housing upstream of the product inlet and is in fluid connection with the product inlet.

3. The production plant according to claim 1, wherein the conveying device is a pressing device with a stamping element and a storage container.

4. The production plant according to claim 4, wherein the pressing device has an outlet which is closeable by a valve.

5. The production plant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing and the spindles of the planetary roller mixer are arranged horizontally during intended use and the product outlet is arranged above the product inlet.

6. The production plant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing and the spindles of the planetary roller mixer are arranged horizontally during intended use, and the central spindle is connected on the side of the product outlet to a driving device, and preferably the central spindle on the side of the product inlet has no connection to the outer space surrounding the housing.

7. The production plant in accordance with claim 1, wherein a mechanical seal is provided between the central spindle and a bearing housing or a gear mechanism.

8. The production plant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the production plant comprises a premixer.

9. A production plant for processing a suspension with a planetary roller mixer, with a planetary roller mixer comprising: a housing, which is substantially cylindrical on an inside and provided with an internal toothing, or comprising at least one substantially cylindrical bushing with an internal toothing; at least one product inlet in a first end portion of the housing; and at least one product outlet in a second end region of the housing; a central spindle with toothing arranged in the housing; at least one planetary spindle with toothing arranged in the housing; wherein the toothing of the planetary spindle is operatively connected both to the toothing of the central spindle and to the internal toothing of the housing or the bushing; wherein the product outlet is arranged above or at the level of the product inlet during intended operation: and wherein the production plant comprises a conveying device which is arranged outside the housing upstream of the product inlet and is in fluid connection with the product inlet, wherein the production plant comprises a product line via which suspension can be guided from the product outlet out of the planetary roller mixer into the conveying device, from where the suspension can be guided again into the planetary roller mixer, and the suspension preferably is guided from the planetary roller mixer into a premixer and is guided via a further product line from the premixer into the conveying device.

10. The production plant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the planetary roller mixer comprises a driving device for driving the central spindle, which driving device is arranged closer to the product outlet than to the product inlet.

11. The production plant in accordance with claim 1, wherein the central spindle, the planetary spindle, the housing and/or the bushing have at least one region in which the toothing is designed in such a way that, during operation, the toothing cannot drive the suspension, and this region in particular has a straight toothing.

12. The production plant according claim 1, wherein the planetary roller mixer comprises at least one planetary spindle consisting of segments arranged on a common axis; and/or segments with toothing which are connected both to the toothing of the central spindle and to the internal toothing of the housing or housing, respectively, and to the internal toothing of the housing, or of the bushing, and the segments are offset relative to one another in a circumferential direction and are arranged one behind the other in longitudinal direction.

13. A method for dispersing suspensions comprising at least the following step. Dispersing a suspension in a production plant with a planetary roller mixer and a conveying device and a metering device, comprising: a housing which is substantially cylindrical on an inside and provided with an internal toothing, or comprising at least one substantially cylindrical bushing with an internal toothing; at least one product inlet in a first end portion of the housing; and at least one product outlet in a second end region the housing; a central spindle with toothing arranged in the housing; at least one planet spindle with toothing arranged in the housing; wherein the toothing of the planetary spindle is operatively connected both to the toothing of the central spindle and to the internal toothing of the housing or the bushing; the product outlet is arranged above or at the level of the product inlet during intended use; with a process, essentially the entire process zone of the planetary roller mixer is filled with suspension, the suspension is conveyed through the process zone of the planetary roller mixer by a conveying device, which is arranged upstream of the product inlet outside the housing of the planetary roller mixer, and a dosing device; which is connected downstream of the conveying device.

14. A method for dispersing suspensions comprising at least the following step: Dispersing a suspension in a production plant with a planetary roller mixer and a conveying device and a dosing device, comprising: a housing which is substantially cylindrical on an inside and provided with an internal toothing, or comprising at least one substantially cylindrical bushing with an internal toothing; at least one product inlet in a first end portion of the housing; and at least one product outlet in a second end region of the housing; a central spindle with toothing arranged in the housing; at least one planet spindle with toothing arranged in the housing; wherein the toothing of the planetary spindle is operatively connected both to the toothing of the central spindle and to the internal toothing of the housing or the bushing; the product outlet is arranged above or at the level of the product inlet during intended use; with a process zone, substantially the entire process zone of the planetary roller mixer is filled with suspension, the suspension is conveyed through the process zone of the planetary roller mixer by a conveying device, namely a pressing device with a stamping element and a storage container, which is arranged outside the housing of the planetary roller mixer upstream of the product inlet.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the pressure in the planetary roller mixer, in a vicinity of the product inlet, is greater than on the product outlet side, and the suspension is dispersed at a product inlet pressure between 0.2 and 10 bar.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the planetary roller mixer has a driving device on one side of the central spindle for driving the central spindle, and the product flow between product inlet and product outlet takes place in the direction of the driving device.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein suspension, premixed in a premixer is processed in the planetary roller mixer.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the suspension is pumped into the planetary roller mixer and/or the suspension is conveyed through a process zone of the planetary roller mixer a pump which is arranged outside the housing of the planetary roller mixer upstream of the product inlet.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the product flow in a vertically arranged planetary roller mixer extends from bottom to top.

20. A method for dispersing suspensions, comprising at least the following step: Dispersing a suspension in a production plant with a planetary roller mixer comprising; a housing which is substantially cylindrical on an inside and provided with an internal toothing, or comprising at least one substantially cylindrical bushing with an internal toothing; at least one product inlet in a first end portion of the housing; and at least one product outlet in a second end region of the housing; a central spindle with a toothing arranged in the housing; at least one planet spindle with a toothing arranged in the housing; wherein the toothing of the planetary spindle is operatively connected both to the toothing of the central spindle and to the internal toothing of the housing or the bushing; the product outlet is arranged above or at the level of the product inlet when operated as intended; with a process zone, essentially the entire process zone of the dispersing device being filled with suspension, and the suspension passes through the planetary roller mixer at least twice.

Description

[0120] Preferred examples of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description by means of the attached drawings. Corresponding elements are provided the same reference signs.

[0121] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a planetary roller mixer in sectional view;

[0122] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a first example of a planetary roller mixer in side view;

[0123] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a second example of a planetary roller mixer in lateral view;

[0124] FIG. 4 shows a schematic flow chart of a first example for a production line;

[0125] FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow chart of a second example for a production plant;

[0126] FIG. 6 shows a schematic flow chart of a third example for a production plant;

[0127] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of the third example of a planetary roller mixer in perspective view;

[0128] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a part of the third example for a planetary roller mixer in another perspective view;

[0129] FIG. 9 shows the third example of a planetary roller mixer in sectional view.

[0130] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a planetary roller mixer 1 in sectional view.

[0131] The planetary roller mixer 1 comprises a central spindle 2 with toothing 3, a plurality of rotating planetary spindles 4, each with toothing 5, and a housing 6 with a bushing 8 with internal toothing 7.

[0132] The toothing 5 of the planet spindles 4 is on the one hand in active connection with the toothing 3 of the central spindle 2, on the other hand with the internal toothing 7.

[0133] Temperature control channels 22 are provided in the central spindle.

[0134] The process zone 12 is located between spindles 2, 4 and bushing 8 and has an empty volume 11 of about 1-10 1.

[0135] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a first example for a planetary roller mixer 1 in lateral view. The housing 6 and the spindles 2, 4, not explicitly shown, are vertically aligned in the operating position.

[0136] The planetary roller mixer 1 comprises a product inlet 9 in a first end area 40 of the housing 6 and a product outlet 10 in a second end area 41 of the housing 6, the product outlet 10 being arranged above the product inlet 9.

[0137] Process zone 12 of dispersion device 1 can be filled essentially completely during operation.

[0138] The central spindle 2 is extended out of the housing 6 in the upper area of the dispersing device 1 and can be driven by a driving device 18, in this case a motor.

[0139] Between the central spindle 2 and a bearing housing 16 or a gear, not explicitly shown, a seal, not explicitly shown, is provided, in particular a mechanical seal.

[0140] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a second example for a planetary roller mixer 1 in lateral view. The housing 6 and the spindles 2, 4, not explicitly shown, are aligned horizontally in the operating position.

[0141] The planetary roller mixer 1 comprises a product inlet 9 and a product outlet 10, the product outlet 10 having an intended product discharge line 13 comprising an overflow 14. The product discharge line 13 is arranged at least partially above a product inlet line 15 provided at the product inlet 9, so that the process zone 12 of the planetary roller mixer 1, which is not explicitly shown, can essentially be completely filled with suspension.

[0142] The driving unit 18 for the central spindle 2 provides a power range up to 90 kW.

[0143] FIG. 4 shows a schematic flow diagram of a first example of a production line 100 for processing a suspension.

[0144] The production plant 100 comprises a conveying device, here a pump 19, for example a screw conveyor, which is provided with a dosing valve being arranged downstream, and a planetary roller mixer 1, in the example shown in horizontal arrangement, with a central spindle with toothing, not explicitly shown, a revolving planet spindle with toothing 5, not explicitly shown, and a housing 6 with internal toothing 7, not explicitly shown (see FIG. 1).

[0145] The planetary roller mixer 1 comprises a product inlet 9 which is equipped with a product inlet line 15 and a product outlet 10 with a product discharge line 13. The entire suspension can be guided via the product inlet line 15 from the pump 19 into the planetary roller mixer 1.

[0146] The production line 100 also includes a premixer 20, which has at least one stirring tool 24 driven by at least one motor 25.

[0147] The pump 19 pumps premixed suspension from the premixer 20 in the planetary roller mixer 1.

[0148] The pump 19 also ensures that the suspension is conveyed through the planetary roller mixer 1 in a direction 23 from the product inlet 9 to the product outlet 10. Although the motor 18 causes the spindles to rotate, it does not drive the suspension in the dispersing device 1.

[0149] FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow diagram of a second example of a production line 100 for processing a suspension.

[0150] Similar to the example in FIG. 4, the production plant 100 comprises a pump 19 as conveying device 19, for example a screw conveyor provided with a downstream dosing valve, as well as a planetary roller mixer 1, in the example shown in horizontal arrangement, with a central spindle with toothing, not explicitly shown, a circumferential planet spindle 4 with toothing 5, not explicitly shown, and a housing 6 with internal toothing 7, not explicitly shown (see FIG. 1).

[0151] The planetary roller mixer 1 comprises a product inlet 9, which is equipped with a product inlet line 15, and a product outlet 10. The entire suspension can be fed from the pump 19 into the planetary roller mixer 1 via the product inlet line 15.

[0152] The production line 100 also includes a premixer 20.

[0153] The product outlet 10 is connected to a product line 21 via which a suspension can be fed from the planetary roller mixer 1 into the pre-mixer 20.

[0154] In the premixer 20, the more homogenised and/or dispersed suspension is mixed with the less homogenised and/or dispersed suspension.

[0155] Via a further product line 26, the suspension is fed from the premixer 20 into the pump 19, from where the suspension is fed through a product inlet line 15 into the planetary roller mixer 1.

[0156] The production plant 100 can be operated in a closed loop process until the suspension has the desired quality.

[0157] FIG. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram of a third example of a production line 100 for processing a suspension.

[0158] As in the previous examples, the production line 100 comprises a planetary roller mixer 1, in the example shown it is arranged horizontally.

[0159] The conveying device 19 can be a pressing device 27 and the dosing device can be a pump 28 connected in series. Highly viscous suspension is pressed out of a storage tank 31 by means of a stamping element 29, which is operated by a piston 30. The pump ensures that the suspension is fed evenly to the planetary roller mixer 1 via the product inlet pipe 15.

[0160] The processed suspension is collected in a collection tank 32. Alternatively, the suspension can be returned to the conveyor 19.

[0161] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a third planetary roller mixer 1 in perspective. The central spindle 2, the planetary spindle 4, the housing 6 have a straight toothing 3, 5, 7. During operation, the toothing 3, 5, 7 prevents the suspension from being propelled.

[0162] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of part of the third example of a planetary roller mixer in perspective.

[0163] The planetary roller mixer 1 comprises as planetary spindles 4 segments 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, which are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction 33 and offset against each other in the circumferential direction 34.

[0164] The planet spindles 4 have a straight toothing 5. The toothing 5 runs parallel to the longitudinal axis 32 of the central spindle 2 and therefore does not cause any propulsion.

[0165] FIG. 9 shows the third example for the planetary roller mixer 1 in sectional view.

[0166] The product discharge line 13 is designed as overflow 35. For this purpose, the product discharge line 13 is arranged at least partially above the product inlet line 15 provided at product inlet 9.

[0167] The process zone 12 is sealed with a mechanical seal 37 against the bearing 36 of the central spindle 2. The central spindle 2 can be tempered by means of a temperature control lance 39.

[0168] The product flow between product inlet 9 and product outlet 10 takes place in direction 38 of the drive unit, not explicitly shown.