Vertical bowl mill for producing coarse ground particles

Abstract

A bowl mill for producing coarse ground particles has a substantially closed body, a bowl assembly, a plurality of grinding rolls, and a coarse particle transport enabling area. The substantially closed body has an interior area. The bowl assembly includes a rotatable grinding table mounted for rotation in a direction of rotation in the interior area. The grinding table has a grinding surface thereon. The plurality of grinding rolls are positioned proximate the grinding surface. The grinding rolls and the grinding surface define a grinding area therebetween. The coarse particle transport enabling area is located radially outward from the grinding area. The coarse particle transport enabling area is configured to allow the coarse particles to freely exit the grinding area and to mitigate the coarse particles from being circulated back into the grinding area.

Claims

1. A bowl mill for producing coarse ground particles, the bowl mill consisting of: a vessel having an interior area and a vessel outlet; a bowl assembly comprising a rotatable grinding table mounted for rotation in a direction of rotation in a lower portion of the interior area, the grinding table having a grinding surface thereon; a plurality of grinding rolls positioned proximate the grinding surface, the grinding rolls and the grinding surface defining a grinding area therebetween; and a coarse particle transport enabling area located radially outward from the grinding area, the coarse particle transport enabling area being defined by an upwardly facing exposed surface on the bowl assembly to allow the coarse ground particles to freely exit the grinding area and to mitigate the coarse ground particles from being circulated back into the grinding area, unimpeded by any structure intended to return the coarse ground particles to the bowl assembly; and a hollow cone shaped structure located above the bowl assembly and in direct communication with the coarse particle transport enabling area, the hollow cone shaped structure defining an unimpeded free space therein that is absent any classifiers or other structures intended to impede particle flow, the hollow cone shaped structure tapering radially inward in a direction of flow therethrough between the bowl assembly and the vessel outlet, the radially inward taper being configured to accelerate the coarse ground particles through the hollow cone shaped structure to discharge the coarse ground particles from the vessel outlet.

2. The bowl mill of claim 1, wherein the upwardly facing exposed surface is on the grinding table.

3. The bowl mill of claim 1, further comprising a wear insert secured to the grinding table by a clamp ring circumferentially surrounding the wear insert; and the coarse particle transport enabling area being defined by an upwardly facing exposed surface on the clamp ring.

4. The bowl mill of claim 1, further comprising: a mill plow secured to the body, the mill plow having a leading edge, a trailing edge, an angle of incline, the mill plow being positioned on a downstream side of one of the plurality of grinding rolls; and wherein the leading edge of said mill plow faces into the direction of rotation of the rotatable grinding table, and said mill plow being configured to loosen material that is caked on the grinding surface.

5. A method for controlling particle size in a bowl mill, the method consisting of: providing a bowl mill consisting of: a vessel having an interior area and a vessel outlet; a bowl assembly comprising a rotatable grinding table mounted for rotation in a direction of rotation in a lower portion of the interior area, the grinding table having a grinding surface thereon; a plurality of grinding rolls positioned proximate the grinding surface, the grinding rolls and the grinding surface defining a grinding area therebetween; a coarse particle transport enabling area located radially outward from the grinding area, the coarse particle transport enabling area being defined by an upwardly facing exposed surface on the bowl assembly; a hollow cone shaped structure located above the bowl assembly and in direct communication with the coarse particle transport enabling area, the hollow cone shaped structure defining an unimpeded free space therein that is absent any classifiers or other structures intended to impede particle flow, the hollow cone shaped structure tapering radially inward in a direction of flow therethrough between the bowl assembly and the vessel outlet, allowing the coarse ground particles to freely exit the grinding area and to mitigate the coarse ground particles from being circulated back into the grinding area, unimpeded by any structure intended to return the coarse ground particles to the bowl assembly; accelerating the coarse ground particles through the hollow cone shaped structure; and discharging the coarse ground particles from the vessel outlet.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: controlling fineness of the coarse ground particles by adjusting air flow through the interior area.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising: controlling fineness of the coarse ground particles by adjusting a speed of the grinding table.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising: controlling coarse ground particle size by adjusting a pressure applied to the plurality of grinding rolls.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising limiting the amount and size of fine ground particles being discharged from the vessel outlet, by the mitigating of the coarse ground particles from being circulated back into the grinding area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional and front view of a prior art bowl mill;

(2) FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of a bowl assembly of the prior art bowl mill of FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional and front view of the bowl mill of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional and front view of another embodiment of the bowl mill of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of a bowl assembly of the bowl mill of FIGS. 3 and 4;

(6) FIG. 6A is a top view of a mill plow for the bowl mill of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6B is a side view of the mill plow of FIG. 6A; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a top cut away view of the bowl mill of the present invention showing the mill plow of FIGS. 6A and 6B mounted thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) As shown in FIG. 3 a vertical (i.e., as indicated by the arrow V) pulverizing bowl mill for producing coarse particles is generally designated by reference numeral 200. The bowl mill 200 is configured to grind material and produce coarse particles having particle sizes defined by a fineness of 99 percent passing a 1 or 2 mm sieve opening and wherein fine particles are limited to 25 percent passing 200 or 325 mesh. The bowl mill 200 includes a substantially closed body 210. A bowl assembly 212 is mounted on a shaft (not shown), which in turn is operatively connected to a suitable drive mechanism (not shown) configured to rotatably drive the bowl assembly 212. A plurality of grinding rolls 218, for example three grinding rolls as shown in FIG. 7, are each suitably supported within an interior of the body 210 by an associated journal assembly 220 so as to be equidistantly spaced one from another around the circumference of the body 210. In the interest of maintaining clarity of illustration in the drawing, only one such grinding roll 218 and journal assembly 220 have been shown in FIG. 3. Each of the grinding rolls 218 are positioned proximate to a grinding surface 216, 316 (as shown in FIG. 4), for example, spaced apart from the grinding surface 216, 316 by a gap G, as shown in FIG. 5. The gap G defines a minimum bed depth for a grinding area 229, 329 as shown in FIG. 5 in which the material to be pulverized is ground into the coarse particles. The magnitude of the gap G is selected depending on the physical properties of the material to be pulverized and can be 0.25 inches, 0.5 inches 0.75 inches or any other suitable magnitude. A feed chute 271 extends through the body 210 to provide a conduit for supplying material to be ground to the grinding surface 216, as shown in FIG. 7.

(10) As shown in FIG. 3, a hollow cone 230 (e.g., a hollow conical shaped structure, vessel or conduit) is mounted to a top portion 210T (e.g., upper or uppermost in the direction of the arrow V) of the body 210. The cone 230 defines a free space therein that is absent any structures such as the prior art classifiers. The cone 230 provides a conduit or path for transport of the pulverized coarse particles to flow through as the coarse particles exit the bowl mill 200. The cone 230 defines an angle relative to the vertical direction V such that the cone 230 tapers radially inward in the direction of the air flow as shown by the arrow V (e.g., an inverted cone). The angle is predetermined to establish a once through grinding operation with no returns of coarse ground particles to the bowl assembly 212. After being pulverized, the coarse particles of material are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force towards the body 210 whereby the particles of material are fed into a stream of air that enters the mill 200 via suitable ducting (not shown). The stream of air with the coarse particles of material entrained therein flows into the cone 230 where the coarse particles are accelerated through the bowl mill 200 in the air stream, and exit along with the air. While the angle is described as being predetermined to establish a once through grinding operation with no returns of coarse ground particles to the bowl assembly 212, the present invention is not limited in this regard as the angle may be of other magnitudes to allow no more than 10 percent of the coarse particles to return the bowl assembly 212. The inventors have discovered that the bowl mill 200 having the cone 230 mounted to the top portion 210T of the body 210 has particular utility in producing coarse particles having high density such as limestone.

(11) In one embodiment, the angle is from 0 to 20 degrees.

(12) In one embodiment, the cone 230 has a cylindrical transition portion 230T mounted proximate an outlet 231 of the cone 230.

(13) As shown in FIG. 4 a vertical (i.e., as indicated by the arrow V) pulverizing bowl mill for producing coarse particles is generally designated by reference numeral 300. The bowl mill 300 is configured similar to the bowl mill 200. Therefore, similar elements are assigned similar reference numbers wherein the leading digit 2 is replaced by the number 3. The bowl mill 300 is configured to grind material and produce coarse particles having particle sizes defined by a fineness of 99 percent passing a 1 or 2 mm mesh and wherein fine particles are limited to 25 percent passing 200 or 325 mesh. The bowl mill 300 includes a substantially closed body 310. A bowl assembly 312 is mounted on a shaft (not shown), which in turn is operatively connected to a suitable drive mechanism (not shown) configured to rotatably drive the bowl assembly 312. A plurality of grinding rolls 318, for example three grinding rolls as shown in FIG. 7, are each suitably supported within an interior of the body 310 by an associated journal assembly 320 so as to be equidistantly spaced one from another around the circumference of the body 310. In the interest of maintaining clarity of illustration in the drawing, only one such grinding roll 318 and journal assembly 320 have been shown in FIG. 4. A feed chute 371 extends through the body 310 to provide a conduit for supplying material to be ground to the grinding surface 316, as shown in FIG. 7.

(14) As shown in FIG. 4, a hollow cone 330 is mounted to a top portion 310T of the body 310. The cone 330 defines a free space therein that is absent any structures such as the prior art classifiers. The cone 330 provides a conduit or path for transport of the pulverized coarse particles to flow through as the coarse particles exit the bowl mill 300. The cone 330 defines an angle relative to the vertical direction V such that the cone 330 tapers radially outward in the direction of the air flow as shown by the arrow V. The angle is predetermined to provide more volume for the low density material like biomass and also establish a grinding operation that coarse ground particles such as over 1 mm fall out and drop to the bowl assembly 312. After being pulverized, the coarse particles of material are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force towards the body 310 whereby the particles of material are fed into a stream of air that enters the mill 300 via suitable ducting (not shown). The stream of air with the coarse particles of material entrained therein flows into the cone 330 where the coarse particles are flow through the bowl mill 300 in the air stream, and exit along with the air. While the angle is described as being predetermined to establish a grinding operation that coarse ground particles such as over 1 mm fall out and drop to the bowl assembly 312, the present invention is not limited in this regard as the angle may be of other magnitudes to allow particles bigger than such as 1 mm to drop out. The inventors have discovered that the bowl mill 300 having the cone 330 mounted to the top portion 310T of the body 310 has particular utility in producing coarse particles having relative low densities compared to limestone, such as for example, biomass fuels.

(15) In one embodiment, the angle is from 0 to 15 degrees.

(16) In one embodiment, the cone 330 has a cylindrical transition portion 330T mounted proximate an outlet 331 of the cone 330.

(17) Referring now to FIG. 5, a portion of either of the bowl mills 200 or 300 is shown in an enlarged view for clarity. The bowl assemblies 212 and 312 each include a grinding table 212T, 312T, respectively. Each of the grinding tables 212T and 312T have a wear insert 212W, 312W, respectively, secured therein. Each of the wear inserts 212W and 312W define the grinding surface 216, 316, respectively, thereon. Each of the wear inserts 212W and 312W is secured to the respective grinding table 212T, 312T with a clamp ring 215, 315, respectively, that circumferentially surrounds the respective wear insert 212W, 312W and is located at a radially outward most portion of the grinding table 212T, 312T. Each of the wear inserts 212W and 312W have a wedge portion 213, 313, respectively, formed on one end thereof. Each of the wedge portions 213, 313 is pressed into a respective groove 213G, 313G formed in the respective grinding table 212T, 312T. An opposing end 217, 317 of the respective wear insert 212W, 312W abuts a respective abutment surface 215B, 315B of the clamp ring 215, 315, respectively, to force the wear insert 212W, 312W into the respective groove 213G, 313G. Each of the clamp rings 215, 315 is secured to the respective grinding table 212T, 312T by suitable fasteners, 219, 319, respectively.

(18) The grinding table 212T, 312T defines a coarse particle transport enabling area 233, 333 that enables the coarse particles exit the grinding areas 229 and 329 unimpeded. The coarse particle transport enabling area 233, 333 is located radially outward from the grinding area 229, 329. In one embodiment, the coarse particle transport enabling area 233, 333 is defined by an upwardly facing (i.e., in the direction of the arrow V) exposed surface 215E, 315E on the bowl assembly 212, 312, for example, formed on the respective clamp ring 215, 315. The exposed surfaces 215E and 315E are configured to allow the coarse particles to freely exit the grinding area 229, 329 and to mitigate and/or prevent the coarse particles from being circulated back into the grinding area 229, 329 by an impeding structure, such as the prior art dam ring 114, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the coarse particles exit the grinding areas 229 and 329 unimpeded.

(19) While the coarse particle transport enabling area 233, 333, is shown and described in one embodiment as being defined by the upwardly facing exposed surface 215E, 315E formed on the respective clamp ring 215, 315, the present invention is not limited in this regard as other configurations of the particle transport enabling area may be employed including but not limited to a grinding table having an upwardly facing exposed surface configured to allow the coarse particles to freely exit the grinding area 229, 329 without being circulated back into the grinding area 229, 329; a castellated or segmented dam ring secured to the clamp ring and having circumferential openings configured to allow the coarse particles to freely exit the grinding area 229, 329 without being circulated back into the grinding area 229, 329 and/or a location of and edge of the grinding rolls 218, 318 proximate a radially outermost portion of the grinding table 212T, 312T.

(20) In one embodiment, the grinding table 212T and/or 312T has an air flow vane wheel 221, 321 mounted to a radially outward facing circumferential surface thereof for establishing air flow rates and velocities, as indicated by the arrow AF in an annular area 222, 322 between the respective grinding table 212T, 312T and the body 210, 310, respectively. The air flow vane wheel 221, 321 is positioned sufficiently radially outward from the respective grinding table 212T, 312T so as not to impede the coarse particles from exiting the grinding areas 229 and 329 and not to interfere with the coarse particle transport enabling area 233, 333.

(21) As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 7, in one embodiment, the bowl mill 200 and/or 300 includes at least one mill plow 250, 350 secured to the body 210, 310 by a bracket 252, 352. The mill plow 250, 350 loosens up any material that is caked on the grinding surface 216, 316. Once the caked material has been loosened by the mill plow 250, 350, the air stream will remove the loosened material that is sufficiently ground. The loosened material that has not been sufficiently ground will remain on the grinding surface 216, 316. Due to the loosening, the remaining material will have a new angle of contact with the grinding rolls 218, 318, providing for grinding to produce the coarse particles.

(22) As shown in FIG. 6B, the mill plow 250, 350 has a wedge shape defined by an angle of incline . In one embodiment, the angle of incline is 10 to 30 degrees. The mill plow 250, 350 has a first width W1 approximately half of a second width W2 of each grinding roll 218, 318. The mill plow 250, 350 is located in between two grinding rolls 218, 318, as shown best in FIG. 7. When multiple mill plows 250, 350 are utilized, each mill plow 250, 350 is located between a different pair of grinding rolls 218, 318. The mill plow 250, 350 is preferably replaceable and made of a wear resistant material, such as Nihard (Nihard is a registered trademark of Bales Mold Service, Inc., Illinois, United States), although any wear resistant material having the requisite qualities could be utilized as desired. While the mill plow 250, 350 is shown and described as having a wedge shape, the present invention is not limited in this regard as other configurations and shapes may be employed including but not limited to, a rod or a bar so long as the mill plow 250, 350 is still capable of performing its intended function in accordance with the present invention.

(23) The mill plow 250, 350 is preferably located close to an edge 212E, 312E of the grinding table 212T, 312T, respectively and in the path of the grinding rolls 218, 318 with a leading edge 250E, 350E oriented opposite the direction of rotation (R1 in FIG. 7) of the bowl assembly 212, 312. The mill plow 250, 350 is located proximate to the grinding table 212T, 312T such that compacted material on the grinding table 212T, 312T is disturbed, i.e., plowed, by the mill plow 250, 350, respectively. Preferably, the mill plow 250, 350 is not in contact with the grinding table 212T, 312T or the grinding surface 216, 316 of the bowl assembly 212, 312.

(24) The present invention further includes a method for controlling particle size in a bowl mill 200, 300. The method includes providing a bowl mill 200, 300 comprising a substantially closed body 210, 310 having an interior area. The bowl mill 200, 300 includes a bowl assembly 212, 312 that includes a rotatable grinding table 212T, 312T mounted for rotation in a direction of rotation in the interior area. The grinding table 212T, 312T defines a grinding surface 216, 316 thereon. A plurality of grinding rolls 218, 318 are positioned proximate the grinding surface 216, 316. The grinding rolls 218, 318 and the grinding surface 216, 316 defining a grinding area 229, 329 therebetween. The method includes controlling particle size by adjusting a pressure applied to the plurality of grinding rolls 218, 318. In one embodiment, the method includes controlling fineness of the particles by adjusting air flow through the interior area. In one embodiment, the fineness of the particles is controlled by adjusting a speed of the grinding table.

EXAMPLE

(25) Applicant has conducted testing and experimentation to determine the effect on particle fineness, capacity and power as a result of employing the a coarse particle transport enabling area 233, 333 located radially outward from the grinding area 239, 329 in the bowl mill 200, 300. The results of the three of the tests (i.e., Tests A, B and C) are summarized in Table 1, below. Tests A and B were performed using a 100 psi grinding roll pressure and an air flow rate of 5000 cubic feet per minute and the material that was ground in the mill was limestone from the USA. Test C was performed using a 200 psi grinding roll pressure and an air flow rate of 4000 cubic feet per minute and the material that was ground in the mill was limestone from Mexico.

(26) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Percent passing Dam Ring Bed Depth (Element Throughput Total Power 75 m/Percent Percent passing 2 mm/ Test Run 114 G on FIG. 5 (mm)) (lb/hr) (kW-hr/ton) passing 45 m Percent passing 1 mm Test A Prior art 1.5 Tall 21 2540 12.9 59.2/52.5 100/99.9 bowl mill 100 Test B Bowl Mill Removed 3 5710 5.8 30.2/24.7 99.9/99.1 200 of the present invention Test C Bowl Mill Removed 21 5700 7.8 21.9/17.0 99.9/98.8 200 of the present invention

(27) Test A was the baseline test and employed a prior art bowl mill 100 having a 1.5 inch high dam ring 114. For Test A, the prior art bowl mill 100 employed a bed depth G of 21 mm. For Test A, 59.2 percent of the particles were passing a 75 m sieve (i.e., 200 mesh) and 52.5 percent of the particles were passing a 45 m sieve (i.e., 325 mesh); and 100 percent of the particles were passing a 2 mm sieve and 99.9 percent of the particles were passing a 1 mm sieve. In Test A, the prior art bowl mill 100 demonstrated a throughput of 2540 lb/hr; and required 12.9 kW-hr/ton total power to operate.

(28) For Test B, no dam ring was employed in the bowl mill 200. For Test B, the bowl mill 200 employed a bed depth G of 3 mm. For Test B, 30.2 percent of the particles were passing a 75 m sieve (i.e., 200 mesh) and 24.7 percent of the particles were passing a 45 m sieve (i.e., 325 mesh); and 99.9 percent of the particles were passing a 2 mm sieve and 99.1 percent of the particles were passing a 1 mm sieve. In Test B, the bowl mill 200 demonstrated a throughput of 5710 lb/hr; and required 5.8 kW-hr/ton total power to operate.

(29) For Test C, no dam ring was employed in the bowl mill 200. For Test C, the bowl mill 200 employed a bed depth G of 21 mm. For Test C, 21.9 percent of the particles were passing a 75 m sieve (i.e., 200 mesh) and 17.0 percent of the particles were passing a 45 m sieve (i.e., 325 mesh); and 99.9 percent of the particles were passing a 2 mm sieve and 98.8 percent of the particles were passing a 1 mm sieve. In Test C, the bowl mill 200 demonstrated a throughput of 5700 lb/hr; and required 7.8 kW-hr/ton total power to operate.

(30) Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.