Claims
- 1. An apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid transported solid particles, comprising:
- a vessel for containing a mixture of primary fluid with suspended particles;
- at least one feed pipe connected to said vessel for supplying a flow of said mixture from said vessel;
- means for injecting a fluid under pressure into each feed pipe, said injecting means being situated so that the injected fluid creates a recirculation zone proportional in size to the injection pressure of the fluid in each feed pipe, the size of the recirculation zone proportionally regulating the flow of primary fluid;
- means for measuring the flow in each feed pipe and establishing a signal indicative thereof, said measuring means being positioned downstream from said injection means; and
- means for controlling the fluid injection pressure for each feed pipe responsive to the flow signal.
- 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said injection means includes a plurality of injection nozzles in each feed pipe.
- 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said injection nozzles is at an angle opposite the flow of said mixture.
- 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising a bypass purge line for providing fluid flow through said injection nozzles to prevent pluggage thereof.
- 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said controlling means includes a computer regulating a current/pressure converter.
- 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid is compressed air.
- 7. A pulverized coal flow controller for controlling the flow of coal in feed pipes, comprising:
- a pulverizer for containing a mixture of primary fluid with suspended coal particles;
- a plurality of feed pipes connected to said pulverizer for supplying a flow of the mixture to a plurality of burners in a boiler;
- means for injecting a fluid under pressure into at least one of said feed pipes, said injecting means being situated so that the injected fluid creates a recirculation zone proportional in size to the injection pressure of the fluid in the feed pipe, the size of the recirculation zone regulating proportionally the flow of primary fluid;
- means for measuring the flow in the feed pipe and establishing a signal indicative thereof, said measuring means being positioned downstream from said injecting means; and
- means for controlling the fluid injection pressure for the feed pipe responsive to the flow signal to regulate the amount of fluid supplied therefrom.
- 8. A pulverized coal flow controller as defined in claim 7, further comprising a bypass purge line for providing a fluid flow through said injection means to prevent pluggage thereof.
- 9. A pulverized coal flow controller as defined in claim 8, wherein said injecting means includes a plurality of injection nozzles at an angle of about 45.degree. opposite the flow of the mixture.
- 10. A pulverized coal flow controller as defined in claim 7, wherein said controlling means includes a computer regulating a current/pressure converter.
- 11. A pulverized coal flow controller as defined in claim 7, wherein said primary fluid is compressed air.
- 12. A method of supplying a controlled flow of fluid transported solid particles, comprising the steps of:
- suspending solid particles in a vessel to form a mixture of solid particles and a primary fluid;
- discharging the mixture through at least one feed pipe out of the vessel;
- injecting a fluid under pressure into at least one feed pipe;
- creating with the injected fluid a recirculating zone proportional in size to the injection pressure of the fluid in the feed pipe;
- measuring the flow in the feed pipe downstream from the recirculation zone;
- establishing a signal indicative of the flow; and
- controlling the fluid injection pressure for the feed pipe in response to changes in the flow signal.
- 13. A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising the step of providing fluid flow through a bypass purge line for preventing pluggage of injection nozzles.
- 14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein said fluid is injected at an angle opposite the flow of said mixture.
- 15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein said angle is about 45.degree..
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/197,926 filed May 24, 1988 which is a continuation of Application Ser. No. 07/106,830 filed Oct. 6, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,287 granted May 16, 1989.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
"UKAEA Looks to Industry to Oil Its Valve Research", Lightowlers, Philip, New Scientist, 1 Oct. 1987. |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
106830 |
Oct 1987 |
|
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
197926 |
May 1988 |
|