LT4165B - Granulating apparatus, granulating procedure and granulated product - Google Patents

Abstract

Invention belongs to the domain of forage production, and it incorporates a granulator, equipped with a drum-type mixer (1) connected to powder substance feeder, binding agent solution feeder and an outlet for the final product (from drum mixer), a distributor with inner space, installed inside the drum-type mixer joined with the binding agent solution feeder so that binding agent solution could be fed to the drum-type mixer through the distributor, equipped with mixers designed to mix the granulated material. The distributor consists of a body with openings, through which binding agent solution is fed to the drum-type mixer. Further in the invention the method of powder material granulation as well as grains produced using this method is described.

Description

The present invention relates to the feed industry and describes a powder granulator, a method of granulating it and a granule as defined in claims 1, 9 and 18 in the general section.

The present invention relates to mixable granulation in which powdered particles are bonded to one another by means of a binder.

A mixing granulation method is suitable, for example, for granulating mineral feed. Mixtures of mineral feeds intended to meet the needs of animals consist essentially of inorganic calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and sodium and vitamins and traces of other elements. Sodium gluconate has been successfully used as a binder in granulating mineral feed mixtures (see patent FI-86134). The molasses is added to the binder only to improve the odor of the mixture.

Granulation may be accomplished by a granulator comprising a drum mixer having a granulate powder feeder, a binder solution feeder and a pellet outlet, and a distributor mounted inside the drum mixer and connected to the binder solution feeder so that the binder is fed to the drum mixer. Mixers connected to a distributor are intended for mixing granulated material in a drum mixer.

For example, the mineral feed granulator distributor is a rotating cylinder about its axis having a plurality of flanges and nozzles disposed opposite each other and forming annular recesses on the outside of the distributor housing, through which the binder is fed to the drum mixer. The width of the annular notch is 0.5 mm. The mixers are located outside the distributor housing. The mixer and drum mixer are arranged so that they can rotate relative to each other, which results in mixing and further increases the mixing efficiency.

In this way, the bulk mineral feed mixture is fed into a drum mixer during granulation. At the same time, one or more components of the binder solutions, such as sodium gluconate or molasses, are fed to a rotary distributor, whereby the mixed binder components are distributed by centrifugal force through the notches of the distributor in the dry feed mixture. During mixing, the bulk particles adhere to the binder to give the desired granulation. The product obtained during granulation is passed from the drum mixer to a subsequent treatment.

However, utilizing current granulators is problematic. The mass consisting of the mineral mixture and the binder builds up over a relatively short period of time on the walls of the drum mixer and distributor, particularly the latter, forming an extremely hard and uneven surface which must be removed from time to time for the granulator to function. It should also be noted that the circular cutouts of the distributor are fast to plug.

decontamination of the plant's sedimentation is slow and, because the granulator is uncomfortable at this time, stops the process,

During cleaning, the ski machine also wears out walls and faucets. Surface damage caused by cleaning accelerates the wear of the entire surface. For example, faucets with damaged surfaces wear out more quickly during use and need to be replaced. In addition, the agitated mixers make it easier to clog the ring slots.

Costs needed to maintain the facility, i.e. cleaning and replacing components is a significant part of the product's cost.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages.

The present invention relates to a novel granulator, whereby the production cost associated with mix granulation, in particular with mineral feed granulation, can be significantly reduced compared to the previous one.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel granulator having a significantly reduced likelihood of mass accumulation on the granulator walls and obstruction of the device due to the redesign of the distributor, particularly when granulating mineral feed.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel powder granulation process which provides good quality granules and is also characterized by high productivity. It is also an object of the present invention to provide granules obtained in this manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is based on a novel dispenser arrangement in a granulator for mixing granulation. the casing of the granulator distributor of the present invention having an inner cavity is bore. therefore, the binder solution fed from the feeder to the distributor can be directed to the drum mixer through these holes.

The method of feeding the binder from the dispenser has been found to be very important in solving problems associated with the use of a granulator. When testing a conventional ring-shaped dispenser, it has been found that the binder sprayed from the notch in a thin layer is not always evenly distributed in the powder material: it forms splashes on the faucets and on the walls of the drum mixer. These splashes are the main cause of the material accumulation described above. Further, it is noted that the pressure of the fluid is significantly reduced in the annular notch along the path from the inside of the distributor towards its outside. As a result, powdery dust can enter the annular notches and bind to the binder. to make a stopper.

During the granulator tests of the present invention, it has been observed that granulation of, for example, mineral feeds results in significantly less deposition of sediment on the walls of the drum mixer and distributor than before, which also causes the plates to wear more slowly. One reason for this phenomenon may be the arrangement of the holes in the distributor, which is why the binder solution is usually sprayed with droplets and / or jets, with less splashes on the walls compared to thin-layer spraying. It has further been found that the distributor holes of the present invention are sealed much less frequently than expected during operation of the granulator. Therefore, the advantage of the granulator of the present invention over those already used in terms of wear and performance is obvious.

The granulator divider holes of the present invention may have a variety of holes, most preferably 0.2 to 2 mm in diameter, preferably 0.3 to 1.5 mm. They can be circular or elliptical or any. which other forms.

The outer housing of the distributor has at least one area with holes and at least one area without holes. In addition, the outer diameter of the distributor may be larger in the perforated area than in the perforated area, thereby acting as a raised buffer for powder protection, which causes wear on the device and seals the holes.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the distributor is cylindrical and has at least two perforated areas forming annular perforated areas within the distributor housing. Perforated areas are separated by holes without holes. The width of the perforated areas as well as the density of the holes and their size can vary.

Since it is clear to those skilled in the art that the shape and size of the perforated areas will affect the nature of the spray solution of the binder and the distribution of binder in the various parts of the distributor body and the amount of binder distributed. Other variants are possible within the scope of the present invention.

The granulator mixers of the present invention are connected to the outer casing of the distributor, but they can equally well be arranged separately from the distributor. The shape, size, quantity and layout of the mixers can vary. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mixers can be curved or straight and are arranged in an area without perforated areas along the outer housing of the distributor as follows. so that the outward facing part of the mixer extends through the perforated area. The advantage of such a mixer arrangement is that it not only mixes, but additionally protects the holes and the stream of binder solution sprayed through the holes.

The granulator divider of the present invention rotates about an axis parallel to its longitudinal axis. The distributor is mounted in a granulator drum mixer which has a powder feeder, binder solution feeder and outlet.

A drum faucet is a container of any known shape, such as a cylindrical vessel. For more efficient mixing, it may rotate relative to the distributor, but other mixing methods are possible, such as providing this container with mixers.

The powder material feeder comprises a tube and a feeder connected to the drum mixer in a known manner. The feeder may be, for example, a screw conveyor or a pump.

The binder solution feeder consists of a tube and a feeder connected to the drum mixer in a known manner. The binder solution feeder may be a pump. The pipeline contacts the outside of the distributor.

The invention also provides a method of granulating a powder material as defined in claim 9, wherein the binder solution is fed to the powder material surrounding the distributor through the holes in the distributor housing.

In the best embodiment of the invention, the drum mixer and distributor rotate in opposite directions to each other. This gives the best mixing efficiency during granulation.

During granulation, the distribution of the binder solution through the distributor holes into the drum mixer can be effected in a known manner by means of centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the distributor and / or by supplying a pressurized binder.

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A mineral feed solution of the present invention into a distributor. The binder solution is heated to improve fluidity before being fed to the distributor.

Granulation can be any powder material suitable for granulation with a binder. The binder solution may comprise one or more components.

the granulation method is best suited for granulation by means of a binder solution consisting of sodium gluconate and molasses.

Mixtures of mineral feeds are mixtures containing half or 75%, and at best as much as 90%, of mineral substances, i.e. inorganic substances already known to satisfy physiological needs are known. Determination of the composition of the mixture, the binder solution used and its concentration are described in patent FI 86134. The binder solution also contains other components in addition to the components mentioned above. The amount of binder solution added to the mineral feed mixture is between 1.5 and 25% by weight. At the end of the process, the pellets are treated, for example, with lime and / or talc. The granules produced according to the invention range in size from 1 to 7 mm, preferably from 2 to 5 mm.

The present invention further describes a mixture of granular mineral feeds prepared according to the present invention.

The pellets are more homogeneous i.e. less sticking compared to earlier products.

The method of the invention is most advantageously implemented by the granulator of the present invention. The granulator of the present invention producing mineral feed pellets has minimal service. This results in higher granulator productivity and lower maintenance costs.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a general view of the granulator of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view of a granulator distributor of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a portion of a perforated area of a distributor;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a previous granulator distributor.

The feed granulator shown in Fig. 1 consists of a cylindrical drum mixer 1 having a powder feeder 2 and a binder solution feeder 3 at one end and a granule outlet 4 at the other end, which is provided with a distributor 5 which communicates with the binder solution feeder 3, resulting in a binder solution through a distributor. 5 can be distributed in the drum mixer 1.

The diameter ratio of the distributor 5 made of wear-resistant material, such as stainless steel, to the drum mixer 1 corresponds to the size typical of such type of equipment used in practice. The distributor 5 and the drum mixer 1 are mounted relative to each other so that they can rotate about their longitudinal axes in opposite directions. However, they can equally well be mounted so that they can rotate in the same direction or only one of them can rotate. Ideally, the drum mixer 1 is mounted eccentrically, but it can also be mounted so that it rotates about its central longitudinal axis. The granulator is controlled by electric motors 8 and 9, which rotate the drum mixer 1 and the divider 5.

At the outlet is a zig-zag tube 16 which rotates with a drum mixer.

Fig. 2 illustrates in more detail the dispenser 5 of this granulator. The dispenser is a cylinder 17 with an inner cavity on which three perforated zones 14 and four zones 15 are alternately formed without holes. At the end of the incoming drum mixer 1, a shroud 20 is provided with a retainer 21 at the other end. The flange circuit breakers 18 are connected at the other end to the binder solution feeder so that the binder solution can be fed through the feeder tube 3 to the distributor.

of the invention

The holes 10 in the perforated area 14 are arranged in a circle. The hole diameter of the perforated area 14 adjacent to the binder solution feeder 3 is approximately 0.5 mm and the hole diameter of the perforated area 14 adjacent to the end of the dispenser 5 entering the drum mixer 1 is 1.0 mm. The number of holes in each zone is selected so that their total area is approximately the same across all zones .14.

Figure 3 shows a portion of a perforated area having eight circular rows of holes of approximately 1.0 mm diameter. The row spacing is 7 mm and the hole spacing is 5 mm. About 1,600 holes were made in the total area.

The zones 15 of the distributor 5 shown in Fig. 2 are formed, without holes, by individual rings 19 attached to the distributor body by any known means, these rings being separated from the cylindrical body of the distributor 5 and protecting the perforated zones 14 in the recess between the rings 19.

The mixers 7 are attached to the zones 15 without holes. Their number varies from 2 to 16 in each zone (only a few mixers 7 are shown in Figures 1 and 2). The mixers 7 have a V or Y shape, but they can also have other shapes, such as straight or as shown in FIG. The mixers 7 of Fig. 2 are located above the perforated zones 14, so that they further protect these zones during operation of the granulator.

The distributor 5 according to the invention must have at least one cylindrical element in which the holes are drilled with a drill or, preferably, a laser. The hole-free zones consist of individual, detachable rings, as described previously.

Fig. 4 shows a distributor of the previous granulator having annular zones 22 and mixers 7 mounted on each side of the zone.

Example 1: Granulation of a mixture of mineral feeds.

The following describes a granulation method using a granulator of the present invention. The loose mineral feed mixture is fed through a screw conveyor via feeder 2 to a rotating drum mixer 1. At the same time, heat the sodium gluconate and molasses separately through a conduit 3 of about 4 bar into a distributor 5. Mix the sodium glucon and the centrifugal force the molasses is pushed out of the rotating distributor through the housing holes 10 into the mineral feed mixture contained in the drum mixer 1 and the surrounding distributor 5. Since the drum mixer 1 rotates in the opposite direction of the distributor 5 and the dispenser mixer 7 improves agitation, fluid droplets, crystallizes and this stream of crystallization product moves into a rotating zig-zag tube 16. where the pellets grow further and are further treated with lime. The final product is sent for further processing. This produces good quality, non-stick granules. The finished product has a pellet size of about 2-5 mm, preferably about 3 mm. Process output can be dosed.

The granulator of the present invention does not need to be cleaned as often as the previous one. The new splitter is less worn and less clogged compared to previous ones.

The following formulations of granular mineral feeds for cows and pigs are prepared as described in Example 1. Sodium gluconate and molasses make up about 50% by weight of the solid.

TABLE 1

COMPOSITION 1 COMPOSITION 2

COMPONENTS sv % kg weight% kg Lime S-3 16.25 276.25 Monocalcium phosphate 50.30 855.10 14.00 238.00 Salt 16.00 272.00 17.30 294.10 Magnesium oxide 10am 170.00 14.20 241.40 a-Na phosphate 8.30 141.10 Fodder dolomite 4.60 78.20 Dicalcium-Mg phosphate 3.10 52.70 15.00 255.00 ES Hearts 1.00 17.00 0.75 12.75 S Molasses 1.00 17.00 1.00 17.00 Perdi rbtas mineral mixture 1.00 17.00 1.00 17.00 N Molasses 7.00 119.00 6.00 102.00 Sodium gluconate solution 3.00 51.00 3.20 54.40 Fodder lime 3.00 51, O0 J Feeding lime 3.00 51.00

TABLE 1 (cont'd)

COMPOSITION 3 COMPOSITION 4

COMPONENTS sv % kg sv % kg Lime S-3 19.00 323.00 30.50 518.50 Monocalcium phosphate 16.80 285.60 13.10 222.70 Salt 17.50 297.50 16.60 282.20 Magnesium oxide 11.90 202.30 7.20 122.40 Ca-Na phosphate 11.00 187.00 7am 119.00 Dicalcium-Mg phosphate 3.60 61.20 ES Hearts 1.00 17.00 1.00 17.00 S Molasses 1.00 17.00 1.00 17.00 Perdi rbtas mineral mixture 1.00 17.00 1.00 17.00 N Molasses 6.00 102.00 6.00 102.00 Sodium gluconate solution 3.00 51.00 3.00 51.00 Fodder lime 8.80 149.60 7.00 119.00 J Feeding lime 23.00 51, OO 3.00 51.00 Example 2: Mineral feed mixture, for

for horns and pigs, preparation.

MATERIALS:% by weight Monocalcium phosphate 16.6 Ca-Na phosphate 11.3 Magnesium oxide 12.2 Salt 17.3 Lime forage 30.6 Molasses 7.0

COMPOSITION INCLUDES:% Calcium 18.0 Phosphorus 6.0 Magnesium 6.5 Sodium 8.0

VITAMINS

A ... 150,000 IU / kg

ELEMENTS

Cobalt

FOOTPRINT (Co) mg / kg

D .. 60,000 IU / kg Copper (Cu) 500

E .. 400 mg / kg Iodine (J) 100

Manganese (Mn) 980

Molybdenum (Mo) 8

Zinc (Zn) 3000

Selenium (Se) 10

The mixture is granulated as described in Example 1. The examples are intended only to illustrate the invention without limiting the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims (19)

DEFINITION OF INVENTION A granulator having a drum mixer (1) coupled to a powder feeder (2), a binder solution feeder (3) and a granule outlet from the drum mixer opening (4), a distributor (5) with an internal cavity mounted inside the drum mixer and connected to the binder solution feeder so that the binder solution can be fed to the drum mixer through the distributor, the distributor having mixers (7) for mixing the granulated material in the drum mixer, characterized in that the distributor (5) is formed by a housing (6) (10) so that the binder solution fed from the feeder (3) to the distributor (5) can be distributed in the drum mixer (1) through the holes in the distributor housing, Granulator according to claim 1, characterized in that it has motors (8, 9) for rotating the characteristic mixer (1) and the distributor (5) with respect to each other. Claim 3 in addition to this. that the housing (6) of the distributor (5) has at least one area (12) with holes (10) and at least one area (13) without holes. Granulator according to Claim 2, characterized in that the housing (6) has holes of the same or different size, with diameters ranging from 0.2 to 2mm. 4, Granulator according to Granulator according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the housing has at least two perforated zones (14) separated by at least three zones (15) without holes. Granulator according to claims 1-5, characterized in that. that the outer housing (6) of the distributor (5) has agitators (7). Granulator according to Claim 1, characterized in that the mixers (7) are curved or straight, they are fixed to the outer housing (6) and directed over the area (12) with holes. Granulator according to claims 1-7, characterized in that it has a zigzag-shaped tube (16) connected to an outlet (4) rotating about its axis. 9. A method of granulating a powder material by feeding the powder material to a drum mixer, distributing the binder solution in a bulk material surrounding the distributor, mixing the granulated material and removing the product thus obtained from the drum mixer for subsequent treatment, such that a solution of the binder in the bulk material through the holes in the distributor housing. 10. A method according to claim 9, characterized by rotating the drum mixer and the distributor relative to one another. 11. A method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it distributes the binder solution through the holes of a generally cylindrical rotary distributor housing. 12. The method of claims 9-11, wherein feeding a heated binder solution to a rotating distributor under pressure. A process according to claims 9-12, characterized in that the granulation material is mixed by means of mixers connected to a distributor. A method according to claims 9 to 13, characterized in that it feeds the out-of-shape tube, a pellet zigzag pellet for use in a drum mixer, into a magnifying glass. Process according to claims 9 to 14, characterized in that a powder mixture for mineral feed is used for the production of granules. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the binder solution comprises sodium gluconate and molasses. 17. A process according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the resulting mineral feed is dried and further processed to a moisture content of up to 4% and preferably up to 2%. 18. Granules consisting of a bulk mineral, in addition to being obtained by the method specified in claims 9 to 17 of the definition. Pellets according to claim 18, characterized in that they are mineral feeds in which the binder solution is present in an amount of from 3 to 20% and preferably from 6 to 15% by weight of the final product.