WO2019199236A1

WO2019199236A1 - Fiberizing apparatus comprising rotating wheels and method of melt fiberization

Info

Publication number: WO2019199236A1
Application number: PCT/SI2018/050013
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francelj TRDIČ; Miha TRDIČ
Original assignee: IZOTEH d o o
Current assignee: IZOTEH d o o
Priority date: 2018-04-11
Filing date: 2018-04-11
Publication date: 2019-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-11

Abstract

Fiberizing apparatus and method of melt fiberization solve the problem of increasing of production of mineral wool without unduly increasing size of collecting chamber or increasing number of rotating wheels along melt path beyond four rotating wheels by forming at least two separate melt paths on the same first rotating wheel by separating said first rotating wheel into two separate regions, each of said regions moving with different angular velocity.

Description

FIBERIZING APPARATUS COMPRISING ROTATING WHEEFS AND METHOD OF MELT

FIBERIZATION

Field of technology

Mineral wool production, centrifuges.

Technical problem

The technical problem to be overcome by present invention is limited capacity of mineral wool production.

It is widely accepted that four wheel fiberizing apparatus is the upper limit of actual mineral wool production facilities. There can, of course, be larger number of rotating wheels, however, there is no much point in doing so as adding rotating wheels along the melt path does not add to production, and doubling the number of wheels by adding another path simply introduces wider collecting chambers.

Increasing the flow of mineral melt does not increase the production. Air flow can only entrain limited amount of melt, and prolonging path of melt meandering among rotating wheels causes premature solidification and decrease in quality.

It is therefore main technical problem how to increase production of mineral wool without unduly increasing size of collecting chamber or increasing number of rotating wheels along melt path beyond four.

State of the art

A typical fiberizing apparatus in state of the art is described in EP 1409423. Typical spinning machine consists of 3 to 4 fiberizing rotating wheels, also known as the spinning wheels, or rotors. Further, there is a collecting chamber wherein fiber which is produced is collected.

The mineral melt discharged from the melting furnace or similar device for heating up and melting raw materials used in mineral wool formation forms a nearly vertical melt stream as it is poured onto the spinning machine. The melt stream is directed towards the mantle surface of the first contact rotating wheel where it partly adheres to the surface, is drawn in motion and forms a melt film. A part of the melt forms, with the aid of the centrifugal force, liquid ligaments that solidify to the mineral wool fibers while the remaining quantity of the melt is thrown out as a cascade of drops against the mantle surface of the adjacent second rotating wheel in the series. Again, a part of the melt adheres to the second rotating wheel surface sufficiently to be formed into fibers and the remainder is thrown onto the mantle surface of the third rotating wheel of the rotating wheel machine and so forth, until the last rotating wheel where the remaining mass flow of the melt is assumed to be low enough to fiberize completely.

Binder may be applied on the formed mineral fibers, either during fiber formation or afterwards, in form of a droplet spray. The mineral fibers formed on the rotating wheels of the spinning machine are transported away from the point of origin on the melt film, initially in the radial direction due to the centrifugal force. As the fibers enter the zone of the coaxial air flow generated by the spinning machine fan, i.e. the blow -in flow, they are drawn in predominantly axial motion and transported to the collecting chamber where the primary layer of the mineral wool is formed.

Fiber formation is achieved through competing centrifugal force and air entrainment force by virtue of air blowing onto the rotating wheel on one side, and viscous and surface tension forces keeping melt film to the rotating wheel on another side. When former exceed latter the melt is lifted from the rotating wheel, the droplets are elongated until they stretch and solidify in form of a fiber. The process may vary from this description, however, this does not alter the essence of this invention as described below.

Description of new invention

Fiberizing apparatus and method of melt fiberization solve above referenced problem of increasing of production of mineral wool without unduly increasing size of collecting chamber or increasing number of rotating wheels along melt path beyond four rotating wheels by forming at least two separate melt paths on the same first rotating wheel by separating said first rotating wheel into two separate regions, each of said regions moving with different angular velocity.

The fiberizing apparatus according to this invention is comprised of at least one first rotating wheel onto which said mineral melt is poured. Said first rotating wheel is separated into at least two separate regions which rotate relatively one to another with same or different angular velocity. In preferred embodiment two such regions exist, and rotate in different directions, for example, the first region of the first rotating wheel rotates in clock-wise direction while the second region of the first rotating wheel rotates in the counter-clock-wise direction. For purposes of this description, radial surface of a disk or of a rotating wheel is a surface formed along circumference of said disk or of said rotating wheel, i.e. side surface area of a cylinder (essentially right circular cylinder but of course permitting deviation into some other base other than circle) as known in geometry, said rotating wheel or rotating disk essentially having shape of a cylinder, preferably essentially right circular cylinder.

For purposes of this application perimeter or circumference relates to lateral area of three dimensional body, i.e. radial surface of a disk or of a rotating wheel is a lateral area of a cylinder in addition to its usual two dimensional definition.

The apparatus according to this invention may further comprise additional rotating wheels onto which melt is poured along the melt path.

In preferred embodiment there are six rotating wheels. The first, and the third rotating wheel are each separated into two regions, each region of each rotating wheel rotating in different direction to adjacent region of the same rotating wheel.

According to this embodiment, the melt flows onto the first rotating wheel in two separate streams, one stream per region. Each stream follows its own route, the first stream denoted by, for example, with letter“L”, the second with, for example, with letter“R”.“L” stands for“left” side looking (in direction) toward collecting chamber, and“R” for right looking (in direction) toward collecting chamber. In this particular embodiment, the setup comprises rotating wheels and collecting chamber for collecting of said fiber formed in accordance with this description, and follows basic setup as known in state of the art referenced herein.

For purposes of this description, the rotation of the rotating wheels is described looking from inside of collecting chamber toward the rotating wheels, such as in Figure 1.

The first stream impinges onto the surface of the first region of the first rotating wheel which is, for example, rotating in clock-wise direction, again, looking from direction of collecting chamber.

This first stream is thrown onto the second“L” rotating wheel, which is formed of one region only, and rotates in, for example, counter-clock-wise direction. From the second“L” rotating wheel the first melt stream is thrown onto the first region of the third rotating wheel, again rotating in clock-wise direction. From this, third rotating wheel, the melt is finally thrown onto the fourth“L” rotating wheel, again rotating in counter-clock-wise direction, said fourth“L” rotating wheel again formed of one region only. The second stream impinges onto the surface of the second region of the first rotating wheel which is, for example, rotating in counter-clock-wise direction.

This second stream is thrown onto the second“R” rotating wheel, which is formed of one region only, and rotates in, for example, clock-wise direction. From the second“R” rotating wheel the second melt stream is thrown onto the second region of the third rotating wheel, said region again rotating in counter-clock-wise direction. From this, third rotating wheel, the melt is finally thrown onto the fourth“R” rotating wheel, again rotating in clock-wise direction, said fourth“R” rotating wheel again formed of one region only.

This embodiment therefore has six rotating wheels: the first rotating wheel, the second“L” rotating wheel, the third rotating wheel, the fourth“L” rotating wheel, the second“R” rotating wheel and the fourth“R” rotating wheel.

Of these rotating wheels, said first rotating wheel, and said third rotating wheel are formed of two regions, rotating in different directions, the first (for example) region of said first rotating wheel and said third rotating wheel in clock-wise direction, and the second region of said first rotating wheel and said third rotating wheel in counter-clock-wise direction.

It should be mentioned that the fibers are formed in usual fashion - by air blowing in direction essentially collinear to axes of said rotating wheels, from said rotating wheels toward inner parts of collection chamber.

Fiberizing apparatus for forming of mineral wool according to this invention is comprised of at least one first rotating wheel, said first rotating wheel having a radial surface along the perimeter of said first rotating wheel, said first rotating wheel having at least one melt stream impinging on said radial surface of said first rotating wheel, said melt forming a layer on at least part of said radial surface of said first rotating wheel,

characterized in that

said first rotating wheel is comprised of either:

- at least two separate regions rotating about same axis, each of said regions formed in a shape of a rotating disk having a radial surface along the perimeter of said disk, each region rotating with different angular velocity to its adjacent region, and further each of said regions having at least one melt stream impinging on each of radial surfaces of respective region of said first rotating wheel, or

- at least two axially adjacent rotating disks rotating about different yet essentially parallel axes, each of said rotating disks having a radial surface along the perimeter of said rotating disk, each rotating disk rotating with different angular velocity to its adjacent rotating disk, and further each of said rotating disks having at least melt stream impinging on each of radial surfaces of respective disk of said first rotating wheel.

Fiberizing apparatus according to this invention is further characterized in that each of said regions of said first rotating wheel is rotating in direction opposite to direction of rotation of adjacent region.

Fiberizing apparatus according to this invention is further characterized in that each of said rotating disks of said first rotating wheel is rotating in direction opposite to direction of rotation of adjacent rotating disk.

Fiberizing apparatus according to any of preceding claims wherein at least one second rotating wheel, and at least one third rotating wheel,

said third rotating wheel comprised of either:

- at least two separate regions, each of said regions formed in a shape of a rotating disk having a radial surface along the perimeter of said disk, each region rotating with different angular velocity to its adjacent region, or

- at least two rotating disks rotating about different yet parallel axes, each of said rotating disks having a radial surface along the perimeter of said disk, each rotating disk rotating with different angular velocity to its adjacent rotating disk,

said first rotating wheel, said second rotating wheel, and said third rotating wheel in fluid connection one to another via said at least one melt stream.

Fiberizing apparatus according to any of preceding claims wherein at least one fourth rotating wheel.

Fiberizing apparatus according to this invention is further characterized by one of said rotating disks of the same rotating wheel having smaller diameter than the other rotating disk of the same rotating wheel, said difference in diameter chosen among the group containing at least 50 mm, at least 40 mm, at least 30 mm, at least 20 mm, at least 10 mm, at least 5 mm, at least 1 mm, at least 0.1 mm.

Method of melt fiberization is comprised of the following steps:

- melting of raw materials used in mineral wool formation;

- forming at least two melt streams;

- directing each of said melt streams toward radial surfaces of either: - at least two adjacent regions of at least one first rotating wheel of a fiberizing apparatus for forming of mineral wool, or

- at least two axially adjacent rotating disks of at least one first rotating wheel of a fiberizing apparatus for forming of mineral wool;

- impinging of said at least two mineral streams on said radial surface of each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks of said first rotating wheel, respectively; wherein each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks is rotating with different angular velocity to adjacent region or adjacent disk, respectively.

Method of melt fiberization is further composed of forming at least two distinct paths of mineral streams meandering through rotating wheels of melt fiberization apparatus as follows:

- impinging of the first of at least two melt streams on radial surface of the first of each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks of said first rotating wheel, respectively;

- impinging of the second of at least two melt streams on radial surface of the second of each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks of said first rotating wheel, respectively;

- throwing of said first melt stream from the first of each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks of said first rotating wheel onto the radial surface of the first of at least two second rotating wheels;

- throwing of said second melt stream from the second of each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks of said first rotating wheel onto the radial surface of the second of at least two second rotating wheels;

- throwing of said first melt stream from said first of at least two second rotating wheels onto the radial surface of the first of each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks of the third rotating wheel, respectively;

- throwing of said second melt stream from said second of at least two second rotating wheels onto the radial surface of the second of each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks of the third rotating wheel, respectively.

Method of melt fiberization is further composed of having each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks of said first rotating wheel, respectively, rotating in opposite directions one to another.

Method of melt fiberization is further composed of having each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks of said third rotating wheel, respectively, rotating in opposite directions one to another. The invention will be further described by help of preferred embodiments, and by figures, said figures forming part of this description, and presenting

Figure 1 shows“front” rotating disk of the first rotating wheel (1L),“rear” rotating disk of the first rotating wheel (1R),“left” second rotating wheel (2L),“right” second rotating wheel (2R), “front” rotating disk of the third rotating wheel (3L),“rear” rotating disk of the third rotating wheel (3R),“left” fourth rotating wheel (4L),“right” fourth rotating wheel (4R),“left” melt stream (5L),“right” melt stream (5R),“left” groove (trough) (6L),“right” groove (trough) (6R), “left” part of melt exiting receptacle (7L),“right” part of melt exiting receptacle (7R), melt exiting melting device such as furnace (8), receptacle (9), angle (10) of receptacle.

Figure 2 shows“front” rotating disk of the first rotating wheel (1L),“rear” rotating disk of the first rotating wheel (1R),“left” second rotating wheel (2L),“right” second rotating wheel (2R), “left” fourth rotating wheel (4L),“right” fourth rotating wheel (4R),“left” melt stream (5L), “right” melt stream (5R),“left” groove (6L),“right” groove (6R), melt exiting melting device such as furnace (8), receptacle (9),“left” melt layer on“front” rotating disk (11L),“right” melt layer on“rear” rotating disk (11R),“left” melt layer on“left” second rotating wheel (12L), “right” melt layer on“right” second rotating wheel (12R),“left” melt layer on“left” fourth rotating wheel (14L),“right” melt layer on“right” fourth rotating wheel (14R), air blowing for “left” part (15L), air blowing for“right” part (15R), location of melt layer on“left” side measuring from edge of a rotating wheel from housing side of collecting chamber (16L), location of melt layer on“right” side measuring from edge of a rotating wheel from housing side of collecting chamber (16R), location of melt layer on“left” side measuring from edge of a rotating wheel from inner volume of collecting chamber (17L), location of melt layer on“right” side measuring from edge of a rotating wheel from inner volume of collecting chamber (17R).

In preferred embodiment a melt (8) from device for melting of minerals flows into separating receptacle (9) providing for splitting of said melt (8) into“left” and“right” melt streams. From said receptacle (9) part of said melt (7R) is flowing into a“right” groove (6R) for right part of fiberizing apparatus, and reminder of said melt (7L) is flowing into a“left” groove (6L) for left part of fiberizing apparatus. Both said“right” and“left” grooves (6R, 6L) are connected to a mechanical positioning device which enables for separate positioning of each said groove in all directions (forward-backward, left-right, up-down) as well as rotation of the same. The positioning of said groove provides for positioning of point of impact of said melt stream onto respective region of the first rotating wheel (1R, 1L). This positioning is performed with help and based on visual detection of melt stream position as well as information on melt layer obtained with analysis of images obtained by at least one camera. The first rotating wheel is comprised of two regions in form of two rotating disks (1L, 1R) rotating in opposite direction relative one to another, and sharing essentially same axis of rotation. It should be said that the disks can have each own, and separated axis of rotation as long as said rotating disks are adjacent one to another in axial direction, this is to say that they are adjacent one to another and their axes of rotation are essentially parallel to each other with distance between said axes less than radius of smaller of said rotating disks. These two rotating disks (1L, 1R) comprise each radial surface along the perimeter of each rotating disk. In preferred embodiment these two rotating disks rotate in clock-wise direction (1L) and counter- clock-wise direction (1R).

In preferred embodiment rotation of said rotating disks (1L, 1R) is provided by shafts placed one inside another, i.e. one of the shafts drives one of said rotating disks (e.g. 1L), and another shaft drives another of said rotating disks (e.g. 1R). For purposes of this description expressions “front” rotating disk and“rear” rotating disk are used.“Front” rotating disk is a rotating disk which is proximal to inside volume of collecting chamber related to another rotating disk, and “rear” rotating disk is a rotating disk which is distal to inside volume of collecting chamber. In this embodiment, and according to Figure 1, (1L) rotating disk is“front” rotating disk, and (1R) rotating disk is“rear” rotating disk. Same description applies to the third rotating wheel wherein (3L) rotating disk is“front” rotating disk, and (3R) rotating disk is“rear” rotating disk.

In this embodiment, the third rotating wheel is arranged in a similar fashion to the first rotating wheel, i.e. it is comprised of two regions in form of two rotating disks (3L, 3R) rotating in opposite direction relative one to another, and sharing essentially same axis of rotation. These two rotating disks (3L, 3R) comprise each radial surface along the perimeter of each rotating disk. In preferred embodiment these two rotating disks rotate in clock-wise direction (3L) and counter-clock-wise direction (3R).

According to this embodiment, there are two second rotating wheels. One of said second rotating wheels (2L) serves both“front” rotating disks (1L, 3L), and the other of said second rotating wheels (2R) serves both“rear” rotating disks (1R, 3R).

There can be, and in this case, are, the fourth rotating wheel added. In this embodiment there are two fourth rotating wheels. One of said fourth rotating wheels (4L) serves rotating disks (2L, 3L), and the other of said fourth rotating wheels (4R) serves rotating disks (2R, 3R).

In such a way two separate melt stream paths are formed, in this embodiment they are called “left” (denoted by letter L in the figures) path and“right” (denoted by letter R in the figures) path. It should be mentioned that more than two separate melt stream paths can be formed by adding appropriate number of separate regions in form of rotating disks or separate rotating disks to form each of said rotating wheels (in this embodiment the first and the third but systems can be constructed and envisioned in which other rotating wheels such as the second or the fourth etc. can be separated in separate regions or formed by adjacent rotating disks).

In this embodiment“left” melt stream path is therefore initiated in“left” melt stream (5L) being poured from“left” groove (6L) onto said“front” rotating disk (1L) , said“front” rotating disk (1L) forming part of said first rotating wheel, said“left” melt stream (5L) forming melt layer on said radial surface of said“left” rotating disk (1L) to be thrown by centrifugal force resulting from said “front” rotating disk (1L) rotation onto the second rotating wheel (2L). Upon impinging on said radial surface of said second rotating wheel (2L), said“left” melt stream (5L) forms melt layer on said radial surface of said second rotating wheel (2L) to be thrown by centrifugal force resulting from said second rotating wheel (2L) rotation onto said “front” rotating disk (3L), said“front” rotating disk (3L) forming part of said third rotating wheel. Upon impinging on said radial surface of said“front” rotating disk (3U) of said third rotating wheel, said“left” melt stream (5U) forms melt layer on said radial surface of said“front” rotating disk (3U) of said third rotating wheel to be thrown by centrifugal force resulting from said“front” rotating disk (3U) of said third rotating wheel rotation onto said fourth rotating wheel (4U). This path is shown by sequential arrows (5U) in figure 1 accompanying this description.

In this way, said“left” melt stream (5U) functions as complete four rotating wheel centrifuge as known in state of the art (e.g. EP3046883, WO2016048249 etc.).

Adding to that,“right” melt stream (5R) is added in order to increase production of this setup as described herein.

In this embodiment“right” melt stream path is therefore initiated in“right” melt stream (5R) being poured from“right” groove (6R) onto said“rear” rotating disk (1R) , said“rear” rotating disk (1R) forming part of said first rotating wheel, said“right” melt stream (5R) forming melt layer on said radial surface of said“right” rotating disk (1R) to be thrown by centrifugal force resulting from said“rear” rotating disk (1R) rotation onto the second rotating wheel (2R). Upon impinging on said radial surface of said second rotating wheel (2R), said“right” melt stream (5R) forms melt layer on said radial surface of said second rotating wheel (2R) to be thrown by centrifugal force resulting from said second rotating wheel (2R) rotation onto said “rear” rotating disk (3R), said“rear” rotating disk (3R) forming part of said third rotating wheel. Upon impinging on said radial surface of said“rear” rotating disk (3R) of said third rotating wheel, said“right” melt stream (5R) forms melt layer on said radial surface of said“rear” rotating disk (3R) of said third rotating wheel to be thrown by centrifugal force resulting from said“rear” rotating disk (3R) of said third rotating wheel rotation onto said fourth rotating wheel (4R). This path is shown by sequential arrows (5R) in figure 1 accompanying this description.

Technical and novel advantage of this invention as described by help of this embodiment is in adding at least one another melt stream thereby functioning as eight rotating wheel centrifuge yet consuming only space for six rotating wheels. Similarly, using this description, one could construct the centrifuge with single first rotating wheel (1L, 1R) having functionality of two single rotating wheel centrifuges consuming space of one single rotating wheel centrifuge, further centrifuge with three rotating wheels (1L, 1R, 2L, 2R) having functionality of two double rotating wheel centrifuges consuming space of three rotating wheel centrifuge, further centrifuge with four rotating wheels (1L, 1R, 2L, 2R, 3L, 3R) having functionality of two three rotating wheel centrifuges yet consuming space of four rotating wheels etc.

Another technical and unforeseen advantage of invention as described herein is capture of part of“left” melt stream (5L) being thrown into the direction of“right” melt stream (5R) by“left” rotating disks and rotating wheels (1L, 2L, 3L, 4L), and vice-versa, capture of part of“right” melt stream (5R) being thrown into the direction of“left” melt stream (5L) by“right” rotating disks and rotating wheels (1R, 2R, 3R, 4R).

In a way of clarification it is explained that there are six rotating wheels forming this embodiment, two of which (the first, the third) are each formed of two rotating disks each.

The first rotating wheel is formed of two rotating disks (1L, 1R), rotating in opposite direction one to another.

There are“left” second rotating wheel (2L), and“right” second rotating wheel (2R), i.e. there are two second rotating wheels.

The third rotating wheel is formed of two rotating disks (3L, 3R), rotating in opposite direction one to another.

Finally, there are“left” fourth rotating wheel (4L), and“right” fourth rotating wheel (4R), i.e. there are two fourth rotating wheels.

There are additional characteristics of this embodiment presenting advantage over state of the art but not limiting the extent of this invention. It was further found advantageous if one of the rotating disks (for example 1L, or 3L) was of smaller diameter as the other of rotating disks (for example 1R or 3R). This reduces accumulation of melt, and fiber in area where both rotating disks of the same rotating wheel meet. In this embodiment, the difference in diameter between both rotating disks was around 10 mm.

In this embodiment both rotating disks of the same rotating wheel (1L, 1R, 3L, 3R) were each driven by separate shaft. Shafts of the same rotating wheel are designed in such a way to enable operation of one shaft being positioned inside the other shaft, and rotating in opposite direction.

Figure 1 shows one example of direction of rotating wheels, however, directions of rotation can be different. All rotating wheels and/or rotating disks can rotate in same direction yet with different angular velocities, or in opposite directions to one shown. Some rotating wheels or rotating disks can rotate in one direction, and other in different direction. This change in direction will have had resulted in different melt stream (5L, 5R) paths, having better or worse performance in form of fiber formation. In general, longer meandering path tends to utilize melt better, and accommodate larger quantities of fiber produced.

In this embodiment the melt (8) from the melt furnace or similar device is split into two parts by tilting receptacle (9). The regulation of angle (10) of said receptacle (9) provides for similar capacity for“right” side (7R) and“left” side (7L) of the centrifuge based on regulation model, said model taking into account flow load of each rotating wheel and flow properties of melt stream including droplet cascade, these properties determined from images captured by at least one camera monitoring the process of fiber formation.

From tilting receptacle (9) one part of the melt flows into said“right” groove (6R) of“right” centrifuge (7R), and another part of the melt flows into said“left” groove (6L) of “left” centrifuge (7L). Each of said grooves (6L, 6R) is equipped with its own positioning device, preferably mechanical positioning device providing for positioning of each of said groove (6L, 6R) in order to provide for optimal feed of said“left” and“right” centrifuges (7L, 7R). It should of course be stated that division in two centrifuges is conceptual as in fact these rotating wheels and/or rotating disks described herein form part of the same device called centrifuge in state of the art.

From said grooves (6L, 6R) the melt stream falls in two parts (5L, 5R), respectively onto“left” and“right” rotating disk (1L, 1R) of the first rotating wheel, respectively, and continues the path on radial surfaces of rotating wheels and/or rotating disks as described herein (2L, 3L, 4L, and 2R, 3R, 4R, respectively).

In this embodiment, the primary function of the first rotating wheel is transport of melt, and the secondary function of the first rotating wheel is spreading of the melt which is the primary function of all other rotating wheels. Spreading of the melt results in formation of a layer on the radial surface of said rotating wheels and/or rotating disks, the result of which is formation of the fiber as a result of centrifugal forces as known in state of the art and incorporated herein by reference. The embodiment as described herein offers significant increase of utilized surface area over classical four-rotating wheel centrifuge and present significant improvement over state of the art. Larger total film length (i.e. length of melt stream along all radial surfaces where melt is present) provides for larger capacity of invention as described herein.

In addition, arrangement with the second and the fourth rotating wheel provide for better efficiency as these rotating wheels capture not only melt thrown by its respective rotating wheels (e.g. capture of melt by 2L thrown by 1L) but also, especially in the first third of rotating (but not limited to that) melt thrown by the other path rotating wheels (e.g. capture of melt by 2L thrown by 1R), this having additional surprising technical effect.

Actual formation of the fiber is formed in air flow as known in state of the art. This embodiment provides also for adapted blowing of air across of said rotating disks and/or rotating wheels. In this embodiment, blowing is provided separately for“right” part (15R), and separately for“left” part (15L). This provides for better efficiency of blowing on“right” part of the centrifuge where melt layer (12R) is formed mostly on the first third (16R-17R) of width of rotating wheels (2R and 4R).

For the“left” part of the centrifuge the melt layer (12L) forms mostly on the second third (16L-17L) of width of the rotating wheels (2L and 4L), i.e. to the“front” part of the centrifuge. Because of that, the“left” part of the centrifuge in this embodiments features blowing nozzles (15L) which are formed in such a way that exit velocity of air is larger (including and not limited to significantly larger) as for“right” part of the centrifuge (15R) as the distance to the film (16L) is larger in the“left” part of the centrifuge as in the“right” part of the centrifuge, providing for similar blowing air velocity at the melt layer regions (12L, 12R).

Said rotating disks and/or rotating wheels should be cooled. The cooling system for the first (1L, 1R) and the third (3L, 3R) rotating wheels is in this embodiment (but not limited to this design) designed so maximum cooling is provided approximately in the middle width of said rotating wheels as the melt layer (11L, 11R) tends to be thickest there. For the“right” part of the centrifuge the melt layer (12R, 14R) is mostly in position (16R) proximal to centrifuge housing, said housing comprised of walls and known in state of the art (e.g. WO2015142294). For this reason, the cooling for this area is formed in such a fashion that maximum cooling is provided around position (16R) of width of the rotating wheel and/or disk for this embodiment.

For the“left” part of the centrifuge the melt layer (12L, 14L) is mostly in position (16L) distal to centrifuge housing, said housing comprised of walls and known in state of the art (e.g. WO2015142294). For this reason, the cooling for this area is formed in such a fashion that maximum cooling is provided around position (16L) of width of the rotating wheel and/or disk for this embodiment.

It could prove disadvantageous if any of said melt streams (5L, 5R) would fall onto area where both rotating disks (1L, 1R) of the first rotating wheel are in closest proximity. To reduce this possibility, the position of impinging of said melt streams (5L, 5R) onto said rotating disks (1L, 1R), respectively, is regulated by means of positioning device, preferably mechanical positioning device, each of melt streams regulated by separate positioning device providing for translation and rotation, preferably translation front-back, left-right.

Fiberizing apparatus according to this invention is further characterized by forming“left” and “right” part of the centrifuge following“left” (1L, 2L, 3L, 4L) rotating disks and/or rotating wheels and“right” (1R, 2R, 3R, 4R) rotating disks and/or rotating wheels, respectively, wherein separate blowing nozzles (15L, 15R) are provided in order to provide for separate blowing air velocity of“left” and“right” part of the centrifuge resulting in similar velocity of air around “left” (12L, 14L) melt layer and“right” (12R, 14R) melt layer respectively.

Fiberizing apparatus according to this invention is further characterized by combined width of rotating disks (1L+1R) is similar to width of narrower of said second rotating wheels (2L, 2R), wherein said combined width of rotating disks (1L+1R) is chosen from the following group: -10 to +10% of width of narrower of said second rotating wheels (2L, 2R), -20 to +20% of width of narrower of said second rotating wheels (2L, 2R), -30 to +20% of width of narrower of said second rotating wheels (2L, 2R).

Fiberizing apparatus according to this invention is further characterized by the position of impinging of said melt streams (5L, 5R) onto said rotating disks (1L, 1R), respectively, is regulated by means of positioning device, preferably mechanical positioning device, each of melt streams regulated by separate positioning device providing for translation and rotation, preferably translation front-back, left-right.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Fiberizing apparatus for forming of mineral wool fiber comprising at least one first rotating wheel, said first rotating wheel having a radial surface along the perimeter of said first rotating wheel, said first rotating wheel having at least one melt stream impinging on said radial surface of said first rotating wheel, said melt forming a layer on at least part of said radial surface of said first rotating wheel,

characterized in that

said first rotating wheel is comprised of either:

- at least two separate regions rotating about same axis, each of said regions formed in a shape of a rotating disk having a radial surface along the perimeter of said disk, each region rotating with same or different angular velocity to its adjacent region, and further each of said regions having at least one melt stream impinging on each of radial surfaces of respective region of said first rotating wheel, or

2. Fiberizing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said regions of said first rotating wheel is rotating in direction opposite to direction of rotation of adjacent region.

3. Fiberizing apparatus according to any of preceding claims wherein each of said rotating disks of said first rotating wheel is rotating in direction opposite to direction of rotation of adjacent rotating disk.

4. Fiberizing apparatus according to any of preceding claims wherein said fiberizing apparatus comprises at least one second rotating wheel, and at least one third rotating wheel,

said third rotating wheel comprised of either:

- at least two separate regions, each of said regions formed in a shape of a rotating disk having a radial surface along the perimeter of said disk, each region rotating with different angular velocity to its adjacent region, or - at least two rotating disks rotating about different yet parallel axes, each of said rotating disks having a radial surface along the perimeter of said disk, each rotating disk rotating with different angular velocity to its adjacent rotating disk,

5. Fiberizing apparatus according to any of preceding claims wherein said fiberizing apparatus comprises at least one fourth rotating wheel.

6. Fiberizing apparatus according to any of preceding claims wherein one of said rotating disks of the same rotating wheel has smaller diameter than the other rotating disk of the same rotating wheel, said difference in diameter chosen among the group containing at least 50 mm, at least 40 mm, at least 30 mm, at least 20 mm, at least 10 mm, at least 5 mm, at least 1 mm, at least 0.1 mm.

7. Fiberizing apparatus according to any of preceding claims wherein said fiberizing apparatus is formed of left and right part of the centrifuge , said left part being left hand side viewing toward collecting chamber, and said right part being right hand side viewing toward collecting chamber, said left part comprised of left (1L, 2L, 3L, 4L) rotating disks and/or rotating wheels and said right part omprised of right (1R, 2R, 3R, 4R) rotating disks and/or rotating wheels, respectively, wherein separate blowing nozzles (15L, 15R) are provided in order to provide for separate blowing air velocity of said left and right part of the centrifuge, respectively, resulting in similar velocity of air around left (12L, 14L) melt layer and right”(l2R, 14R) melt layer, respectively, said melt layer formed on said surface of said rotating disks and/or rotating wheels.

8. Fiberizing apparatus according to any of preceding claims wherein combined width of rotating disks (1L+1R) is similar to width of narrower of said second rotating wheels (2L, 2R), wherein said combined width of rotating disks (1L+1R) is chosen from the following group: -10 to +10% of width of narrower of said second rotating wheels (2L, 2R), -20 to +20% of width of narrower of said second rotating wheels (2L, 2R), -30 to +20% of width of narrower of said second rotating wheels (2L, 2R).

9. Fiberizing apparatus according to any of preceding claims wherein the position of impinging of said melt streams (5L, 5R) onto said rotating disks (1L, 1R), respectively, is regulated by means of positioning device, preferably mechanical positioning device, each of melt streams regulated by separate positioning device providing for translation and rotation, preferably translation front-back, left-right.

10. Method of melt fiberization, comprised of the following steps:

- melting of raw materials used in mineral wool formation;

- forming at least two melt streams;

- directing each of said melt streams toward radial surfaces of either:

- at least two adjacent regions of at least one first rotating wheel of a fiberizing apparatus for forming of mineral wool, or

- impinging of said at least two mineral streams on said radial surface of each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks of said first rotating wheel, respectively;

wherein each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks is rotating with different angular velocity to adjacent region or adjacent disk, respectively.

11. Method of melt fiberization according to claim 10, further composed of forming at least two distinct paths of mineral streams meandering through rotating wheels of melt fiberization apparatus as follows:

12. Method of melt fiberization according to any of claims 10 to 11, further composed of having each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks of said first rotating wheel, respectively, rotating in opposite directions one to another.

13. Method of melt fiberization according to any of claims 10 to 12, further composed of having each of said either two adjacent regions or two adjacent rotating disks of said third rotating wheel, respectively, rotating in opposite directions one to another.

14. Method according to any of claims 10 to 13 using fiberization apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9.