Cane preparation unit and method of operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10066273-B2
Application number	US-201314041138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2013
Priority date	Mar 31, 2011
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

Operation of a cane preparation unit is disclosed which can include providing a working range for at least one operating variable for a plurality of carriers of a cane preparation unit, estimating energy consumed corresponding to a first plurality of set points for the at least one operating variable, selecting one or more first set points corresponding to reducing (e.g., minimizing) energy consumed for the at least one operating variable as use set points, and operating the cane preparation unit at the use set points.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for operating a cane preparation unit with an energy optimizing unit, wherein the cane preparation unit includes a plurality of carriers coupled to each other for receiving cane from a cane loading section, cutting the received cane into a desired size, shredding the desired size cane into shredded cane pieces and conveying the shredded pieces to a chute of a first mill, wherein each of the carriers is associated with a carrier motor, the method comprising:
receiving, by the energy optimizing unit, a working range for at least one operating variable for the plurality of carriers of the cane preparation unit;
estimating, by the energy optimizing unit, energy consumed by the cane preparation unit when operated with a first plurality of set points in the received working range for the at least one operating variable;
selecting, by the energy optimizing unit, one or more first set points as use set points for the at least one operating variable based on the estimation of energy consumed by the cane preparation unit, obtained with an objective function to reduce energy consumed for the at least one operating variable, wherein the objective function includes terms to reduce deviations in a first mill chute level for maintaining uniform feed and to reduce the speed of at least one of the carrier motors, and wherein the use set points correspond to reduced energy consumed in the operation of the cane preparation unit; and
operating the cane preparation unit at the use set points for the at least one operating variable.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one operating variable is selected from a group consisting of: a cutter level indicator, a cutter speed indicator, a cutter output size indicator, a shredder level indicator, a shredder speed indicator, a shredder output indicator, a transporter level indicator, a transporter speed indicator, and a final output level indicator, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
monitoring the at least one operating variable for energy consumed at the use set points at distinct time intervals;
re-estimating energy consumed for a second plurality of set points;
generating one or more second set points with the objective function, wherein the objective function includes a first term to reduce deviations in a first mill chute level for maintaining uniform feed and a second term to reduce the speed of at least one of the carrier motors, corresponding to a reduced energy consumed at the one or more first set points or the second plurality of set points as new use set points; and
operating the cane preparation unit at the new use set points.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more second set points are same as the one or more first set points.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first set points are generated using a model for the cane preparation unit.

6. The method of claim 3 , comprising:
generating the plurality of second set points by a model for the cane preparation unit.

7. A cane preparation unit for a sugarcane processing plant, the cane preparation unit comprising:
a plurality of carriers coupled to each other and configured for carrying out a predetermined function based on at least one operating variable, wherein each of the plurality of carriers is associated with a carrier motor; and
an energy optimizing unit for:
receiving a working range for the at least one operating variable for the plurality of carriers of the cane preparation unit,
estimating energy consumed by the cane preparation unit when operated with a first plurality of set points in the received working range for the at least one operating variable,
selecting one or more first set points as use set points for the at least one operating variable for each of the plurality of carriers based on the estimation of energy consumed by the cane preparation unit, the first set points obtained with an objective function for reducing energy consumed for the at least one operating variable, wherein the objective function includes terms to reduce deviations in a first mill chute level for maintaining uniform feed and to reduce the speed of at least one of the carrier motors, and wherein the use set points correspond to reduced energy consumed in the operation of the cane preparation unit, and
operating the cane preparation unit at the use set points for the at least one operating variable.

Assignees

• Abb Research Ltd

Inventors

• M Arun Kumar
• Srinivasa Babji Buddhi
• Badwe Abhijit

Classifications

• G05B2219/32021

  Energy management, balance and limit power to tools · CPC title

• C13B5/02 Primary

  Cutting sugar cane · CPC title

• C13B5/08

  Knives; Adjustment or maintenance thereof · CPC title

• G06Q10/04

  Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" (market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202) · CPC title

• C13B10/025

  Treatment of sugar cane before extraction (C13B5/00 takes precedence) · CPC title