Disruptor assembly adjustment system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11739478-B2
Application number	US-202217883588-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2022
Priority date	Dec 20, 2019
Publication date	Aug 29, 2023
Grant date	Aug 29, 2023

Abstract

A disruptor adjustment system comprising: a disruptor assembly configured to disrupt a volume of smelt flowing from a smelt spout into a dissolving tank, wherein the disruptor assembly comprises an actuator operatively engaged to a disruptor, a sensor configured to record process data from the recovery boiler; and a control system configured to receive a sensor output signal from the sensor, wherein the sensor output signal indicates the process data at a measured time, wherein the control system is further configured to compare the sensor output signal to a programmed operation range, and to send a disruptor input signal to the disruptor assembly to adjust a disruptor operating condition if the process data of the sensor output signal is outside of the programmed operation range. In certain exemplary embodiments, the sensor is an image capture device. In certain exemplary embodiments, the disruptor assembly can be adjusted remotely.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a recovery boiler smelt disruptor, the method comprising:
conveying a volume of smelt into a dissolving tank from a furnace of the recovery boiler via a smelt spout;
receiving a sensor output signal from an optical sensor, the optical sensor output signal indicating a process condition in the recovery boiler;
analyzing the sensor output signal to determine a smelt flow position for the process condition;
sending a disruptor input signal to the smelt disruptor to adjust a disruptor operating condition based on the process condition; and
shattering the smelt being conveyed into the dissolving tank.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
analyzing a disruptor output signal to determine a disruptor operating condition for the smelt disruptor.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein shattering the smelt comprises controlling a flow of a shattering fluid from the smelt disruptor by controlling an actuator configured to control a shattering fluid source.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein controlling the shattering fluid source comprises controlling the flow of the shattering fluid to one or more shatter j et nozzles.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein controlling the actuator comprises controlling an angle of the smelt disruptor relative to the smelt flow.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein controlling the actuator comprises controlling an insertion depth of the smelt disruptor relative to the smelt flow.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the shattering fluid is steam or air.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a sensor input signal to the optical sensor to adjust a sensitivity to the process condition.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor is a camera configured to capture an image or a video of the smelt as it leaves the smelt spout.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein shattering the smelt being conveyed into the dissolving tank comprises shattering the smelt into a pattern of smelt droplets, and
capturing, by the camera, an image or a video of the pattern of smelt droplets.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the smelt droplets are of a size determined to reduce acoustic emissions produced by contact of the smelt droplets with liquid in the dissolving tank.

12. A recovery boiler comprising:
a dissolving tank;
a spout adjacent to the dissolving tank, wherein the spout is configured to convey a volume of smelt into the dissolving tank;
a smelt disruptor configured to disrupt the volume of smelt flowing from the spout into the dissolving tank;
an optical sensor configured to record process data from the recovery boiler; and
a control system configured to receive a sensor output signal from the optical sensor,
wherein the optical sensor output signal indicates the process data, wherein the control system is further configured to analyze the optical sensor output signal to determine a smelt flow position for the process condition and send a disruptor input signal to the smelt disruptor to adjust a disruptor operating condition according to the optical sensor output signal, and
wherein the disruptor operating condition is adjusted to shatter the smelt being conveyed into the dissolving tank.

13. The recovery boiler of claim 12 further comprising an actuator operatively engaged to the smelt disruptor, wherein the actuator is configured to adjust a position of the smelt disruptor in response to a disruptor input signal.

14. The recovery boiler of claim 13 , wherein the position of the smelt disruptor comprises an insertion depth.

15. The recovery boiler of claim 13 wherein the position of the smelt disruptor comprises an angle of the smelt disruptor.

16. The recovery boiler of claim 13 , wherein the disruptor operating condition is adjusted to shatter the smelt being conveyed into the dissolving tank by controlling a flow of a shattering fluid from the smelt disruptor.

17. The recovery boiler of claim 16 , wherein the shattering fluid is steam or air.

18. The recovery boiler of claim 12 further comprising an actuator operatively engaged to the smelt disruptor, wherein the actuator is configured to adjust a position of the smelt disruptor in response to an operator input.

19. The recovery boiler of claim 12 wherein a rate of smelt flow from the spout is measured by the optical sensor, and
wherein a position of the smelt disruptor is adjusted based on the rate of smelt flow.

20. The recovery boiler of claim 12 , wherein the optical sensor is configured to capture an image or video of the smelt as it leaves the smelt spout.

21. The recovery boiler of claim 20 , wherein the optical sensor is a camera.

22. The recovery boiler of claim 21 , wherein the smelt disruptor is configured to shatter the smelt being conveyed into the dissolving tank into a pattern of smelt droplets, and
wherein the camera is configured to capture an image or video of the pattern of smelt droplets.

23. The recovery boiler of claim 22 , wherein the smelt droplets are of a size determined to reduce acoustic emissions produced by contact of the smelt droplets with liquid in the dissolving tank.

24. A smelt disruptor adjustment system comprising:
a disruptor assembly configured to shatter smelt flowing from a smelt spout into a pattern of smelt droplets, wherein the disruptor assembly comprises an actuator operatively engaged to a smelt disruptor;
an optical sensor configured to record process data from a recovery boiler; and
a control system configured to receive a sensor output signal from the optical sensor,
wherein the control system is further configured to analyze the sensor output signal to determine a smelt flow position for the process condition and send a disruptor input signal to the smelt disruptor assembly to adjust a disruptor operating condition,
wherein the disruptor operating condition is adjusted to shatter the smelt being conveyed into a dissolving tank,
wherein the optical sensor is a camera, wherein the optical sensor output signal is an image or a video of the pattern of smelt droplets captured by the camera.

25. The smelt disruptor adjustment system of claim 24 , wherein the disruptor operating condition is adjusted to shatter the smelt being conveyed into the dissolving tank by controlling a flow of a shattering fluid from the smelt disruptor.

26. The smelt disruptor adjustment system of claim 25 , wherein the shattering fluid is steam or air.

27. The smelt disruptor adjustment system of claim 24 , further comprising an actuator operatively engaged to the smelt disruptor, wherein the actuator is configured to adjust a position of the smelt disruptor in response to a disruptor input signal.

28. The smelt disruptor adjustment system of claim 27 , wherein the position of the smelt disruptor comprises an insertion depth.

29. The smelt disruptor adjustment system of claim 27 , wherein the position of the smelt disruptor comprises an angle of the smelt disruptor.

30. The smelt disruptor adjustment system of claim 24 further comprising an actuator operatively engaged to the smelt disruptor, wherein the actuator is configured to adjust a position of the smelt disruptor in response to an operator input.

31. The smelt disruptor adjustment system of claim 24 , wherein the smelt droplets are of a size determined t

Assignees

• Andritz Inc

Inventors

• Phillips John

Classifications

• D21C11/122 Primary

  Treatment, e.g. dissolution, of the smelt · CPC title

• D21G9/0009

  Paper-making control systems · CPC title

• G01N29/02

  Analysing fluids (using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14 {; constructional or flow details for analysing fluids G01N29/222; optoacoustic fluid cells G01N29/2425}) · CPC title

• D21C3/02 Primary

  with inorganic bases or alkaline reacting compounds, e.g. sulfate processes · CPC title

• D21C11/12 Primary

  Combustion of pulp liquors · CPC title