System and method having control for solids pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9970424-B2
Application number	US-201213419387-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2012
Priority date	Mar 13, 2012
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A system includes a solid feed fuel pump configured to route a solid fuel flow from an inlet to an outlet. The solid feed fuel pump includes an actuated valve that is disposed within the outlet. The actuated valve is configured to adjust a compaction of the solid fuel flow while in the outlet. The actuated valve adjusts the compaction in response to active control based on sensed feedback from the system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a solid feed fuel pump, comprising:
a solid feed flow path configured to route a solid fuel flow from an inlet to an outlet; and
an actuated valve disposed in the outlet, wherein the actuated valve is configured to adjust a compaction of the solid fuel flow in the outlet in response to active control based on at least one sensed feedback received from a downstream system coupled to the outlet of the solid feed pump, and wherein the actuated valve comprises a rotatably movable valve member configured to rotate about a hinge coupled to the outlet to adjust the compaction of the solid fuel flow.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuated valve comprises a hydraulically actuated valve.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuated valve comprises a pneumatically actuated valve.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuated valve comprises an electrically actuated valve.

5. The system of claim 1 , comprising a controller configured to provide the active control based on the at least one sensed feedback.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to provide the active control based on an upstream feedback associated with an upstream system coupled to the inlet, a downstream feedback associated with a downstream system coupled to the outlet, or a pump feedback associated with the solid feed fuel pump.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one sensed feedback comprises an inlet pressure at the inlet, an outlet pressure at the outlet, a torque of the solid feed fuel pump, a position of the actuated valve, a load on the actuated valve, a leakage of the solid feed fuel pump, or a combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1 , comprising an upstream system coupled to the inlet of the solid feed fuel pump, wherein the upstream system comprises a fuel preparation system configured to prepare a solid carbonaceous fuel as a solid feed for the solid feed fuel pump.

9. The system of claim 1 , comprising a downstream system coupled to the outlet of the solid feed fuel pump, wherein the downstream system comprises a gasifier configured to gasify the solid fuel flow.

10. The system of claim 1 , comprising an exit pipe coupled to the outlet, wherein the hinge is disposed opposite the exit pipe.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuated valve comprises a primary seal and a secondary seal, wherein the primary seal is configured to isolate the outlet from a control chamber of the actuated valve when the actuated valve is closed, and the secondary seal is configured to isolate the control chamber from a downstream system coupled to the outlet.

12. A system, comprising:
a solid feed pump controller configured to provide active control of a fluid actuated valve coupled to an outlet of a solid feed fuel pump based on at least one sensed feedback, wherein the active control is configured to adjust a compaction of a solid fuel flow in the outlet, and the at least one sensed feedback comprises a downstream feedback associated with a downstream system coupled to the outlet of the solid feed fuel pump, wherein the downstream feedback is associated with a gasification system.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the solid feed pump controller is configured to provide the active control based on an upstream feedback associated with an upstream system coupled to an inlet of the solid feed fuel pump, or a pump feedback associated with the solid feed fuel pump.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one sensed feedback comprises an inlet pressure at an inlet of the solid feed fuel pump, an outlet pressure at the outlet of the solid feed fuel pump, a torque of the solid feed fuel pump, a position of the fluid actuated valve, a load on the fluid actuated valve, a leakage of the solid feed fuel pump, or a combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one sensed feedback comprises an upstream feedback associated with a fuel preparation system.

16. The system of claim 12 , comprising the solid feed fuel pump, the fluid actuated valve, or a combination thereof.

17. The system of claim 12 , comprising the fluid actuated valve, wherein the fluid actuated valve comprises a rotatably movable valve member configured to rotate about a hinge coupled to the outlet to adjust the compaction of the solid fuel flow.

18. A method, comprising:
actively controlling a fluid actuated valve coupled to an outlet of a solid feed pump based on at least one sensed feedback, wherein actively controlling comprises adjusting a compaction of a solid flow in the outlet; and
receiving the at least one sensed feedback from a downstream system coupled to the outlet of the solid feed pump.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one sensed feedback comprises an inlet pressure at an inlet of the solid feed pump, an outlet pressure at the outlet of the solid feed pump, a torque of the solid feed pump, a position of the fluid actuated valve, a load on the fluid actuated valve, a leakage of the solid feed pump, or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 18 , comprising receiving the at least one sensed feedback from an upstream system coupled to an inlet of the solid feed pump.

Assignees

• Russell Steven Craig
• Aldred Derek L
• Rader Jeffery Allen
• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Russell Steven Craig
• Aldred Derek L
• Rader Jeffery Allen

Classifications

• F04B19/04 Primary

  Pumps for special use · CPC title

• F04C14/24

  characterised by using valves controlling pressure or flow rate, e.g. discharge valves {or unloading valves}(F04C14/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65G43/08

  Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged {(and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42)} · CPC title

• B65G31/04

  comprising discs, drums, or like rotary impellers · CPC title

• F04C13/001

  Pumps for particular liquids · CPC title