Trickle valve assembly and a method of supplying particulate material through such trickle valve assembly
The present invention concerns a trickle valve assembly for supplying particulate material exiting the bottom of a separating cyclone, comprising a separating cyclone outlet conduit having a bottom end with an inclined valve seat and a pivotable valve plate assembly with a valve plate pivoting about a valve hinge and a counter-weight on the opposite side of valve hinge, wherein the outlet conduit is provided with at least one gas inlet above the inclined valve seat which is in fluid communication with a supply of pressurised gas, such as a pressurised air supply.
1. A trickle valve assembly for supplying particulate material exiting a bottom of a separating cyclone, comprising:
a separating cyclone outlet conduit having a bottom end defining a valve seat, the valve seat being inclined with respect to the outlet conduit;
a pivotable valve plate assembly with a valve plate pivoting about a valve hinge and a counter-weight on an opposite side of said valve hinge, the counter-weight biasing the valve plate against the valve seat into a normally closed position; and
at least one gas inlet disposed in the outlet conduit above the inclined valve seat, the at least one gas inlet being in fluid communication with a supply of pressurised gas, whereby pressurised gas from the at least one gas inlet fluidizes a particulate material above the valve seat;
wherein the valve plate is opened by a weight of the particulate material counteracting the counter-weight.
2. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least two gas inlets are provided opposite each other in a outlet conduit wall in a first and a second distance from the inclined valve seat.
3. The valve assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said at least two gas inlets are provided in a same horizontal plane.
4. The valve assembly according to claim 3 , wherein at least one further gas inlet is disposed above said at least two gas inlets.
5. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve plate is pivotably mounted in the valve hinge and with the counter-weight on an end opposite to said valve plate.
6. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a valve arm, the valve plate being pivotably mounted on the valve arm, the valve arm being mounted in the valve hinge and with the counter-weight on an end of the valve arm opposite said valve plate.
7. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve seat is inclined relative to a horizontal plane at a first angle less than 90°.
8. The valve assembly according to claim 7 , further comprising a counter-weight arm section opposite the valve plate relative to the valve hinge, the counter-weight aim section being provided with a downwardly inclined second angle relative to the valve plate, said second angle being larger than the first angle.
9. A method of supplying particulate material exiting a bottom of a separating cyclone, comprising:
directing said particulate material through a trickle valve assembly, the trickle valve assembly comprising a separating cyclone outlet conduit having a bottom end defining a valve seat, the valve seat being inclined with respect to the outlet conduit, and a pivotable valve plate assembly with a valve plate pivoting about a valve hinge and a counter-weight on an opposite side of said valve hinge, the counter-weight biasing the valve plate against the valve seat into a normally closed position;, and
fluidising the particulate material accumulating in the conduit above the valve plate by supplying pressurised gas through at least one gas inlet in a wall of the conduit above the inclined valve seat;
wherein the valve plate is opened by a weight of the particulate material counteracting the counter-weight.
10. Use of a trickle valve assembly according to claim 1 in a process plant for melting particulate mineral material for production of mineral wool.