초록 ▼

The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to improved processes and systems for continuously bagging materials. In particular, the improved processes and systems can be used to bag tacky materials with improved throughput. The systems generally include at least one of a feeding s

The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to improved processes and systems for continuously bagging materials. In particular, the improved processes and systems can be used to bag tacky materials with improved throughput. The systems generally include at least one of a feeding section, mixing section, pelletizing section, transport piping, agglomerate catcher, defluidizing section, drying section, pellet diverter valve, and/or bagging assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for continuously bagging tacky materials, the system comprising: a feeding section configured to receive a material, wherein the feeding section is optionally thermally controlled;a mixing section configured to receive the material from the feeding section and mix, melt, and/or blend the

1. A system for continuously bagging tacky materials, the system comprising: a feeding section configured to receive a material, wherein the feeding section is optionally thermally controlled;a mixing section configured to receive the material from the feeding section and mix, melt, and/or blend the material, wherein the mixing section comprises a die comprising a removable insert with a taper angle that is less than or equal to about 25 degrees;a pelletizing section configured to receive the material from the mixing section and pelletize the material, wherein the pelletizing section comprises: a cutter hub comprising a blade angle of less than about 90 degrees, a blade cutting angle that is less than or equal to about 20% less than the blade angle, and a blade traverse angle of about 0 degrees to about 55 degrees; anda transport fluid box comprising an inlet and an outlet to reduce a velocity of transport fluid into and through the transport fluid box, wherein the inlet directs a flow of transport fluid directly across a cutting face of a pelletizing die, and wherein the outlet reduces any obstruction of pellets leaving the transport fluid box by providing an open area;a system of non-linear transport piping downstream of the transport fluid box, wherein the non-linear transport piping comprises long-radius angles;an agglomerate catcher downstream of the pelletizing section, wherein the agglomerate catcher comprises an angled agglomerate removal grid, wherein an angle of inclination of the agglomerate removal grid is at least about 0 degrees, and wherein the non-linear transport piping is configured to allow transport of the material from the pelletizing section to the agglomerate catcher;a defluidizing section downstream of the agglomerate catcher, wherein the defluidizing section comprises a pellet feed chute that is partially blocked to prevent filtration of the transport fluid from the material, wherein the defluidizing section comprises no obstructive baffles;a drying section configured to receive the material from the defluidizing section and dry the pelletized material, wherein the drying section comprises a dryer comprising: a rotor with rotor blades in an upper portion of the rotor that are at least about 10% narrower than rotor blades in a lower portion of the rotor; andat least two circumferential screens about the rotor such that at least a lowermost screen is a blank;a pellet diverter valve downstream of the drying section, wherein the pellet diverter valve comprises: an inlet configured to receive an incoming flow of pellets from the drying section;a housing;a housing offset such that a diverter flap moves inside the housing into the housing offset to provide an open area through which the pellets traverse, wherein the open area has a cross-sectional area that is no less than the pellet diverter valve inlet; andat least a first and second outlet, each configured to dispense an outgoing flow of pellets;at least a first and second bagging assembly in communication with at least the first and second outlets of the pellet diverter valve, respectively, wherein the at least the first and second bagging assemblies are configured to alternatingly receive a specific quantity of pellets from the pellet diverter valve to allow continuous bagging of the pellets; anda surface treatment applied to at least a portion of a surface of a component of the feeding section, mixing section, pelletizing section, transport piping, agglomerate catcher, defluidizing section, drying section, pellet diverter valve, and/or bagging assemblies to reduce abrasion, erosion, corrosion, wear, and undesirable adhesion and stricture, wherein the surface treatment comprises at least two layers such that the surface formed following treatment is three-dimensionally textured, wherein the at least two layers comprise at least one layer of a wear-resistant material that is uniformly overcoated with a non-stick polymer that only partially fills the three-dimensional surface texture of the at least one layer of wear-resistant material. 2. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the taper angle of the removable insert is less than or equal to about 15 degrees. 3. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the taper angle of the removable insert is less than or equal to about 10 degrees. 4. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein a gap between the removable insert and a body of the die is less than or equal to about 0.010 inches. 5. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 4, wherein the gap between the removable insert and the die body is less or equal to about 0.005 inches. 6. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein a face of the removable insert extends beyond a surface edge of the die body. 7. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 6, wherein the face of the removable insert extends beyond the surface edge of the die body less than or equal to about 0.080 inches. 8. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 6, wherein the face of the removable insert extends beyond the surface edge of the die body less than or equal to about 0.060 inches. 9. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the taper angle of the removable insert is less or equal to about 10 degrees, wherein a gap between the removable insert and a body of the die is less than or equal to about 0.005 inches, and wherein a face of the removable insert extends beyond a surface edge of the die body is about 0.060 inches to about 0.080 inches. 10. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the cutter hub is streamlined to have an extended hexagonal cross-section. 11. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the blade angle of the cutter hub is about 20 degrees to about 60 degrees. 12. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the blade cutting angle of the cutter hub is less than or equal to about 15% less than the blade angle. 13. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the blade traverse angle is about 20 degrees to about 55 degrees. 14. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the cutter hub comprises a blade angle of about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees, a blade cutting angle less than or equal to about 15% less than the blade angle, and a blade traverse angle of about 20 degrees to about 55 degrees. 15. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the die of the mixing section comprises a die hole having a land that is continuous. 16. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the inlet and outlet of the transport fluid box facilitate enhanced flow rate and volume of the transport fluid across the face of the pelletizing die such that an increased volume of transport fluid is present relative to the number of pellets and such that the reduced concentration of pellets is removed from the transport fluid box more efficiently to reduce a likelihood of adhesion, sticture, and agglomeration of the pellets. 17. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination of the angled agglomerate grid is at least about 20 degrees. 18. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination of the angled agglomerate grid is at least about 40 degrees. 19. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination of the angled agglomerate grid is at least about 50 degrees. 20. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials in claim 1 wherein the at least one layer of wear-resistant component of the surface treatment is a ceramic. 21. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the non-stick polymer of the surface treatment is a silicone, fluoropolymer, or a combination thereof. 22. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the diverter flap of the pellet diverter valve is operated manually, electronically, hydraulically, automatically, and/or electromechanically. 23. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the rotor blades in the upper portion of the rotor are at least 20% narrower than the rotor blades in the lower portion of the rotor. 24. The system for continuously bagging tacky materials of claim 1, wherein the rotor blades in the upper portion of the rotor are at least 30% narrower than the rotor blades in the lower portion of the rotor.