DE10127240A1 - Pellet coating assembly holds mixture of active ingredient and pellets in a rotating cloud under adjustable telescopic gas jet - Google Patents

Abstract

An assembly (10) applies a high-value particulate coating to a granular product (38) within a process chamber (13). The particles and pellets are held in a rotating doughnut cloud by a gas contra-flow. An assembly (10) applies a high-value particulate coating to a granular product (38) within a process chamber (13). The particles and pellets are held in a rotating doughnut cloud by a gas contra-flow. The assembly further comprises an upwards-directed incoming jet (24) through which a high-value active ingredient is introduced (58) to the process chamber from below. The chamber floor has air inlets (19, 23) generating an upward flow of air towards the incoming active ingredient. The doughnut circulatory flow pattern is also driven by a downward inflow (59) of gas through a telescopic height-adjustable jet (52) in direct opposition to the upwards air flow (19, 23). The jet (52) cross sectional area is variable. The chamber upper section incorporates a filter block (32) to trap escaped active ingredient. The chamber further incorporates an extraction system for the removal of treated pellets.

Description

The invention relates to a device for treating par particle-shaped good, with a process chamber for receiving and loading act the goods, with a bottom of the process chamber openings has, and through the process air in the process chamber can be passed through the material, and with at least one nozzle se, which opens into the process chamber and from which a jet Treatment medium is sprayable.

Such a device is for example from DE 199 04 147 A1 known.  

Such devices are used to close a particulate material granulate or coat. A gaseous medium, so-called Process air is introduced into the process chamber via the floor and steps through the numerous openings in the floor by. Numerous designs of floors are known. at The device mentioned in the introduction consists of a other overlapping, approximately flat guide plates between which Openings are formed in the form of slots. The slots are arranged so that two oppose each other other to be directed, essentially horizontal Currents of process air introduced arise along the length meet in a break-up zone and essentially into one be deflected vertically upward flow.

The nozzle, which is arranged in the break-up zone, serves to spray a treatment medium into the process chamber.

When granulating, this is a granulating liquid, usually one sticky liquid that ensures that the fine good particles to larger agglomerates, i.e. the desired granule laten to be united. So that the granulating liquid is possible finely distributed to those in the process chamber by the Pro If the air passes through swirling particles, the pelletizer becomes liquid sprayed into a fine mist by a spray gas.

When coating, a coating agent is sprayed through the nozzle in order to Tablets, pellets or the like with one as similar as possible to coat moderate layer.

Such devices have a widespread use found mainly in the pharmaceutical industry.  

Therefore, the devices are made of high quality materials are accordingly expensive and should therefore be as possible be versatile.

A problem with the operation of such devices with under different type of goods to be treated is that tries to keep the goods as evenly and gently as possible Whirl process chamber. As evenly as possible because the treatment medium with the vortex as evenly as possible should come into contact with one another in order to ensure that the to achieve a result. When pelletizing this means that the smallest possible grain size distribution of the gra formed nulate is to be achieved. When coating, the coating should layer should be as even as possible for all good particles and should in particular have a uniform layer thickness.

In the case of very fine-grained goods, which are often used when granulating is set, the starting material consists of a dust-fine Good with grain sizes in the µm range. To the treatment medium that is sprayed from the nozzle, as fine as possible on such Distributing fine particles of good must be an extremely fine droplet Spray mist are generated, for which it is necessary to spray air to emerge from the spray nozzle at high speed sen. Here speeds are up to the speed of sound speed, usually in the range between 80 and 250 m / sec Lich. If the goods are still very fine, there is a risk that that the spray emerging from the nozzle by the Pro Zeßgas swirls swirled medium, thereby good particles entrains and this over the flowing out of the process chamber Process air are entrained. With extremely fast and strong Spray jet there is the possibility that the good to the  the upper end of the process chamber is carried along at the point which is usually arranged around a filter pack to separate cracked particles from the process air. While during this period are the entrained particles from the Removed fluid bed and can with the progression of the Gra Cancellation no longer participate.

In the case of pharmaceutical products, this is fine-grained powder but mostly the active ingredient, which is often very expensive, so that Losses from transferring goods into the filters are undesirable are. Even the well-known backwashing of the filters below Returning goods to the swirled bed does not leave everything Return good, especially not good that a sticky spray jet shot through the material was shot or glued to the filter.

It is therefore an object of the invention to remedy this and a device of the type mentioned in that regard to further develop that with different types of goods and un different treatment methods each a desired gu treatment result can be achieved.

According to the invention the object is achieved in that means are provided which is a gaseous flow in the process generate chamber against the direction of movement of the beam the nozzle works.

This measure has the considerable advantage that a Control tool is available to avoid an unwanted Shoot the jet through the swirled material counteract through. So it can still be done with one  very fast nozzle jet can be worked through the one finely divided spray can be achieved. By the ge gaseous flow acting against this jet in the process Chamber can, however, be prevented from being shot through. This also has the consequence that no undesired removal of Good particles are removed from the swirled good bed. Someone specific Part is through the process air, which is also through the swirled material bed must pass through, carried away. This However, quantities are comparatively small because the process air is a has a much lower speed than the spray jet of the nozzle and by providing a certain height Good particles have sufficient time and volume men can still be made available over the fluidized bed can to get back under the influence of gravity from the riser process air.

The now envisaged gaseous flow against the Be direction of movement of the jet of the nozzle acts, creates a kind "Hold-down effect", i.e. H. is in the area of the jet a gaseous counterflow exists, which is a possible one wise penetrating or suddenly penetrating nozzles beam holds down. Because this gaseous flow counteracts this beam, are caused by the gaseous flow distracted the finest droplets of the treatment medium or possibly even redirected, so this again with the good brought in contact, which ultimately results in surprising Wise an excellent even, homogeneous treatment result can be achieved.  

This can also be explained by the fact that the against the Rich direction of the jet stream contributes to the fact that the medium sprayed from the nozzle is much more uniform and more uniformly on the part moving in the intermingled material bed Chen is distributed.

This also opens up the possibility of using this too In addition, gas introduced into the process chamber further influences solutions. For example, the temperature allows guidance of this additionally supplied gas stream is rapid Cooling and / or drying of sprayed treatment medium, after this has already hit a good particle. At the Spraying of polymer masses can also reactants of the flow can also be fed to a certain The treatment result should solidify as soon as possible to achieve the polymer particles without this with others Bake particles together to form unwanted agglomerates.

The gaseous flow counteracting the jet stream provides for a more compact, d. H. geometrically better finished Gutbett, the much fewer escaping good particles per vo lumen unit in the direction of the outflowing process air volume has.

This makes a higher overall yield and an essential achieved a more uniform and better treatment result.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the means formed such that the gaseous flow is opposite is aligned with the direction of the jet of the nozzle.  

This measure has the advantage that the gaseous flow of the Direction of the beam is directly opposite, thus one maximum impact of the diametrically opposite beam le can be achieved.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the means a mouth from which the gaseous flow emerges, and a distance between the nozzle and the mouth can be changed.

This changeability has the considerable advantage that cheap on different nozzle types, different Batch sizes and different treatment procedures flexi can be reacted so that with a single such Device different types of goods and different Treatment procedures are performed, each at a time optimal result can be performed.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the means a mouth from which the gaseous flow emerges, and the mouth cross section is changeable.

This measure in isolation has the advantage that quite ge targets different jet types and jet geometries jets emerging from different nozzles aligned can be.

In connection with the aforementioned change in the stan is a particularly flexible means of creating on un Different nozzle types, different product types and under to be able to react flexibly to different treatment methods and to create optimal treatment conditions.  

In a further embodiment of the invention, the means a pipe structure against the direction of movement of the Jet of the nozzle is aligned.

This measure has the advantage that it is constructively simple and the prevailing sequence of movements in the process chamber little influencing means for implementing the invention ge are creating.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the tube Structure designed as a telescopic tube.

This measure has the advantage that this configuration the relative movement is structurally very simple and slim to change the distance between the nozzle and the mouth of the Pipe construction can be accomplished.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the mouth is of the tube assembly expanded.

This measure has the advantage that the nozzle jet also expanding, but oppositely directed Jet or a current directed and quasi one Spread out the "air parachute" over the jet and the bed tet.

In a further embodiment of the invention stretches a standing nozzle against this a pipe, the mouth is aligned with the nozzle mouth.  

With these measures, it is easy to manage by design digit and accordingly easy to clean and components to be handled the desired effect according to the present invention can be achieved.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the nozzle is ste arranged and sprayed in the bottom of the process chamber, in Direction of gravity seen, from bottom to top, and from one A pipe hangs from the upper end of the process chamber dung, seen in the direction of gravity, with the nozzle mouth flees.

In this embodiment, process air and the move sprayed from the nozzle, viewed in the direction of gravity, from bottom up, the jet of gaseous flow from above downward.

This gives the significant advantage that not only the gaseous flow jet directed downwards the spray jet of the nozzle can be shielded, but also the top of the swirled bed may be low be. With a container bottom with a circular order Catch is obtained with a cross-section along a diameter hen, a bed shape that corresponds to a lying eight, whose both outer ends are slightly bent upwards.

Tests have shown that with such a bed geometry particularly favorable treatment result can be achieved.  

In a further embodiment of the invention, the tube build up a first upper section in which a mechanism mus is recorded over which a telescopic section of the tube Structure to the nozzle is movable away from this.

This measure has the advantage that the construction is very slim end component without great influence on the main flow the agents according to the invention accomplished in the process chamber can be.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the upper Ab cut the tube assembly at the bottom of a filter Blockes attached to the top of the process chamber.

This measure has the advantage that for cleaning the filter block together with the attached pipe assembly from the process chamber can be pulled.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the means a control over the speed and quantity the supplied gaseous flow is controllable.

This measure has the advantage that the control optimal to the goods to be treated and the one in front existing geometries can be adapted.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the means can be operated via the control in such a way that the behan can be extracted from the process chamber.  

This measure has the significant advantage that after that too Treated goods reached a certain treatment condition has, directly in the swirled state through the means from the Process chamber can be suctioned off. This is done by a blow mode switched to a suction mode and the still swirled Aspirated well from the process chamber.

This has the significant advantage that the treated good is not can only be dissipated very quickly, but also the danger a caking of the good when you put it on the floor drop and collect there, largely excluded can.

It is understood that the above and the following standing features to be explained not only in each specified combination, but also in other combinations or can be used alone, without the scope of to leave the present invention.

The invention is based on a selected Aus example in connection with the attached drawing voltage described and explained in more detail.

It shows:

The only figure is a longitudinal section through a front direction for treating particulate matter, the is provided with the agents according to the invention.  

The device for treating particulate material shown in the single figure is designated as a whole by the reference numeral 10 .

The device 10 has a standing cylindrical container 12 which is provided with a bottom 14 . The bottom 14 is constructed from a first set of overlapping guide plates 16 , 17 , 18 .

The guide plate 16 is the highest one, it overlaps the guide plate 17 below it and this in turn overlays the guide plate 18 below it.

The geometry of the guide plates 16 and 17 is such that this assembly has approximately a half-disc shape, as is more closely known in connection with the aforementioned DE 199 04 147 A1. Another set of guide plates 20 , 21 , 22 is provided in mirror image of this first set of guide plates. Openings in the form of slots are provided between the individual guide plates, the slot opening 19 between the guide plates 17 and 18 and the slot opening 23 between the guide plates 21 and 22 being designated in the drawing.

This configuration of the stacked guide plates 16 to 18 and 20 to 22 occurs process air 30 , which flows through an inlet 28 in an inflow chamber 26 below the bottom 14 , in two approximately horizontally directed flows into the process chamber 13 . These two oppositely directed horizontal currents meet in the middle in a so-called rupture zone and are deflected into a vertically upward flow.

In the area of this break-up zone, a nozzle 24 is arranged in the center, via which a treatment medium in the form of a jet 58 is sprayed into the material 38 swirled by the process air 30 .

The medium sprayed by the nozzle 24 is usually a mixture of a liquid and spray air, ie this medium emerges from the nozzle 24 as a fine mist at a relatively high speed, which can reach the speed of sound, in the form of a spray cone, from bottom to top. The process air 30 emerges from the swirled bed of the goods 38 again, flows to an upper end of the process chamber 13 and passes through a filter block 32 into an outflow chamber 34 and is discharged from this via an outlet 36 , as by a Arrow 37 is indicated. The container ter 12 is closed at the upper end by a cover 35 .

The filter block 32 indicated in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a so-called "clown collar filter", as described in more detail in DE 198 19 980 A1, to which reference is expressly made here. The Fil terblock 32 is used to filter out the finest particles that have been entrained by the rising process air 30 and to be returned to the fluidized bed by backwashing.

In the middle, that is to say centrally at the lower end of the filter block 32 , the means 40 according to the invention are attached, which generate a gaseous flow 59 in the process chamber 13 , which acts against the direction of movement of the jet 58 of the nozzle 24 .

The means 40 have a tubular structure 42 .

The tube structure 42 has a first upper section 44 which is fixedly connected to the underside of the filter block 32 .

In the first section 44 , a servomotor 46 is received, which is connected via a rod 48 and corresponding wing webs 50 to a further telescopically extendable tube 52 .

The telescopic tube 52 is inserted into the first upper tube section 44 and has a trumpet-like widening 54 on the side of its mouth 56 . A gaseous flow 59 , which runs from top to bottom in the direction of gravity, thus emerges from the mouth 56 and is exactly opposite to the direction of the jet 58 which emerges from the nozzle 24 , that is to say is oriented opposite thereto.

The corresponding gaseous medium 62 , for example air, is fed via a lateral feed line 60 to the first upper pipe section 44 , as is indicated by an arrow 61 .

From the sectional view of the single figure it can be seen that a geometry of the bed of swirled material 38 arises from these flow conditions, which corresponds in section, that is to say in the illustration of the figure, to an approximately lying figure 68 , the outer ends of which are bent approximately upwards ,

In other words, the gaseous flow 59 directed from top to bottom creates a kind of air parachute above the swirled bed, which not only prevents a jet 58 that shoots up or shoots through the nozzle 24 from being thrown up unintentionally, but by its horizontal component or by the deflected component over the entire material bed forms a "protective screen".

The emerging from the tube structure 42 , initially directed from top to bottom gaseous flow 59 gradually passes over a laterally oriented component in an upward ge flow and flows together with the process air 30 from the process chamber 13 .

The single figure shows that the mouth 56 of the tube structure 42 is at a distance 64 from the mouth of the nozzle 24 .

Depending on the type of goods, the nozzle and also the degree of filling and the type of treatment, the mouth 56 of the tube structure 42 can be raised or lowered further, for example as shown by the dashed line, up to a stand 66 , which is much lower than the distance 64 . Since can be flexibly adapted to different treatment conditions.

The quantity, the temperature, the condition of the process air 30 , the composition of the spray medium sprayed through the nozzle 24 and the condition of the gaseous medium 62 supplied, as well as the actuation of the adjustment mechanism, are managed by a central control, not shown here.

For emptying the process chamber 13 can be provided in one embodiment that the pipe structure 42 is switched from the previously described blowing mode to a suction mode, and the still swirled material 38 is sucked out of the process chamber 13 for emptying.

Conventional emptying modes are also possible, that is to say by way of lateral removal of the goods 38 from the floor 14 after the process air 30 has been switched off or by mechanical tilting of the device for lateral removal of the goods.

The design of the base 14 has been described in connection with overlapping guide plates in accordance with DE 199 04 147 C2 mentioned at the beginning.

Other floor configurations are also possible in which z. B. the slots between the overlapping baffles radially are aligned (so-called "Turbojet" floors), in which the Process air is introduced extensively.

There are also devices in which the nozzle for spraying the spray medium is oriented in exactly the opposite direction, that is to say spraying from top to bottom into the fluidized bed. Accordingly, the means are then arranged opposite one another, ie the nozzle 24 could in this case be arranged approximately at the level of the mouth of the tube structure 42 , and the tube structure 42 itself is then integrated in the base 14 .

There are also configurations in which the nozzles are arranged in such a way that the spray medium is blown tangentially into the fluidized bed or into the process chamber 13 . Then the pipe structure 42 is arranged so that it counteracts this tangential Einla sen, for example by a likewise tangent, only oppositely arranged and aligned pipe construction.

The basic principle is that there is no possibility that a spray breaks through and undesirably ent particles neither hurls against the filter block or towards un presses on the base plate, or with extensive nozzles hurls against the container wall.

Claims (13)

1. Device for treating particulate material ( 38 ), with a process chamber ( 13 ) for receiving and treating the material ( 38 ), wherein a bottom ( 14 ) of the process chamber ( 13 ) has openings ( 19 , 20 ) through the process air ( 30 ) into the process chamber ( 13 ) and can be passed through the material ( 38 ), and with at least one nozzle ( 24 ) which opens into the process chamber ( 13 ) and from which a jet ( 58 ) of treatment medium can be sprayed is characterized in that means ( 40 ) are provided which generate a gaseous flow ( 59 ) in the process chamber ( 13 ) which acts against the direction of movement of the jet ( 58 ) of the nozzle ( 24 ). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means ( 40 ) are designed such that the gaseous flow ( 59 ) is oriented opposite to the direction of the jet ( 58 ) of the nozzle ( 24 ). 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means ( 40 ) have an opening ( 56 ) from which the gaseous flow ( 59 ) emerges, and that the stand ( 66 , 68 ) between the nozzle ( 24 ) and the mouth ( 56 ) is changeable. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means ( 40 ) have an opening ( 56 ), from which the gaseous flow ( 59 ) emerges, and that the cross section of the mouth is variable. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means ( 40 ) have a tubular structure ( 42 ) which is aligned against the direction of movement of the jet ( 58 ) of the nozzle ( 24 ). 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the tube structure is designed as a telescopically movable tube ( 44 , 52 ). 7. The device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the mouth ( 56 ) of the tube structure ( 42 ) is widened. 8. Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that in the case of a standing nozzle ( 24 ) this is opposed by a tube ( 52 ) whose mouth ( 56 ) is aligned with the nozzle mouth ( 25 ). 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the nozzle ( 24 ) is arranged standing in the bottom ( 14 ) and, seen in gravity, sprays from bottom to top, and that from an upper end of the process chamber ( 13 ) assemble a tube ( 42 ) depends, the mouth ( 56 ), seen in the direction of gravity, aligned with the mouth ( 25 ) of the nozzle ( 24 ). 10. Device according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the tubular structure ( 42 ) has a first upper section ( 44 ) in which a mechanism ( 46 , 48 ) is received, via which a telescopic section ( 52 ) of Pipe assembly ( 42 ) on the nozzle ( 24 ) to or from this is movable. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the upper section ( 44 ) on the underside of a filter block ( 32 ) at the upper end of the process chamber ( 13 ) is introduced. 12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the means ( 40 ) aufwei sen control, via which the speed, the amount and the composition of the feedable gaseous flow ( 59 ) can be controlled. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the means ( 40 ) can be operated via the control such that the treated material ( 38 ) can be extracted from the process chamber ( 13 ) via these means ( 40 ).