US-20260124569-A1 - METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO TRAP PARTICULATES REMOVED FROM SCREEN ASSEMBLIES

US20260124569A1US 20260124569 A1US20260124569 A1US 20260124569A1US-20260124569-A1

Abstract

Screen systems and methods are provided which remove particulates from a process gas stream. According to the systems and methods, a screen element is provided which is adapted to allow a process gas stream to pass therethrough and thereby remove particulates entrained in the process gas stream. An arcuately (e.g., spirally) shaped particulate trap is positioned along a bottom region of the screen element for receiving and collecting the particulates removed from the process gas stream by the screen element. A pressurized air jet cleaning system may be provided so as to direct pressurized air jets against the surface of the screen element to dislodge particulates therefrom, the pressurized air jets entraining the particulates dislodged from the screen element and directing the particulates to the arcuately shaped particulate trap for collection.

Inventors

Morgan Louis WATSON
Andrew Scott Kline

Assignees

INTEGRATED GLOBAL SERVICES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241106

Claims (20)

1 . A screen system to remove particulates from a process gas stream, the screen system comprising: a screen element which allows a process gas stream to pass therethrough to thereby allow particulates entrained in the process gas stream to be removed therefrom; and a generally spirally shaped particulate trap positioned along a bottom region of the screen element for receiving and collecting the particulates removed from the process gas stream by the screen element.
2 . The screen system according to claim 1 , wherein the particulate trap is comprised of a spirally shaped sheet metal component selected from the group consisting of perforated sheet metal, non-perforated sheet metal and wire mesh.
3 . The screen system according to claim 2 , wherein the spirally shaped sheet metal component is comprised of a one-piece sheet metal component or is formed of multiple sheet components that may be the same or different from one another.
4 . The screen system according to claim 1 , wherein the particulate trap is comprised of a series of elongated planar metal strips that are joined to one another such that the particulate trap forms a generally open polygonal spiral.
5 . The screen system according to claim 1 , further comprising a pressurized air jet cleaning system adapted to direct pressurized air jets against a surface of the screen element to dislodge particulates therefrom, the pressurized air jets entraining the particulates dislodged from the screen element and directing the particulates to the spirally shaped particulate trap for collection.
6 . The screen system according to claim 1 , wherein the particulate trap includes an initial entry section and an upturned arcuate terminal end section.
7 . The screen system according to claim 6 , wherein the particulate trap includes at least one intermediate arcuate section between the initial entry section and the upturned terminal end section.
8 . The screen system according to claim 7 , wherein the particulate trap is formed of a non-perforated metal sheet, a perforated metal sheet or a wire mesh.
9 . The screen system according to claim 8 , wherein the arcuately shaped particulate trap is spirally shaped and includes an initial entry section and an upturned arcuate terminal end section which may be the same or different from one another.
10 . The screen system according to claim 9 , wherein the spirally shaped particulate trap includes at least one intermediate arcuate section between the initial entry section and the upturned terminal end section.
11 . The screen system according to claim 1 , wherein the particulate trap defines generatrices of an Archimedean spiral shaped surface.
12 . A screen assembly comprising: a duct to direct a process gas stream; and the screen system according to claim 1 operatively positioned relative to the duct to allow the process gas stream to pass therethrough and to thereby remove particulates entrained in the process gas stream.
13 . The screen assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising a pressurized air jet cleaning system adapted to direct pressurized air jets against a surface of the screen element to dislodge particulates therefrom, the pressurized air jets entraining the particulates dislodged from the screen element and directing the particulates to the arcuately shaped particulate trap for collection.
14 . The screen assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the particulate trap includes an initial entry section and an upturned arcuate terminal end section.
15 . The screen assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the particulate trap includes at least one intermediate arcuate section between the initial entry section and the upturned arcuate terminal end section.
16 . The screen assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the particulate trap is formed of a non-perforated metal sheet, a perforated metal sheet or a wire mesh.
17 . The screen assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising an enclosure for the arcuately shaped particulate trap.
18 . A method of cleaning particulates from a screen element comprising: (a) dislodging the particulates from the screen element; and (b) positioning an arcuately shaped particulate trap along a bottom region of the screen element for receiving and collecting the particulates dislodged therefrom the screen element.
19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein step (a) comprises: (a1) directing a pressurized air jet against a surface of the screen element to dislodge particulates therefrom, and (a2) entraining the particulates dislodged from the screen element in the air jet, and (a3) directing the air jet and entrained particulates to the spirally shaped particulate trap for collection.
20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein step (a3) includes allowing the arcuately shaped particulate trap to decrease a velocity of the air jet and entrained particulates as it progresses from an initial entry section thereof to an upturned terminal end section thereof such that the particulates are deposited and collected in the upturned arcuate terminal end section.

Description

FIELD The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to screen assemblies and methods for removing entrained particulates from a flow of gases. In preferred forms, the embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems which include a static trap for particulates that are removed from screen assemblies through which a particulate-entrained gas flows. BACKGROUND Many industrial processes employ a variety of screen assemblies to remove particulates from process gases. In this regard, typical industrial processes are designed to manipulate gas flows in such a way to reduce emissions. By way of example, some industrial processes employ a grid element that includes a catalyst layer (e.g., a layer of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst) to convert emissions in a process gas flow to a more environmentally acceptable chemical species that is released to the atmosphere. Such catalyst layers are comprised of a series of tight grid formations, designed to maximize the surface area for the catalytic actions to take place as the process gas flows through the grid. The openings are typically very small, typically about 4 mm or less, for example as small as 1.5 mm. This means that any particle larger than such opening diameters can cover the opening thereby in time reducing the life and efficiency of the catalyst layer. Providing screen elements upstream of the catalyst layers are therefore an important means to maintain the life and efficiency of the downstream catalyst layer as the screen elements remove particulates from the process gas stream so the downstream catalyst layer does not become contaminated. It can be appreciated that over time the screen elements will accumulate particulates that need to be removed from the screens so as to not impede the design throughput of the industrial gas. Conventional screen elements thereby will typically employ a series of air cleaning nozzles or equivalent means that are adapted to direct pressurized gas streams of air or steam against the upstream surface of the screen. When activated, therefore, the pressurized gas streams directed against the screen cause the particulates to be dislodged from the screen. The removed particulates will then typically be allowed to fall by gravity to the floor of the process building or allowed to accumulate within the duct containing the screens. It would therefore be highly desirable if a system could be provided which traps the particulates removed from the screen so as to allow the removed particulates to accumulate which would then also allow the accumulated trapped particulates to be removed and discarded thereby minimizing if not preventing entirely the contamination of the equipment environment. It is towards fulfilling such a need that the embodiments disclosed herein are directed. SUMMARY Broadly, the embodiments disclosed herein relate to a static particulate trap for particulates removed from a screen element. In certain assemblies and methods, a screen element is provided which is adapted to allow a process gas stream to pass therethrough and thereby remove particulates entrained in the process gas stream. An arculately (e.g., spirally) shaped particulate trap is positioned along a bottom region of the screen element for receiving and collecting the particulates removed from the process gas stream by the screen element. Particulates may be removed from the screen element by allowing a gaseous fluid (e.g., air or steam) to impinge on the screen element surface in an angularly downward direction. For example, a pressurized air jet cleaning system adapted to direct pressurized air jets against a surface of the screen element may be provided to dislodge particulates therefrom, the pressurized air jets entraining the particulates dislodged from the screen element and directing the entrained particulates to the arculately shaped particulate trap for collection. The arcuately shaped particulate trap may include an initial entry section and an upturned arcuate terminal end section. Optionally at least one intermediate arcuate section may be positioned between the initial entry section and the upturned terminal end section. The initial entry section, the upturned terminal end section and if present the at least one intermediate section may be formed as a one-piece arcuately (e.g., spirally) shaped sheet metal structure which may be non-perforated, perforated or formed of a wire mesh. Alternatively the initial entry section, the upturned terminal end section and if present the at least one intermediate section may be formed of individual material sections that may be the same or different from one another, e.g., in terms of material and/or perforation size and/or mesh size. According to some embodiments, the arcuately shaped particulate trap defines the generatrices of an Archimedean spiral shaped surface from 0° to about 540°. As yet another embodiment, the particulate trap may be formed of planar strips or plates such