System and method for reducing surface oil lines on wet extrudate by irradiation

Abstract

An extrusion system (100) comprising at least one sensor (102, 104) to detect oil (701) locally present on an outer surface (715) or skin of a wet extrudate material (714, e.g., a ceramic material having a honeycomb cross-sectional shape), the extrusion system (100) further comprising at least one infrared emitting device (106, 108), and an infrared emitter configured to project an infrared emission on at least a portion of the exterior surface in response to the one or more sensor signals. Local projected infrared emission may reduce the presence of oil streaks (701) without excessive differential drying of the extrudate skin (715) and avoid surface cracks that would otherwise arise in the fired ceramic body. A separately controllable infrared emitter (502) or at least one controllable infrared blocking or redirecting element (603) may be used to project infrared emissions onto selected areas. A humidification section (120) disposed downstream of the infrared emitters (106, 108) may be used to at least partially rehydrate the wet extrudate material if desired.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0002] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C § 120 to US Provisional Application Serial No. 62 / 886,601, filed August 14, 2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Background technique [0003] The present disclosure relates to extrudate production, and more particularly, to systems and methods for reducing the presence of surface oil streaks on wet extrudates through localized irradiation. [0004] Ceramic bodies produced by extrusion are used in a wide variety of applications such as substrates for automotive exhaust gas catalytic converters, particulate traps in diesel and gasoline engines, chemical filtration processes, etc. Ceramic bodies with honeycomb cross-sectional shapes are frequently used to provide a relatively large filtration and / or catalytic surface area within a relatively small overall volume. The manufacturing process of extruded ceramic bodies...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0006] While attempts have been made to use porous sponge materials to absorptively remove oil streaks from wet extrudate materials to prevent crack formation, providing sponges to contact wet extrudate materials tends to introduce unacceptable surface defects in the extrusion skin

[0007] Cracks and / or surface defects in ceramic bodies produced by extrusion can lead to significant production losses

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