An infrared drying test device based on thermoelectric effect

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of infrared drying, and particularly relates to an infrared drying test device based on thermoelectric effect, which comprises a drying box body and a heat energy circulation module, the drying box body is provided with a material tray, and an infrared radiation heating module is arranged above the material tray; the heat energy circulation module comprises a circulation pipeline, a circulation fan and a condensation cooling mechanism, the condensation cooling mechanism comprises a condensate collector, a fin group, a thermoelectric refrigeration piece and a water cooling head, the thermoelectric refrigeration piece is a semiconductor refrigeration piece, a cold surface of the semiconductor refrigeration piece is connected to the fin group for heat exchange, and a hot surface of the semiconductor refrigeration piece is connected to the water cooling head for heat exchange; the thermoelectric effect and the infrared drying technology are combined, the high-temperature and high-humidity drying medium generated in the infrared drying is dehumidified by the fin group and then reused by utilizing the cold surface refrigeration and the hot surface heat dissipation characteristics of the semiconductor refrigeration piece, the heat generated by the hot surface of the semiconductor refrigeration piece is collected, the drying medium is heated, the drying time is shortened, the efficiency of the infrared drying is improved, the drying quality is improved, and the drying energy consumption is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of infrared drying technology, and more specifically to an infrared drying test device based on the thermoelectric effect. Background Technology

[0002] Infrared drying is a novel, pollution-free drying technology that is highly efficient, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly. It primarily transmits energy through electromagnetic radiation. In agricultural product drying, it utilizes long-wavelength infrared rays (25–1000 μm) to penetrate the material's surface. When the atoms and molecules of the agricultural product encounter infrared radiation and absorb its energy, it causes intensified particle motion, altering the vibrational energy levels of the molecules and raising the internal temperature of the material. As moisture evaporates and absorbs heat, the external temperature decreases, creating a temperature gradient—higher inside, lower outside. According to thermodynamic laws, this allows for heating from within the material, enabling direct coupling of infrared radiation energy with moisture, thereby increasing the drying rate. However, most existing infrared drying devices are sealed drying chambers. Excessive moisture evaporation during the drying process creates a high-humidity environment. This high-temperature, high-humidity drying medium cannot be discharged promptly, interfering with the propagation of infrared radiation and hindering the absorption of infrared energy by the material. Furthermore, water vapor generated during the drying process condenses on the material surface, reducing drying efficiency, prolonging drying time, and increasing energy consumption.

[0003] Chinese patent application CN2020229228.X discloses a far-infrared drying device based on humidity control. This device achieves humidity control by adding an airflow circulation system to one side of the drying chamber and using temperature and humidity sensors placed inside and outside the chamber to collect signals and control the start and stop of the circulation system. However, this device directly discharges the high-temperature, high-humidity drying medium generated during infrared drying to the outside of the dryer, and then reuses the discharged drying medium after dehumidification, without reducing the energy consumption of the infrared drying system. Furthermore, the temperature and humidity cannot be adjusted inside the infrared drying chamber, making it impossible to test multiple drying parameters. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical problems in existing technologies, this invention provides an infrared drying test device based on the thermoelectric effect. It combines the thermoelectric effect with infrared drying technology, utilizing the characteristics of a semiconductor refrigeration chip such as cold-side cooling and hot-side heat dissipation. The humid air discharged during infrared drying is passed through the cold side of the semiconductor refrigeration chip to reduce its relative humidity, thereby achieving condensation and dehumidification. The heat generated by the hot side of the semiconductor refrigeration chip is utilized to enter the drying chamber, improving the energy utilization rate of the infrared drying chamber, enhancing drying quality, and reducing drying energy consumption.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0006] An infrared drying test device based on thermoelectric effect is provided, including a frame, a drying chamber and a thermal energy circulation module. The drying chamber is provided with a horizontally arranged mesh material tray, and an infrared radiation heating module is provided above the material tray.

[0007] The thermal energy circulation module includes a circulation pipe, a circulation fan, and a condensation and cooling mechanism. The condensation and cooling mechanism includes a condensate collector, a finned assembly, thermoelectric cooling chips, and a water cooling head. The two ends of the circulation pipe are connected to the drying chamber. The circulation fan drives the airflow inside the drying chamber to circulate through the circulation pipe. The condensate collector is located at the circulation pipe. The finned assembly is installed in the condensate collector. The thermoelectric cooling chip is a semiconductor cooling chip. Its cold side is connected to the finned assembly for heat exchange, and its hot side is connected to the water cooling head for heat exchange. The bottom of the condensate collector has a water outlet.

[0008] The thermal energy circulation module also includes a water-cooled fan and a water tank. The water-cooled fan includes a fan body and a heat exchange coil. The water tank, heat exchange coil and cooling water head are interconnected through pipes and a water pump to allow the flow of heat dissipation medium. The fan body is located at the bottom of the drying chamber, and the heat exchange coil is located beside the fan body so that the fan body blows the heat dissipated by the heat exchange coil onto the material tray in the drying chamber.

[0009] As a further optional solution, the infrared drying test device also includes a control module, which includes a control panel. The control panel is electrically connected to a weighing sensor, a first temperature and humidity sensor, a wind speed sensor, a second temperature and humidity sensor, and a temperature controller.

[0010] A weighing sensor is installed at the bottom of the mesh material tray to provide feedback on the weight of the material being dried during the drying process; a first temperature and humidity sensor is installed at the top of the material tray to collect the temperature and humidity of the material surface; a wind speed sensor is installed next to the circulating fan to measure the wind speed; a second temperature and humidity sensor is installed in the circulating pipe to collect the temperature and humidity of the air medium after condensation and dehumidification; and a temperature controller is used to control the heating power of the infrared radiation heating module.

[0011] As a further alternative, the outlet at the bottom of the condensate collector is connected to the water tank via a pipe.

[0012] As a further optional solution, a conical hot air collection hood is installed at the bottom of the drying chamber, with its small opening connected to the air outlet of the water-cooled fan.

[0013] As a further optional solution, a conical dehumidification guide hood is provided on the rear side of the drying chamber, and the air inlet of the circulating fan is connected to the small opening of the dehumidification guide hood.

[0014] As a further optional solution, the drying chamber, dehumidification guide hood, condensate collector, circulation pipe and hot air collection hood are of double-layer structure.

[0015] As a further alternative, the double-layer structure is used to fill the interior of the shell with insulation material, which is one or more of the following: rock wool, polyurethane insulation board, ceramic fiber wool, and glass wool, in a superimposed structure.

[0016] As a further optional solution, the drying chamber is equipped with a material door that is hinged to the frame and can be locked in place. The inside of the material door is equipped with a sealing strip to ensure that the material door can be sealed and closed.

[0017] As a further option, the material door is equipped with a transparent inspection window.

[0018] As a further optional solution, the infrared radiation heating module can be a carbon fiber infrared plate, a graphene infrared plate, a nano far-infrared electric heating plate, a microcrystalline glass infrared radiation plate, an infrared electric heating tube, or an infrared heating lamp.

[0019] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0020] The present invention provides an infrared drying test apparatus based on the thermoelectric effect, which, compared with the prior art, has the following advantages:

[0021] 1) It can solve the shortcomings of existing infrared drying test devices by combining thermoelectric effect and infrared drying technology. By utilizing the characteristics of semiconductor cooling chip, such as cold side cooling and hot side heat dissipation, the high temperature and high humidity drying medium generated in infrared drying can be dehumidified and reused. At the same time, the heat generated by the hot side of semiconductor cooling chip can be collected to heat up the drying medium, shorten the drying time, thereby improving the efficiency of infrared drying, improving drying quality, and reducing drying energy consumption.

[0022] 2) By controlling parameters such as the heating power of the infrared radiation module, the speed of the circulating fan, and the power of the semiconductor cooling chip through the control module, different drying conditions can be achieved, providing a device for infrared drying experiments. It can be used for multi-parameter drying experiments and can explore the optimal drying process parameters under different drying conditions.

[0023] 3) It can provide ideas for other drying test devices that require dehumidification and temperature control, and can also meet the needs of infrared drying of small batches of agricultural products, providing a test basis for the industrial application of infrared drying. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an infrared drying test device based on the thermoelectric effect in one of the embodiments.

[0025] Figure 2This is another structural schematic diagram of an infrared drying test device based on the thermoelectric effect in the embodiment.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an infrared drying test device based on the thermoelectric effect in the embodiment, with the left side plate hidden, mainly illustrating the control module.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an infrared drying test device based on the thermoelectric effect in the embodiment, with a portion of the frame hidden.

[0028] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Another visual structural diagram.

[0029] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the condensation and cooling mechanism in the embodiment.

[0030] Figure label:

[0031] Frame 1, front side panel 11, right side panel 12, left side panel 13, top panel 14, rear side panel 15, material door 16, observation window 17; Drying chamber 2, material tray 21, infrared radiation heating module 22, support frame 23, dehumidification guide hood 24, return air interface 25, hot air collection hood 26; Circulation pipe 31, circulation fan 32, condensate collector 33, finned assembly 34, thermoelectric cooling plate 35, heat dissipation water cooling head 36, first interface 361, second interface 362; Water-cooled fan 4, fan body 41, heat exchange coil 42; Weighing sensor 51, first temperature and humidity sensor 52, control panel 53, wind speed sensor 54, second temperature and humidity sensor 55, temperature controller 56; Water tank 6. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0033] This embodiment provides an infrared drying test apparatus based on the thermoelectric effect, such as... Figures 1 to 6As shown, the system includes a frame 1, which houses a drying chamber 2. The drying chamber 2 has a horizontally arranged mesh material tray 21 for placing the material to be dried. An infrared radiation heating module 22 is positioned above the material tray 21 to radiate infrared rays and heat the material on the tray 21. The infrared radiation heating module 22 can be a carbon fiber infrared plate, graphene infrared plate, nano-far-infrared electric heating plate, microcrystalline glass infrared radiation plate, etc., or it can be an infrared electric heating tube, infrared heating lamp, etc., and the selection can be made based on the material to be dried and the equipment budget. The infrared radiation heating module 22 is installed via a support frame 23, and is fixed to the support frame 23 using connecting clips, connecting bolts, etc., and is placed at the top of the drying chamber 2 via an L-shaped corner groove connecting bracket.

[0034] In this embodiment, the outer side of the frame 1 is provided with side plates, including a front side plate 11, a right side plate 12, a left side plate 13, a top plate 14, and a rear side plate 15, which are connected using common connection methods such as spacer connecting blocks or U-shaped grooves. The drying chamber 2 is provided with a material door 16, which is connected to the frame 1 by hinges, locking buckles, or other connection methods. The material door 16 is surrounded by a silicone sealing strip, which allows the material door 16 to be tightly closed with the frame 11 after closing, making the interior of the infrared drying chamber 2 airtight. A transparent observation window 17 is provided on the front side of the drying chamber 2. It is made of high-temperature resistant glass such as quartz glass, which allows for timely observation of the drying status inside the drying chamber during use.

[0035] In this embodiment, the frame 1 is also equipped with a thermal energy circulation module for recycling the high-temperature and high-humidity energy generated during infrared drying in the drying chamber 2. The thermal energy circulation module includes a circulation pipe 31, with both ends of the circulation pipe 31 connected to the upper part of the drying chamber 2 (offset from the material). The circulation pipe 31 is equipped with a circulation fan 32 and a condensation cooling mechanism. The condensation cooling mechanism includes a condensate collector 33, a finned assembly 34, a thermoelectric cooling plate 35, and a water-cooling head 36. A conical dehumidification guide hood 24 is provided on the rear side of the drying chamber 2. The circulation fan 32 is a split-type duct centrifugal fan. The large opening of the dehumidification guide hood 24 is connected to the rear side of the drying chamber 2, and the air inlet of the circulation fan 32 is connected to the small opening of the dehumidification guide hood 24. The air outlet of the circulation fan 32, the interface of the condensate collector 33, and the circulation pipe 31 are connected in sequence. A fin assembly 34 with multiple metal plates is arranged in a condensate collector 33. The high-temperature and high-humidity air in the drying chamber 2 enters the air inlet of the circulating fan 32 through the dehumidification guide hood 24. After passing through the circulating fan 32, it enters the fin assembly 34 for condensation and dehumidification. Then, it enters the return air interface 25 of the drying chamber 2 through the circulation pipe 31, thereby realizing the circulation of air inside the drying chamber.

[0036] Specifically, the fin assembly 34 is connected to the condensate collector 33 by means of connecting bolts, connecting clips, etc. The high temperature and high humidity air generated by the drying chamber 2 is sent into the condensate collector 33 by the circulating fan 32. Under the action of the fin assembly 34, the high temperature and high humidity air will condense, and the condensate will flow into the water tank 6 through the outlet at the bottom of the condensate collector 33 and the connecting hose.

[0037] In this embodiment, the thermoelectric cooler 35 is a semiconductor cooler, specifically a TEC1-19906 type semiconductor cooler. The semiconductor cooler has two sides: a cold side connected to the fin assembly 34 and a hot side connected to the cooling head 36. The cold side of the semiconductor cooler is fixed to the surface of the fin assembly 34 by means of connecting clips, connecting bolts, etc. The hot side of the semiconductor cooler is connected to the surface of the cooling head 36 by thermally conductive silicone grease. Utilizing the adhesion and heat dissipation properties of the thermally conductive silicone grease, the heat generated by the hot side of the semiconductor cooler can be transferred to the heat dissipation medium flowing inside the cooling head 36 in a timely manner, thereby maintaining the temperature of the cold end.

[0038] The thermal energy circulation module also includes a water-cooled fan 4, which comprises a fan body 41 and a heat exchange coil 42. A cooling water head 36 is connected to the heat exchange coil 42 and a water tank 6 via flexible hoses. The water tank 6 provides the cooling medium and contains a water pump and a medium flow sensor (not shown in the figure). The medium flow sensor is mainly located at the outlet of the water tank 6 to collect the medium flow rate per unit time. The outlet of the water tank 6 is connected to the inlet of the heat exchange coil 42 via a flexible hose. The outlet of the heat exchange coil 42 is connected to one interface of the cooling water head 36 via a flexible hose, and the other interface of the cooling water head 36 is connected to the inlet of the water tank 6 via a flexible hose. The water pump drives the water in the water tank 6 to the heat exchange coil 42, providing power for water circulation and transferring the heat generated by the hot surface of the semiconductor cooling chip to the outside through water and other media. A hot air collection hood 26 is installed at the bottom of the drying chamber 2, which is connected to the air outlet of the water-cooled fan 4. This hood collects the heat lost from the heat exchange coil 42 under the action of the fan body 41, and then blows the hot air into the drying chamber 2 using the hot air collection hood 26. Alternatively, in practice, the outlet of the cooling water head 36 can be connected to the inlet of the heat exchange coil 42, and the outlet of the heat exchange coil 42 can be connected to the water tank 6, as long as the heat dissipation medium flows between the cooling water head 36, the water tank 6, and the heat exchange coil 42. The cooling water head 36 has a first interface 361 and a second interface 362 connecting to the internal flow channel. The first interface 361 is connected to the heat exchange coil 42 via a flexible hose, and the second interface 362 is connected to the water tank 6 via a pipe.

[0039] Furthermore, the condensate collected by the condensate collector 33 can be filtered before entering the water tank 6 to participate in the water circulation in the condensation cooling mechanism.

[0040] Specifically, water tank 6 is made of materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene and polyvinyl chloride, and can be processed by methods such as 3D printing and mold making. The picture only shows one placement position of water tank 6, which can be adjusted according to the actual situation.

[0041] In this embodiment, the drying chamber 2, the dehumidification guide hood 24, the condensate collector 33, the circulation pipe 31, and the hot air collection hood 2648 can adopt a double-layer structure, with the interior filled with insulation material. The insulation material is one or more of the following: rock wool, polyurethane insulation board, ceramic fiber wool, and glass wool, in a superimposed structure.

[0042] In this embodiment, the device also includes a control module, which mainly comprises a weighing sensor 51, a first temperature and humidity sensor 52, a control panel 53, a wind speed sensor 54, a second temperature and humidity sensor 55, and a temperature controller 56. The weighing sensor 51 is installed at the bottom of the mesh material tray 21 to promptly report the weight of the material to be dried during the drying process and feeds the weight data back to the control panel 53. The first temperature and humidity sensor 52 is installed on the upper part of the material tray 21 and is mainly used to collect the surface temperature and humidity of the material, feeding the temperature and humidity information back to the control panel 53 for control by the control module. The wind speed sensor 54 is installed in the interface of the dehumidification guide hood 24 to measure the wind speed of the circulating fan 32. The second temperature and humidity sensor 55 is installed in the return air interface 25 of the circulating pipe 31 and is mainly used to collect the temperature and humidity of the air medium after condensation and dehumidification, feeding the temperature and humidity information back to the control panel 53 for control by the control module. The temperature controller 56 is mainly used to control the heating power of the infrared radiation heating module 22, thereby controlling the temperature inside the infrared drying chamber. The control panel 53 is a PLC all-in-one machine (MC-20MR-6MT-F0A-FX-A) with human-machine interaction function. It is mainly used to collect data signals from the weighing sensor 51, the first temperature and humidity sensor 52, the wind speed sensor 54, and the second temperature and humidity sensor 55. Through PLC programming and other control methods, it controls the temperature controller 56 to control the heating power of the infrared radiation heating plate.

[0043] The first temperature and humidity sensor 52, the second temperature and humidity sensor 55, and the temperature and humidity sensor (not shown in the figure) in the hot air collection hood 26 are used together to collect the temperature and humidity conditions at different locations inside the infrared drying chamber. The temperature and humidity parameters to be controlled are input on the control panel 53, and control is achieved using PLC programming and other control methods. The speed and start / stop of the circulating fan 32 are controlled by the PLC to achieve continuous or intermittent operation of the airflow circulation module.

[0044] The method for controlling the temperature and humidity inside the infrared drying chamber is as follows: At the start of the drying process, the first temperature and humidity sensor 52 begins to detect the temperature and humidity of the material surface, while the second temperature and humidity sensor 55 simultaneously monitors the temperature and humidity inside the infrared drying chamber. When the temperature and humidity sensors exceed the set temperature and humidity values, the thermal energy circulation module and the condensation cooling mechanism are activated to condense and dehumidify the high-temperature and high-humidity air. Simultaneously, the heat generated in the condensation cooling mechanism is collected and used to dry the material inside the infrared drying chamber, accelerating the infrared drying rate and shortening the drying time. As drying progresses, based on the temperature and humidity data monitored by the first and second temperature and humidity sensors 52 and 55, parameters such as the rotation speed of the air circulation fan 32 and the power of the semiconductor cooling chip in the air circulation system can be adjusted to ensure that the temperature and humidity inside the infrared drying chamber reach the set test parameter values. Subsequent drying processes employ a similar temperature and humidity control strategy until the temperature and humidity inside the infrared drying chamber reach the set test parameter values. The value fed back by the weighing sensor 51 shows little change and remains within a constant range for an extended period, at which point the drying process ends. The set level of air moisture content, which serves as the condition for ending the drying process, needs to be determined in conjunction with the external ambient temperature and humidity, the internal temperature of the drying chamber, and the characteristics of the material being dried.

[0045] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0046] All standard parts used in this invention can be purchased from the market, and irregular parts can be customized according to the description and drawings. The specific connection methods of each part adopt conventional methods such as bolts, rivets, and welding that are mature in the prior art. The machinery, parts and equipment adopt conventional models in the prior art, and the circuit connection adopts conventional connection methods in the prior art, which will not be described in detail here.

[0047] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0048] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the essence and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. An infrared drying test device based on the thermoelectric effect, characterized in that: It includes a frame, which is equipped with a drying chamber and a heat circulation module. The drying chamber is equipped with a horizontally arranged mesh material tray, and an infrared radiation heating module is installed above the material tray. The thermal energy circulation module includes a circulation pipe, a circulation fan, and a condensation and cooling mechanism. The condensation and cooling mechanism includes a condensate collector, a finned assembly, thermoelectric cooling chips, and a water cooling head. The two ends of the circulation pipe are connected to the drying chamber. The circulation fan drives the airflow inside the drying chamber to circulate through the circulation pipe. The condensate collector is located at the circulation pipe. The finned assembly is installed in the condensate collector. The thermoelectric cooling chip is a semiconductor cooling chip. Its cold side is connected to the finned assembly for heat exchange, and its hot side is connected to the water cooling head for heat exchange. The bottom of the condensate collector has a water outlet. The thermal energy circulation module also includes a water-cooled fan and a water tank. The water-cooled fan includes a fan body and a heat exchange coil. The water tank, heat exchange coil and cooling water head are interconnected through the pipe body and water pump to allow the heat dissipation medium to flow therein. The fan body is located at the bottom of the drying chamber, and the heat exchange coil is located next to the fan body so that the fan body blows the heat dissipated by the heat exchange coil to the material tray in the drying chamber. The infrared drying test device also includes a control module, which includes a control panel. The control panel is electrically connected to a weighing sensor, a first temperature and humidity sensor, a wind speed sensor, a second temperature and humidity sensor, and a temperature controller. A weighing sensor is installed at the bottom of the mesh material tray to provide feedback on the weight of the material being dried during the drying process; a first temperature and humidity sensor is installed at the top of the material tray to collect the temperature and humidity of the material surface. A wind speed sensor is installed next to the circulating fan to measure wind speed; a second temperature and humidity sensor is installed in the circulating pipe to collect the temperature and humidity of the air medium after condensation and dehumidification; a temperature controller is used to control the heating power of the infrared radiation heating module. The bottom of the drying chamber is equipped with a cone-shaped hot air collection hood, the small opening of which is connected to the air outlet of the water-cooled fan.

2. The infrared drying test apparatus based on the thermoelectric effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outlet at the bottom of the condensate collector is connected to the water tank via a pipe.

3. The infrared drying test apparatus based on the thermoelectric effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rear side of the drying chamber is equipped with a conical dehumidification guide hood, and the air inlet of the circulating fan is connected to the small opening of the dehumidification guide hood.

4. The infrared drying test apparatus based on the thermoelectric effect according to claim 3, characterized in that: The drying chamber, dehumidification guide hood, condensate collector, circulation pipe and hot air collection hood have a double-layer structure.

5. The infrared drying test apparatus based on the thermoelectric effect according to claim 4, characterized in that: The double-layer structure is that the interior of the shell is filled with thermal insulation material, which is one or more of the following: rock wool, polyurethane insulation board, ceramic fiber wool, and glass wool, in a superimposed structure.

6. The infrared drying test apparatus based on the thermoelectric effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drying chamber is equipped with a material door, which is hinged to the frame and can be locked in place. The inside of the material door is equipped with a sealing strip to ensure that the material door can be sealed and closed.

7. An infrared drying test apparatus based on the thermoelectric effect according to claim 6, characterized in that: The material door is equipped with a transparent inspection window.

8. The infrared drying test apparatus based on the thermoelectric effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: The infrared radiation heating module can be a carbon fiber infrared plate, a graphene infrared plate, a nano far-infrared electric heating plate, a microcrystalline glass infrared radiation plate, or an infrared heating lamp.

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