Processing device for processing workpiece and method for processing workpiece

Abstract

The invention relates to a treatment device (100) for treating workpieces, in particular a drying device (102) for drying vehicle bodies, comprising: at least one treatment chamber (104) comprising one or more treatment chamber sections (105), the at least one treatment chamber (104) and / or the one or more treatment chamber sections (105) are each associated with one of a plurality of separate circulating air modules (106), and wherein each circulating air module (106) is arranged for guiding a separate, circulating air flow; and a heat transfer device (120) for indirectly heating the air flow, comprising a heating device (124), in which a) at least one circulation air module (106) has a heat exchanger (144) via which the respective circulation air module (106) is coupled to the heat transfer device (120); and / or b) a plurality of circulating air modules (106) are connected into one or more heating circuits (160), in particular heating gas circuits, which are coupled to the heat transfer device (120) via a centralized heat exchanger (158). The invention further relates to a method for treating a workpiece.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a processing device for processing workpieces. In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for processing workpieces. Background Art

[0002] In practice, it is known that in the process of combating global warming, more and more automobile manufacturers are considering converting existing processing devices (such as drying devices for vehicle bodies) from using fossil fuels such as gas and oil to heating by means of electric energy from renewable energy sources.

[0003] It is known that so far, the combination of heat supply and exhaust gas purification has dominated the heating of such drying devices or dryers, in which the remaining heat in the purified dryer exhaust gas or the purified gas is transferred to the dryer atmosphere, that is, the recirculating air and / or fresh gas, or to the fresh air, through heat exchangers (usually connected in series), and the two media do not mix in this case.

[0004] When converting or retrofitting a drying device from using fossil heating to electric heating, decentralized electric heat sources are usually used to heat the recirculating air module and the fresh air module (also called the recirculating air module and the fresh air module), and thus the method of electric direct heating is used. Usually, in this case, each recirculating air and fresh air module is equipped with its own heating device (Heizregister).

[0005] By passing an electric current through a resistance heating coil, heating wire, etc., direct heating converts electric energy into heat energy or heat. The heat energy is directly discharged to the air flow to be temperature-controlled, such as the recirculating air flow or the fresh air flow, through a heat conductor (such as a heating sheet).

[0006] The purification of the dryer exhaust gas is carried out independently of the dryer heating. Here, heat treatment is usually used to purify the solvent-containing and odorous exhaust gas.

[0007] Currently, in the process of electrification, this purification process also reaches the operating temperature by means of electric energy. Once the system reaches the required operating temperature, usually (depending on the solvent load or solvent burden), only the heat energy released by solvent oxidation is required to achieve the self-sufficiency and self-heating operation of the exhaust gas purification device.

[0008] However, arranging and equipping decentralized electric heating devices in each recirculating air module and fresh air module means that heat sources using sustainable energy carriers (such as hydrogen, biogas, solar energy, pellets, etc.) cannot be replaced for dryer heating. In the case of decentralized electric direct heating, the parallel maintenance or parallel use of several different heat sources in the so-called hybrid mode is not feasible.

[0009] Using in parallel or at least maintaining multiple possibilities has decisive advantages during the energy transition period. In particular, many operators of dryers or similar equipment are currently unable to predict the future energy forms in their locations.

[0010] In addition, the design of a dryer heating device with decentralized electric heat sources (such as heating elements) requires a high area requirement. The switchgear must be equipped with power control devices (such as thyristors) required for each heating element.

[0011] In addition, a transformer hub station is installed to supply power to each heat source. Since, ideally, the switch from the medium voltage level (with a smaller cable cross-section) to the low voltage level is carried out at the location where the electrical energy is required (i.e., at the decentralized heat source), there is a demand for installation area, and existing equipment usually cannot meet this demand due to narrow building space. If the hub station cannot be installed near the consumables (i.e., the heat source), then large and expensive cable cross-sections are required at the low voltage level to avoid excessive power losses.

[0012] In addition, the so far design of a dryer heated with decentralized electric heating elements requires high costs for power cables because each unit or each element must be connected specifically.

[0013] In this case, the relevant power losses (line losses and switchgear losses) cannot be ignored. For a body dryer with a processing capacity of usually 31 units per hour, these losses add up to approximately 11% of the total power. These high electrical losses contrast with the original intention of sustainability, which also gives a reason for retrofitting. Although these cable losses can be partially offset by a larger cable cross-section, this is accompanied by higher investment costs.

[0014] Another disadvantage is that the sum of the attached powers of each electric heat source or heating element is usually larger (by about 10%) than in the case of a centralized solution with only a single heat source.

[0015] In the case of a single heat source, the power demand of the dryer or drying equipment can be met by this one heat source in two operating modes. In the case of a heating time of only two to three hours, the power demand in the operating state or production state is almost no different from the heating state.

[0016] In contrast, at the section level or regional level (i.e., when independently heating each section or area of the dryer), there are significant differences between the two modes of "heating" and "operating or maintaining". Specifically, for the heating section, the power demand in the operating state is usually higher than that in the heating state, and for the maintaining section, the situation is exactly the opposite.

[0017] This results in that, in a decentralized electrical solution, the size of the electric heating device has to be determined according to the correspondingly higher heating power in the operating or heating state, since each part of the dryer is heated separately and thus also has to be considered separately in terms of energy.

[0018] It is known from EP 3 387 354 A1 that, in order to provide a processing device which is simple in structure and can achieve workpiece processing in an energy-saving manner, the processing device includes a processing chamber which includes a plurality of processing chamber sections, and the plurality of processing chamber sections are respectively associated with one of a plurality of individual recirculating air modules of the processing device. The processing device further includes a heating device which includes a closed heating gas guide, wherein the plurality of recirculating air modules are coupled to the heating gas guide, in particular for heating the gas guided through the processing chamber section. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a processing device which can operate sustainably.

[0020] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a processing device having the features of the following technical solution.

[0021] In particular, the processing device is a drying device for drying a vehicle body.

[0022] The processing device includes:

[0023] - at least one processing chamber which includes one or more processing chamber sections, wherein the at least one processing chamber and / or the one or more processing chamber sections are respectively associated with one of a plurality of individual recirculating air modules, and wherein each recirculating air module is arranged to guide an independent, circulating air flow; and

[0024] - a heat transfer device for indirectly heating the air flow, which includes a heating device,

[0025] wherein it can be selectively specified that:

[0026] a) at least one recirculating air module has a heat exchanger, and the corresponding recirculating air module is coupled to the heat transfer device through the heat exchanger; and / or

[0027] b) a plurality of recirculating air modules are connected to one or more heating circuits, in particular a heating gas circuit, and the heating circuit is coupled to the heat transfer device via a centralized heat exchanger.

[0028] The present invention is based on the following concept. In particular, in the retrofit of existing equipment, in addition to heating by means of electrical energy from renewable energy sources, other sustainable energy sources can also be used. Furthermore, in the case of the following equipment situation, that is, when there is no vacant installation area in the area of the processing equipment, especially in the area of the drying equipment, the retrofit can also be carried out. The overall design of the equipment should take into account the concepts of sustainability and energy conservation, especially to minimize power losses as much as possible.

[0029] Overall, it is beneficial to hydraulically separate the processing equipment into a primary circuit and a secondary circuit by means of a hydraulic decoupling device (hydraulische Weiche) to ensure that the heater circuit (i.e., the circuit of the heat transfer equipment) and the consumer circuit (i.e., the circuit of the recirculating air module) operate independently hydraulically, and to enable the heat transfer medium to be fed into the heater circuit multiple times from preferably different heat sources.

[0030] It should be understood that one or more heating gas circuits can be coupled to a central heat exchanger, and one or more recirculating air modules can be connected to the heating gas circuit respectively.

[0031] Advantageously, the heat transfer equipment includes:

[0032] - A closed heat transfer circuit having at least one supply flow path and at least one return flow path, and a heat transfer medium, especially a liquid heat transfer medium, circulates in the heat transfer circuit.

[0033] It can be considered that the heating circuit guides heating gas or other heat transfer media, and the thermal energy from the heat transfer equipment is transferred to the heating gas or other heat transfer media. In the case of the heating gas circuit, it is directly mixed into the air flow circulating in the recirculating air module, while in the case of another heat transfer medium, preferably only the thermal energy is transferred to the air flow of the recirculating air module, and the corresponding medium does not enter the air flow.

[0034] The heating device is preferably installed centrally (for example, at a location without explosion hazard), and heat is supplied to each consumer (Verbraucher), such as a recirculating air module and / or a fresh gas module, via a branch pipe network by means of a heat transfer medium or by means of heating gas.

[0035] The heat transfer medium can be solid, liquid or gaseous.

[0036] The solid heat transfer medium can include spherical objects filled with phase change materials, and the gaseous heat transfer medium is preferably in a vapor state for safety reasons.

[0037] The liquid heat transfer medium is especially heat transfer oil, water or ionic liquid. For example, the heat transfer oil is non-pressurized and can therefore be more easily processed or transported in the heat transfer equipment than steam.

[0038] When using heat transfer oil as the heat transfer medium, the supply flow path temperature is preferably 250 °C, and the return flow path temperature is preferably 230 °C.

[0039] It is desirable that the heat transfer oil temperature be as low as possible to avoid the formation of light boiling components (hydrocarbon chains breaking down into smaller fragments). Such decomposition leads to a decrease in the flash point, which on the one hand increases the risk of forming a combustible mixture and on the other hand increases the tendency to cavitation, which may lead to increased wear of system components such as pumps. Therefore, by avoiding reaching the so-called film temperature of the heat transfer oil, the service life of the oil can be extended or at least maintained.

[0040] With the aid of a preferably very low temperature range for the heat transfer oil, the known Arrhenius law can be complied with, according to which the reaction rate increases exponentially with temperature, thereby keeping the risk regarding safety and service life of the equipment components at a very low level.

[0041] On the other hand, the heat transfer oil temperature is sufficient to heat the supplied fresh gas (e.g., fresh air from outside the building and equipment of the processing plant) to the required target temperature. This target temperature is typically 10 to 20 K higher than the temperature of the circulating air in the processing chamber.

[0042] Regarding the heat transfer oil temperature, another important aspect should also be pointed out. Since the selected temperature is moderate and still within the applicable range of mineral oil. Higher temperatures would require the use of silicone-based oils or synthetic oils. However, these oils usually have the disadvantage that they contain substances that affect the paint wettability and are therefore prohibited in processing equipment such as paint booths.

[0043] In addition, mineral oil is usually classified as water hazard class 1, so no additional protective measures are required. In addition, when the heat transfer oil temperature is in the range of 230 °C to 250 °C, pressureless operation can be achieved. Only the pressure difference required to force the circulation of the heat transfer oil in the distribution network (i.e., the heat transfer circuit) needs to be provided by a pumping device.

[0044] Compared with air, the heat transfer oil also has a higher specific heat capacity and a higher density. Therefore, compared with a hot air channel, the pipe cross-section of the heat transfer circuit can be significantly reduced. The significantly reduced pipe cross-section also means significantly reduced surface heat losses. This makes the integration of existing equipment simpler.

[0045] It can also be provided that the heating device includes at least one, preferably at least two different heat sources, wherein the heat sources are designed to

[0046] a) electric heating devices, and / or

[0047] b) gas-driven heating furnaces, and / or

[0048] c) Hydrogen-driven heating furnace, and / or

[0049] d) Solar-assisted heater, and / or

[0050] e) Heating gas circuit.

[0051] For example, in a gas-driven heating furnace, hydrocarbons, natural gas, biogas or methane can be used (i.e., especially combusted).

[0052] Compared with the decentralized heating device described above, the advantage of the centralized installation of the heating device is that the heat source can be easily replaced or multiple different heat sources can be maintained in parallel. This option is particularly advantageous during the energy transition period because many operators are currently unable to predict which form of energy will become the future energy source in their location. In addition, the centralized installation also allows for simple and progressive expansion of the heating device.

[0053] For electric heating devices, the following types of current are applicable:

[0054] Low-voltage alternating current (400 kV)

[0055] The advantage is that the heating side of the heating device can adopt simple low-voltage technology with low investment costs. However, compared with medium voltage, the cable loss power is higher, and this loss power can be minimized by installing the corresponding heat source near the transformer substation and thus keeping the cable length short. In addition, converting the plant voltage or equipment voltage to the low-voltage level incurs considerable investment costs.

[0056] Medium-voltage alternating current (1 to 35 kV)

[0057] The advantages are that compared with low voltage, a smaller cable cross-section and lower cable loss power can be achieved. In addition, when the substation cannot be installed adjacent to the heating device and thus the lower costs of the cable and transformer substation can more than compensate for the remaining costs (e.g., additional costs on the heating side), cost savings can be achieved. In addition, when the electric heating device can operate directly at the medium-voltage level of the equipment grid, the conversion costs can be reduced or the transformer substation can be omitted. However, compared with low voltage, more complex and costly medium-voltage technology is required on the heater side.

[0058] Direct current

[0059] The potential of industrial DC power distribution is multifaceted. For example, through a DC power distribution network or a DC grid, photovoltaic modules or decentralized energy storage devices can be simply connected to the existing infrastructure. For example, the direct current from photovoltaic modules can be directly transmitted to built-in heating rods and converted into heat directly or without loss. By reducing the losses in the conversion from AC to DC and through intelligent load management, energy consumption can be significantly reduced and peak loads can be avoided. This in turn has a positive impact on the unit configuration, installation, and more favorable electricity prices. The power supply security can also be improved through the integration of photovoltaic modules and storage systems.

[0060] The gas-driven heating furnace is preferably used to provide the differential power between the gas-driven heating furnace and the electrical operating power in the case where the power demand during the heating process of the cold-state processing equipment exceeds the required production power or the operating power, thereby eliminating unnecessary electrical installations.

[0061] Under the condition that the temperature of the heat transfer oil supply flow path is about 250°C to 300°C, in a place where there is sunlight and the direct sunlight ratio is relatively high, the converged solar energy can be introduced and used as solar-assisted heating for equipment heating. The Fresnel collectors installed on the top cover of the processing equipment can be directly connected to the heat transfer oil circuit or through a heat exchanger. The advantage of the first direct connection scheme is that the already installed heat transfer oil circuit for solar energy can be used.

[0062] According to different implementation modes of the processing equipment, the heating mechanism can operate only by hydrogen heating or in a hybrid operation mode.

[0063] In the hybrid operation mode, it is preferable to reduce the installed electricity through the hydrogen-assisted heating operation of the processing equipment, and the demand for hydrogen can be met by a hydrogen tank in this case.

[0064] Hydrogen heating can provide an operation scheme in a carbon dioxide-neutral (CO 2 -neutral) manner for the equipment.

[0065] The core challenges in using hydrogen lie in dealing with the risks of fire and explosion, which require adequate protective measures. Among them, the explosion hazard is higher when hydrogen is released in an inner room. In addition, without a dedicated detector, leaks are difficult to detect. Moreover, when using corresponding materials, the diffusion of hydrogen may also cause material embrittlement.

[0066] To meet these safety requirements as much as possible, it is preferable to place the gas-driven heating furnace or the gas-driven centralized heating unit in a well-ventilated location outside the building (such as an open-air area). Even if new safety regulations are promulgated in the future, they only relate to the setting of the centralized heating unit, and can be implemented at a relatively low cost compared to the case of installation in an inner room.

[0067] If it is necessary or mandatory to operate a hydrogen-driven heating furnace inside the equipment or inside a building, the pipes should be implemented by welding, thereby maintaining long-term tightness technically. During this process, a certain number of welds need to be regularly inspected by X-ray, and all threaded connections and flange connections must be regularly checked. It is recommended to implement hydrogen detection through one or more sensors and connect the sensors to a gas alarm device so that the solenoid valve can cut off or isolate the corresponding area or section when an alarm occurs.

[0068] The external installation is achieved in such a way that the heat energy generated by a hydrogen-driven heating furnace or a hydrogen-driven centralized heating unit is transferred to the heating gas circuit through a heat transfer circuit and a central heat exchanger, where the centralized heat exchanger is preferably arranged inside the building or workshop of the processing equipment.

[0069] For the heat distribution within the area of the processing equipment, the aforementioned heating gas circuit operating with a gaseous heat transfer medium can be adopted to supply heat to the circulating air module by mixing the heating gas. Correspondingly, in the embodiment of the processing equipment with a heating gas circuit, a heat exchanger is not required in the circulating air module, but a so-called mixing valve plate is used to control and / or regulate the volume flow rate of the supplied heating gas. In addition, the return flow path of the heating gas circuit to the centralized heat exchanger can be designed as a simple return channel (preferably located within the processing chamber or the dryer passage, i.e., the "triangle channel" in the rear wall-ceiling area), so that almost no surface heat loss occurs.

[0070] Preferably, the centralized heat exchanger is placed adjacent to the processing equipment. This can reduce the risk of the equipment being contaminated by the heat-conducting oil, and thus significantly reduce the fire load. In other words, installing the centralized heat exchanger near the processing equipment can reduce the pipes that must be installed or lay shorter pipes, thereby reducing the total circulation volume of the heat-conducting oil and also reducing the fire load in case of an accident.

[0071] In addition, it is beneficial that

[0072] a) at least one heat source can be replaced by other heat sources; and / or

[0073] b) at least two different heat sources can operate in parallel and / or alternately.

[0074] The replacement should be understood as: the operator of the processing equipment can simply replace the originally used heat source with other types of heat sources according to the change in the supply situation.

[0075] Alternatively or complementarily, the heating device can be pre-configured with two or more different heat sources, so that different heat sources can operate in parallel or alternately (i.e., switch between each other) in a mixed heating mode according to the supply situation or the available reserve.

[0076] Advantageously, the heating device comprises at least one expansion vessel for compensating for thermally induced volume changes of the heat transfer medium.

[0077] The heat transfer medium, such as thermal oil, can expand freely via an unblockable expansion line between the heat source and the expansion vessel. A nitrogen blanket in the expansion vessel ensures the required pressure balance and isolates the oxygen supply, thus preventing oxidation of the oil.

[0078] In addition, especially when using thermal oil or hydrogen as heat transfer medium, the following measures should be implemented as safety technical measures:

[0079] - monitoring of volume flow as specified in DIN 4754 parts 1 to 3;

[0080] - Install a liquid level switch in the expansion vessel and / or a liquid shortage protection device at the heating furnace to prevent the equipment from running dry;

[0081] -Monitor the supply flow temperature (maximum allowable temperature of thermal oil);

[0082] - monitoring of the maximum permissible flue gas temperature (oil or gas fired furnaces); and

[0083] -Monitoring of minimum nitrogen pressure and / or pressure in heat transfer equipment via minimum pressure limiters.

[0084] On the one hand, it is desirable that the exhaust gas temperature be as low as possible, which is achieved primarily by a heat exchanger downstream of the exhaust gas purification device, which can further cool the exhaust gas discharged from the treatment device in order to utilize the heat of condensation.

[0085] On the other hand, the boiler preferably needs to maintain a minimum exhaust gas temperature to avoid condensation.

[0086] In another embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the heat of the heating gas circuit can be transferred to the heat transfer circuit by means of at least one heat exchanger, the heating gas circuit comprising:

[0087] - at least one electric heating device for heating the heating gas;

[0088] - at least one mixing device, which is arranged downstream of the at least one electric heating device; and

[0089] - at least one heat storage unit for storing and releasing heat;

[0090] Therein, at least one heat storage unit is fluidically connected to at least one mixing device.

[0091] In a heating gas circuit, the heating gas is generated by an electric heating device, and its heat can be selectively stored in at least one heat storage unit or transferred to a heat transfer circuit through at least one heat exchanger. The heat stored in at least one heat storage unit can be released on demand and supplied to the heating gas. The storage or release of heat in at least one heat storage unit is achieved through at least one mixing device.

[0092] Preferably, intermediate buffering of the heat in at least one heat storage unit of the heating gas circuit is achieved by heat storage during weekends or production downtimes. Thus, when the processing equipment needs to be heated to the operating temperature or more heat is required during the production peak period, the stored heat can be called upon in parallel with the heat provided or generated by the electric heating device.

[0093] Preferably, a plurality of heat storage units form a heat storage, and advantageously, the heat storage units can store or release heat individually.

[0094] Compared with a device equipped only with an electric heating device, the additional provision of heat from at least one heat storage unit or heat storage can advantageously achieve a faster heating rate. In addition, the heat storage can reduce the installed power of the electric heating device, thereby reducing the attached power required by the processing equipment. In addition, the heating gas circuit with a heat storage can also improve the flexibility of power procurement, thereby taking advantage of time-of-use electricity price fluctuations.

[0095] In another design of the present invention, the mixing device is configured to supply the heating gas heated in the electric heating device:

[0096] - to the heat exchanger; or

[0097] - to at least one heat storage unit to store at least part of the heat contained in the heating gas;

[0098] Or

[0099] - to the heat exchanger in the case of mixing at least part of the heat stored in at least one heat storage unit.

[0100] Therefore, the mixing device preferably has at least three switching positions, and preferably, the heating gas flow can be redirected through these switching positions.

[0101] Preferably, the heat generated by electric energy in at least one heating device is stored in at least one heat storage unit during low electricity price periods, and conversely, the heat is released during high electricity price periods. Therefore, it is advantageous to use the electricity price as a control technical parameter. In addition, the situation of power shortage or power failure can also be coped with by storing the heat generated by electric energy.

[0102] The heat exchanger is preferably a gas-liquid heat exchanger. In this case, to prevent liquid or heat transfer medium from leaking from the heat transfer circuit into the heating gas circuit, the heat exchanger preferably has a double wall and a liquid detection mechanism is provided between the inner and outer tubes.

[0103] In another design of the present invention, it can be provided that the heat transfer device includes a pumping device having at least one pump for conveying the heat transfer medium through at least a part of the heating device and the heat transfer circuit.

[0104] The at least one pump can be, for example, a circulation pump. It is also conceivable that two or more pumps operate in parallel with each other.

[0105] Furthermore, it can be provided that a hydraulic decoupling device is provided between at least one processing chamber and the heat transfer device, by means of which the consumable circuit for supplying the processing chamber section via the recirculation air module is hydraulically separated from the heater circuit (i.e., the circuit of the heat transfer device).

[0106] In another design of the present invention, it can be provided that the processing device includes an exhaust gas purification device, in particular an electrothermal exhaust gas purification device, for purifying the exhaust gas that can be supplied from the processing chamber to the exhaust gas purification device via the exhaust gas guide. The exhaust gas purification device discharges the purified gas obtained through purification from the processing device via the purified gas guide.

[0107] It should be understood that preferably, the electrothermal exhaust gas purification device is also an exhaust gas purification device that uses electric energy from renewable energy sources.

[0108] Preferably, the purification of the exhaust gas of the processing device is independent of heating.

[0109] In this context, catalytic afterburning is a known exhaust gas purification process. This process is also called catalytic oxidation and is preferably used to reduce hydrocarbon emissions. Compared with thermal afterburning, its advantage lies in a lower reaction temperature. To fully purify the exhaust gas, a reaction temperature of approximately 790 °C is required, where this temperature is basically independent of whether an RTO or thermal afterburning is used. However, it should be noted that some paint components may act as catalyst poisons and deteriorate the catalyst. The equipment maintenance requirements or the risk of failure will thus increase.

[0110] Therefore, for the purification of waste gases containing solvents and having an odor, a heat treatment process is preferably employed. In particular, this process can achieve self-heating operation through the heat released by solvent oxidation. In addition, the temperature level of the purified gas after post-combustion is low, and the heat enthalpy of the purified air can be used to preheat the fresh gas supplied from the equipment. The low purification temperature mainly stems from the structure or construction of the device for waste gas purification and basically does not manifest as a characteristic of the actual solvent combustion process.

[0111] According to the present invention, the waste gas purification device preferably employs a regenerative heat type single-bed waste gas purification (Einzelbett-Abluftreinigung, RTO) that operates electrically and thus without open flames, which achieves high energy efficiency.

[0112] The flow through the electrically heated bed is controlled and / or regulated by a disk valve and is switched periodically here. When flowing through the bed, it is preheated up to the core area, and a chemical reaction takes place under the condition of supplying electrical energy without supplying gas. Subsequently, the gas cools at the other half of the bed.

[0113] Once the system reaches the operating temperature, generally only the heat released by solvent oxidation is required to achieve self-sustaining and self-heating operation (starting from 1 g of solvent per cubic meter of air); in this operating state, no electrical heating or heat supply is required. The discharge temperature of the purified gas is only 20 K higher than the inlet temperature of the waste gas to be treated, which reflects the high efficiency of this device.

[0114] As mentioned above, if the waste gas purification device is arranged adjacent to the processing equipment, it is suitable to use the heat enthalpy of the purified gas to preheat the fresh gas by means of a heat exchanger.

[0115] In this case, for example, it is only necessary to heat the preheated fresh air stream to the final temperature or rated temperature of the inlet and outlet gates of the processing chamber by means of another subsequent heat exchanger connected to the heat transfer circuit (for example, a heat transfer oil - gas heat exchanger).

[0116] In another design of the present invention, it can be provided that a ventilator for transporting the waste gas is arranged in the waste gas guiding part.

[0117] In another design of the present invention, it can be provided that one or more heating circuits each include at least one heating supply flow path and at least one heating return flow path, and wherein, through this heating circuit, heating gas can be introduced into at least one processing chamber and led out from at least one processing chamber.

[0118] Correspondingly, the heating circuit directly introduces the heating gas into the processing chamber, or is used to heat the air flow conveyed therein through a heat transfer medium (for example, heat transfer oil) via a circulating air module.

[0119] In another design of the present invention, it can be provided that at least one pumping device, in particular a ventilator, is arranged in the heating supply flow path and / or the heating return flow path, and through this pumping device, heating gas or heat transfer medium can be transported in the heating circuit.

[0120] In another design of the present invention, it can be provided that the heating device can be arranged to be spatially separated from the processing chamber, and preferably, it is arranged in an open-air place or a well-ventilated space / building area.

[0121] Particularly preferably, the thermal energy generated by the heating device is mainly provided by a hydrogen-based heating furnace or a hydrogen-based heating unit.

[0122] In another design of the present invention, it can be provided that the heat transfer device is designed as a compact unit, in which at least a heating mechanism, a centralized heat exchanger, and a heat transfer circuit are integrated.

[0123] In addition, a pumping device can also be integrated in the compact unit.

[0124] In addition, preferably, the heat source of the heating mechanism is or includes an electric heating device, in particular an alternating current medium voltage heating device.

[0125] When using alternating current medium voltage (1 to 35 kV), the liquid heat transfer medium must flow around the heating element to ensure heat dissipation in case of temperature rise and avoid temperature hot spots. Similarly, this also applies to other voltage ranges.

[0126] Even when using a heat transfer device designed as a compact unit, the heat transfer circuit and the heating gas circuit are connected to each other through a centralized heat exchanger for heat transfer.

[0127] In another design of the present invention, it can be provided that the processing chamber has an inlet gate and / or an outlet gate, and wherein fresh gas can be supplied to the inlet gate and / or the outlet gate via a fresh gas supply.

[0128] By supplying fresh gas at the gate, a fresh gas isolation curtain can be formed, and with the help of this fresh gas isolation curtain, the atmosphere in the processing chamber can be separated from the ambient atmosphere.

[0129] In another design of the present invention, it can be provided that at least one fresh gas module is arranged in the fresh gas supply, and with the help of this fresh gas module, the supplied fresh gas can be temperature-controlled, in particular heated.

[0130] It is necessary to heat the fresh gas to prevent condensation in the area of the gate, and the condensation may interfere with the workpiece processing in the processing chamber.

[0131] In another design variant of the present invention, it can be provided that a first fresh gas module is arranged in the fresh gas supply, by means of which a part of the thermal energy of the purified gas can be transferred to the fresh gas, and that a second fresh gas module is arranged downstream of the first fresh gas module, by means of which the fresh gas can be heated to the rated temperature.

[0132] According to another design variant of the present invention, it can be provided that the second fresh gas module comprises an electrical heating device and / or is coupled to a heat transfer circuit.

[0133] Since treatment devices (for example, drying devices for vehicle bodies, etc.) are usually equipped with exhaust gas purification devices, it is advantageous to utilize the waste heat of the purification process in such a way that the enthalpy flow of the purified hot exhaust gas is used for preheating the fresh gas or fresh air by means of a heat exchanger.

[0134] In such cases, the fresh air stream is already preheated and only needs to be brought to the final temperature or rated temperature of the inlet and / or outlet dampers in a second step or second stage.

[0135] In the case where the drying device and the exhaust gas purification device are installed in close proximity to each other, it is particularly suitable to utilize the waste heat or the thermal energy contained in the purified exhaust gas.

[0136] If the drying device and the exhaust gas purification device are installed too far apart from each other (for example, when the exhaust gas purification device is located outside the building and / or on a different equipment level), it is not economically reasonable to preheat the fresh gas. To bring the fresh gas (or, in general, fresh air) from the initial temperature (for example, the workshop temperature of 20 °C) to the rated temperature, it is only necessary to use a fresh gas module with a heat exchanger coupled to a heat transfer circuit or an electrical heating device contained in the fresh gas module as a single preheating stage / heating stage to heat the fresh gas.

[0137] According to another design variant of the present invention, it can be provided that a fan for conveying fresh gas is arranged in the fresh gas supply.

[0138] According to another design variant of the present invention, it can be provided that each recirculation air module is associated with at least one control and / or regulation device, in particular a three-way regulating valve, for controlling and / or regulating the temperature of the air flow guided by the recirculation air module; wherein the control and / or regulation device is preferably arranged in the supply flow path of the heat transfer circuit and / or the heating gas supply flow path of the heating gas circuit.

[0139] Thereby, the control and / or regulation device supplies the required amount of heat transfer oil to the recirculating air module (and, if necessary, to the fresh gas module), or, in the case of a centralized heat exchanger, supplies the required amount of heating gas to the recirculating air module, where the regulating variable here is the recirculating air temperature in the processing chamber or a processing chamber section.

[0140] In the case of centralized heating with a heat transfer circuit, the heat exchanger for each processing chamber section or each zone is designed accordingly with a larger heating power in the operating state or the heating state. Now, according to the operating mode, the centralized and relatively constant electrical heating power of the heating device can be distributed to each processing chamber section by the control and / or regulation device or the regulating assembly, where it needs to be taken into account that the necessary heating powers required in the operating state and the heating state are significantly different from each other.

[0141] It can also be provided that each processing chamber section is also correspondingly associated with at least one control and / or regulation device, by means of which the corresponding volume flow rate of the heating gas guided back to the centralized heat exchanger can be controlled and / or regulated.

[0142] The object of the present invention is also achieved by a method for processing workpieces.

[0143] This method is used for processing workpieces, in particular for drying vehicle bodies.

[0144] This method includes the following steps:

[0145] - An air flow guided in a plurality of independent circuits flows through a plurality of processing chamber sections of one or more processing chambers of the processing device, where the air flow is guided by an independent recirculating air module, which is correspondingly associated with each processing chamber section;

[0146] - Heating the air flow through the heat transfer circuit of the heat transfer device, which includes a heating device, where it can be selectively provided that the thermal energy contained in the heat transfer medium of the heat transfer circuit

[0147] a) is transferred to the air flow through the heat exchanger of the recirculating air module; and / or

[0148] b) is transferred to one or more heating circuits, in particular a heating gas circuit, through a centralized heat exchanger, and the heating gas is mixed with the air flow through the recirculating air module by means of this heating circuit.

[0149] In another design of the present invention, the heating device has

[0150] i) at least one replaceable heat source; and / or

[0151] ii) at least two different heat sources for parallel heating and / or alternating heating of the heat transfer medium.

[0152] Preferably, the method has one or more features and / or advantages described in relation to the recirculating air device. Additionally, preferably, the recirculating air device also has one or more features and / or advantages described in relation to the method. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0153] Other preferred features and / or advantages of the present invention are illustrated by the subject matter described in the following examples and the accompanying drawings.

[0154] The respective drawings are:

[0155] Figure 1 a schematic view of a first embodiment of a processing device;

[0156] Figure 2 a schematic view of a second embodiment of a processing device;

[0157] Figure 3 a schematic view of a third embodiment of a processing device;

[0158] Figure 4 a schematic view of a fourth embodiment of a processing device;

[0159] Figure 5 a schematic view of a fifth embodiment of a processing device; and

[0160] Figure 6 a schematic view of a sixth embodiment of a processing device.

[0161] In all the drawings, identical or functionally equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0162] The first embodiment of the processing device, generally designated 100, Figure 1 shown is for processing a workpiece (not shown).

[0163] Specifically, the processing device 100 is a drying device 102 for drying a previously coated or painted vehicle body.

[0164] The processing device 100 includes a processing chamber 104 having preferably a plurality of processing chamber sections 105.

[0165] Preferably, each processing chamber section 105 is respectively associated with a recirculating air module 106.

[0166] The processing chamber 104 further includes an inlet gate 108 and an outlet gate 110, which respectively provide fresh gas 114 (in particular fresh air) through a fresh gas supply 112 to form a fresh gas isolation curtain.

[0167] The fresh gas isolation curtains at the inlet and outlet of the processing chamber 104 are used to separate the atmosphere inside the processing chamber 104 from the environment.

[0168] A first fresh gas module 116 is arranged in the fresh gas supply unit 112 and a second fresh gas module 118 is arranged upstream thereof, each having a heat exchanger 117. Through the first fresh gas module 116 and the second fresh gas module 118, the inhaled or supplied fresh gas 114 can be preheated in two stages to particularly avoid condensation in the inlet gate 108 and the outlet gate 110.

[0169] The processing equipment further includes a heat transfer device 120, which has a closed heat transfer loop 122, a heating device 124, and a pumping device 126.

[0170] Preferably, the heat transfer loop 122 having a supply flow path 128 and a return flow path 130 guides a liquid heat transfer medium (e.g., heat transfer oil, water, or ionic liquid) in the loop. Preferably, the heat transfer oil has a supply flow path temperature of 250 °C and a return flow path temperature of 230 °C in an ideal state as the heat transfer medium.

[0171] The heating device 124 has at least one, preferably at least two different heat sources 132, wherein the heat source 132 is designed to:

[0172] a) an electric heating device 134, and / or

[0173] b) a gas-driven heating furnace 136, and / or

[0174] c) a hydrogen-driven heating furnace 138, and / or

[0175] d) a solar-assisted heater 140.

[0176] Each heat source 132 of the heating device 124 can be replaced, or the heating device 124 is equipped with at least two different heat sources 132 to perform mixed heating on the heat transfer medium. This ensures that the operator of the processing equipment 100 can cope with changes in the energy market in terms of, for example, availability or price.

[0177] The pumping device 126 preferably arranged in the return flow path 130 of the heat transfer loop 122 includes two pumps 142, particularly two circulation pumps. In particular, the heat transfer medium is transported through the heat transfer loop 122 in a controlled forced circulation by this pump. In particular, the two pumps 142 are arranged in parallel with each other.

[0178] The heating device 124 further includes an expansion vessel (not shown) which is connected to one or more heat sources 132 via an unblockable expansion pipeline (not shown), whereby the heat transfer medium can expand. In the expansion vessel, a nitrogen covering device ensures the required pressure balance and isolates the oxygen supply, whereby, in the case of heat-conducting oil as the heat transfer medium, oxidation of the heat-conducting oil can be avoided.

[0179] Furthermore, the heating device 124 preferably further includes a control and / or regulation component (not shown) by which the circulation in the heat transfer circuit 122 can be controlled and / or regulated.

[0180] The heat transfer medium heated in the heating device 124 is guided via the supply flow path 128 of the heat transfer circuit 122 to the recirculating air module 106 and the second fresh gas module 118.

[0181] Each recirculating air module 106 has a heat exchanger 144 (in particular an oil-air heat exchanger) and a recirculating ventilator 146, in particular a ventilator, wherein, by means of the recirculating ventilator 146, the air flow is correspondingly guided through the associated processing chamber section 105 in the circuit.

[0182] The heat exchanger 128 of the recirculating air module 106 transfers at least part of the thermal energy of the heat transfer medium supplied via the supply flow path 128 to the air flow in the corresponding processing chamber section 105.

[0183] Similarly, at least part of the thermal energy of the heat transfer medium in the supply flow path 128 is also transferred to the fresh gas 114 in the second fresh gas module 118 by means of the corresponding heat exchanger 117.

[0184] The heat transfer medium cooled by heat exchange is guided from the recirculating air module 106 and the second fresh gas module 118 via the return flow path 130 of the heat transfer circuit 122 back to the heating device 124 to be heated again here.

[0185] Each recirculating air module 106 and the second fresh gas module 118 are correspondingly associated with a control and / or regulation device 148, in particular a three-way regulating valve, which is arranged in the supply flow path 128 of the heat transfer circuit 122 upstream of the recirculating air module 106 or the second fresh gas module 118.

[0186] By means of the regulating device 148, the temperature of the air flow circulating in the associated processing chamber section 105 through the recirculating air module 106 and the temperature of the fresh gas 114 conveyed through the second fresh gas module 118 can be controlled and / or regulated.

[0187] The processing device 100 further includes an exhaust gas purification device 150, in particular an electrothermal exhaust gas purification. Particularly preferably, the exhaust gas purification is designed as catalytic afterburning.

[0188] The exhaust gas purification device 150 purifies at least part of the exhaust gas supplied to the processing chamber 104 through the exhaust gas guiding part 152, wherein the exhaust gas guiding part 152 preferably leads out at one of the intermediate processing chamber sections 105.

[0189] As the purified exhaust gas, the purified gas 154 is led out via the purified gas guiding part 155. The purified gas guiding part passes through the heat exchanger 117 of the first fresh gas module 116, and transfers at least part of the heat energy contained in the purified gas to the fresh gas 114 supplied to the processing device 100 in the heat exchanger 117 of the first fresh gas module 116.

[0190] The cooled purified gas 154 is finally led out of the processing device 100 via the top cover.

[0191] The embodiments described below preferably have one or more features and / or advantages related to the first embodiment, and vice versa.

[0192] Figure 2 A second embodiment of the processing device 100 according to the present invention is schematically shown.

[0193] In the second embodiment, the heating device 124 is preferably hydrogen-driven, that is, the preferably liquid heat transfer medium is mainly heated by a hydrogen-driven heating furnace 138.

[0194] For safety reasons, for the hydrogen-driven heating device 124, it is recommended to arrange it outside the building boundary 156 of the processing device 100 (for example, in the open air) or in a separate and well-ventilated building area of the processing device 100.

[0195] The requirement of spatial separation between the heat transfer device 120 and the processing chamber 104 requires other designs for the heat transfer from the heat transfer medium to the processing chamber 104 or the processing chamber section 105 to avoid partial loss of the heat energy stored in the heat transfer medium along the supply flow path 128 or the supply part.

[0196] Therefore, the heat transfer circuit 122 is connected to a heating circuit 160 designed as a heating gas circuit through a centralized heat exchanger 158. The heating circuit 160 has a heating supply flow path 162 starting from the centralized heat exchanger 158 and a heating return flow path 164 returning to the centralized heat exchanger 158.

[0197] In the central heat exchanger 158, thermal energy is transferred from the heat transfer medium guided in the heat transfer circuit 122 to the heating gas circulating in the heating circuit 160 and is guided via the heating supply flow path 162 of the heating circuit 160 to the recirculating air module 106.

[0198] In the heating supply flow path 162 of the heating circuit 160, a fan 166 is arranged, in particular directly downstream of the central heat exchanger 158.

[0199] The recirculating air module 106 in the second embodiment of the processing device 100 does not have a heat exchanger of its own, but is directly supplied with the heated heating gas, which is then mixed with the air flow circulating in the corresponding processing chamber section 105. The recirculating air module 106 can respectively have at least one mixing valve plate (not shown) for this mixing.

[0200] In Figure 2 In the second embodiment shown, in the heating supply flow path 162, each recirculating air module 106 is also associated with a control and / or regulating device 148, by means of which the temperature of the air flow circulated by the corresponding recirculating air module 106 can be controlled and / or regulated.

[0201] The heating gas is guided back to the central heat exchanger 158 via the heating return flow path 164, which is preferably designed as a return channel in the processing chamber 104 and particularly preferably as a triangular channel in the top cover area and extends along the entire processing chamber 104. Here, the thermal energy of the heat transfer circuit 122 is transferred to the heating gas again.

[0202] Each processing chamber section 105 can be associated with a control and / or regulating device 167, by means of which the corresponding volume flow rate of the heating gas guided back to the heating return flow path 164 can be controlled and / or regulated.

[0203] Compared with Figure 1 In the first embodiment shown, alternatively or additionally, a fan 168 is arranged in the exhaust gas guiding section and a fan 170 is arranged at the inlet of the fresh gas supply section 112, which conveys the correspondingly guided air flow in the direction of the exhaust gas purification device 150 or the first fresh gas module 116.

[0204] The second stage of the fresh gas heating section (i.e., the second fresh gas module 118) is optionally connected to the heat transfer circuit 122 depending on the specific situation. In this case, the second fresh gas module 118 has a heat exchanger 117. Alternatively, the second fresh gas module 118 is not connected to the heat transfer circuit 122, but has an electric heating device to replace the heat exchanger 117, and the fresh gas is also heated to the rated temperature of the inlet gate 108 and / or the outlet gate 110 through this electric heating device.

[0205] Figure 3 A third embodiment of the processing device 100 according to the present invention is schematically shown.

[0206] Directly compared with the second embodiment, the heat transfer device 120 is preferably arranged or installed within the building boundary of the processing chamber 104 and is designed as a compact unit 172.

[0207] The compact unit 172 includes a centralized heat exchanger 158 connected to the heating circuit 160, a heat transfer circuit 122, a pumping device 126, and a heating device 124. The pumping device 126 only includes or is a pump 142 due to the shortened supply flow path 128 and return flow path 130. The heating device 124 is or includes an electric heating device 134, especially a medium-voltage alternating current heating device 174.

[0208] Such a compact unit 172 is arranged in the processing device 100 such that a short pipeline for the heating circuit 160 can be achieved. Here, when the medium-voltage alternating current heating device 174 can operate directly at the medium-voltage level of the factory power grid or the equipment power grid, the need for a transformer substation is eliminated.

[0209] Figure 4 The fourth embodiment of the processing device 100 according to the present invention shown Figure 1 differs from the first embodiment in that the processing device 100 includes a plurality of independent processing chambers 104 to replace the processing chamber 104 with a plurality of processing chamber sections 105. Each independent processing chamber 104 accordingly has an inlet gate 108, an outlet gate 110, and only one processing chamber section 105 for processing workpieces.

[0210] Each processing chamber 104 is associated with a recirculating air module 106.

[0211] A fresh air isolation curtain can be designed in the inlet gate 108 and / or the outlet gate 110 to separate the corresponding processing chamber section 105 from the environment in terms of atmosphere. It is also conceivable that, alternatively or complementarily, the inlet gate 108 and / or the outlet gate 110 include or are designed as closing elements, such as doors.

[0212] Figure 5The fifth embodiment of the processing device 100 according to the present invention as shown differs from Figure 1 the first embodiment as shown in that, with reference to the conveying direction (preferably running from left to right in Figures 1 to 5 ), a pre-drying chamber 176 is arranged upstream of the processing chamber 104, in which the workpiece undergoes pre-treatment, such as pre-drying. Thereby, for example, the temperature level in the processing chamber section 105 of the processing chamber 104 can be influenced, in particular reduced.

[0213] In Figure 6 , the heat source 132 of the heating device 124 is a heating gas circuit 178, in which the heat of the heating gas guided in the heating gas circuit 178 is transferred to the heat transfer circuit 122 through a heat exchanger 180.

[0214] Preferably, the heating gas circuit 178 includes an electric heating device 182, a mixing device 184, and at least one, preferably three heat storage units 186 that together form a heat storage.

[0215] Preferably, the heating gas circuit 178 further includes a first blower compressor 190 and a second blower compressor 192 driven by a motor 188, which convey the heating gas flow in the heating gas circuit 178.

[0216] Preferably, the heating gas circuit further includes an acoustic damping unit 194, which reduces the acoustic emissions when fresh air 196 is supplied to the heating gas circuit 178.

[0217] In addition, preferably, the heating gas circuit 178 includes nine controlled and / or regulated valves 198 for controlling and / or regulating the heating gas flow in the circuit 178.

[0218] During normal operation, fresh air 196 that has passed through the acoustic damping unit 194 at the inlet to reduce acoustic emissions is supplied to the heating gas circuit 178.

[0219] The volume flow of the fresh air supply is controlled and / or regulated by a valve 198 arranged downstream of the acoustic damper 194 and preferably piston-controlled and / or regulated.

[0220] The supplied fresh air is conveyed by the first blower compressor 190 in the direction of the electric heating device 182, and the supplied fresh air 196 is heated in the electric heating device 182.

[0221] A mixing device 184 is arranged downstream of the electric heating device 182, which guides the gas heated in the electric heating device 182, i.e., the heating gas, according to its switching position during normal operation.

[0222] Preferably, the mixing device 184 has at least three switching positions.

[0223] In the first switching state, the heating gas supplied by the electric heating device 182 is guided only in the direction of the heat exchanger 180 arranged downstream of the mixing device 184.

[0224] In the second switching state, the heating gas is guided only in the direction of the heat storage unit 186 for storing heat.

[0225] And in the third switching state, the heating gas from the electric heating device 182 is guided in the direction of the heat exchanger 180 while mixing the heat stored in the heat storage unit 186.

[0226] During normal operation, the mixing device 184 guides the heating air in its first switching state in the direction of the heat exchanger 180 through the valve 198 arranged downstream, wherein the valve 198 regulates and / or controls the volume flow rate of the heating gas.

[0227] Therefore, during the so-called normal operation, no heating gas is guided into the heat storage unit 186 for storage.

[0228] The heat exchanger 180 is associated with two valves 198 for guiding the heating gas through the heat exchanger 180 or for guiding the heating gas to pass by the heat exchanger 180.

[0229] In addition, the heat exchanger 180 is associated with a pump 200 that circulates the heating gas flowing through the mixing device 184 through the heat exchanger 180.

[0230] Then, the air flow downstream of the heat exchanger 180 is conveyed in the direction of the electric heating device 184 by means of the second blower compressor 192 for reheating.

[0231] Preferably, two controlled and / or regulated valves 198 are arranged downstream of the second blower compressor 192, and the valves 198 control and / or regulate the volume flow rate in the direction of the electric heating device 182.

[0232] When storing heat in the heat storage unit 186, the mixing device 184 guides the generated heating gas into it in its second switching state, wherein Figure 6 Three parallel heat storage units 186 are shown, and heat is stored in the three heat storage units 186 in parallel.

[0233] It is also conceivable to supply heat only to one heat storage unit 186 or only to a part of the heat storage unit 186. For this purpose, additional valves may be provided between the mixing device 184 and the heat storage unit 186.

[0234] During the charging process, the valves 198 arranged downstream of the respective thermal storage units 186 and associated with the respective thermal storage units 186 are at least partially opened, preferably to allow the residual gas contained in the thermal storage units 186, which is displaced by the supplied heating gas, to flow into the heating gas circuit 178. This residual gas preferably has a lower temperature than the supplied heating gas.

[0235] At the end of the hot charging, the valves 198 associated with the thermal storage units 186 are closed, and preferably, the mixing device 184 is switched to its first operating state.

[0236] In a full-load operation case where, for example, it is necessary to bring the heat exchanger 180 to the required operating temperature within a very short time, the mixing device 184 is switched to its third operating state to preferably temporarily mix the heat stored in the thermal storage units 186 into the gas heated in the electric heating device 182.

[0237] Preferably, once the required operating temperature is reached, the mixing device 184 is switched back to its first switching position, so that no more heat is released from the thermal storage units 186.

[0238] Then, preferably, during a possible downtime or intermittent time or a period with a lower electricity price, heat can be charged again into the thermal storage units 186, for example, to maintain this heat for full-load operation.

[0239] Explanation of reference numerals

[0240] 100 Processing equipment

[0241] 102 Drying equipment

[0242] 104 Processing chamber

[0243] 105 Processing chamber section

[0244] 106 Recirculating air module

[0245] 108 Inlet gate

[0246] 110 Outlet gate

[0247] 112 Fresh gas supply

[0248] 114 Fresh gas

[0249] 116 First fresh gas module

[0250] 117 Heat exchanger

[0251] 118 Second fresh gas module

[0252] 120 Heat transfer equipment

[0253] 122 Heat transfer circuit

[0254] 124 Heating device

[0255] 126 Pumping device

[0256] 128 Supply flow path

[0257] 130 Return flow path

[0258] 132 Heat source

[0259] 134 Electric heating device

[0260] 136 Gas-driven heating furnace

[0261] 138 Hydrogen-driven heating furnace

[0262] 140 Solar-assisted heater

[0263] 142 Pump

[0264] 144 Heat exchanger

[0265] 146 Circulating ventilator

[0266] 148 Control / regulation device

[0267] 150 Exhaust gas purification device

[0268] 152 Exhaust gas guiding part

[0269] 154 Purified gas

[0270] 155 Purified gas guiding part

[0271] 156 Building boundary

[0272] 158 Centralized heat exchanger

[0273] 160 Heating circuit

[0274] 162 Heating supply flow path

[0275] 164 Heating return flow path

[0276] 166 Ventilator

[0277] 167 Control / regulation device

[0278] 168 Ventilator

[0279] 170 Ventilator

[0280] 172 Compact unit

[0281] 174 AC medium-voltage heating device

[0282] 176 Pre-drying chamber

[0283] 178 Heating circuit

[0284] 180 Heat exchanger

[0285] 182 Electric heating device

[0286] 184 Mixing device

[0287] 186 Thermal storage unit

[0288] 188 Motor for the blower compressor

[0289] 190 First blower compressor

[0290] 192 Second blower compressor

[0291] 194 Acoustic damping unit

[0292] 196 Fresh air

[0293] 198 Valve to be controlled and / or regulated

[0294] 200 Pump

Claims

1. A processing device (100) for processing workpieces, in particular a drying device (102) for drying vehicle bodies, comprising: - at least one processing chamber (104) including one or more processing chamber sections (105), wherein the at least one processing chamber (104) and / or the one or more processing chamber sections (105) are each associated with one of a plurality of independent recirculating air modules (106), and wherein each recirculating air module (106) is arranged to direct an independent, circulating air flow; and - a heat transfer device (120) for indirectly heating the air flow, which includes a heating device (124), wherein, a) at least one recirculating air module (106) has a heat exchanger (144), and the corresponding recirculating air module (106) is coupled to the heat transfer device (120) through the heat exchanger; and / or b) a plurality of recirculating air modules (106) are connected to one or more heating circuits (160), in particular a heating gas circuit, and the heating circuit is coupled to the heat transfer device (120) via a centralized heat exchanger (158).

2. The processing device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat transfer device (120) includes: - a closed heat transfer circuit (122) having at least one supply flow path (128) and at least one return flow path (130), and a liquid heat transfer medium, in particular heat-conducting oil, water or ionic liquid, circulates in the heat transfer circuit.

3. The processing device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heating device (124) includes at least one, preferably at least two different heat sources (132), wherein the heat sources (132) are designed as a) an electric heating device (134), and / or b) a gas-driven heating furnace (136), and / or c) a hydrogen-driven heating furnace (138), and / or d) a solar-assisted heater (140), and / or e) a heating gas circuit (178).

4. The processing device (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that a) at least one of the heat sources (132) can be replaced by other heat sources (132); and / or b) at least two different heat sources (132) can operate in parallel and / or alternately.

5. The processing device (100) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the heat of the heating gas circuit (178) can be transferred to the heat transfer circuit (122) through at least one heat exchanger (180), and the heating gas circuit (178) includes: - at least one electric heating device (182) for heating the heating gas, - at least one mixing device (184) arranged downstream of the at least one electric heating device (182), and - at least one heat storage unit (186) for storing and releasing heat, wherein the at least one heat storage unit (186) is connected to the at least one mixing device (184) in a fluid-acting manner.

6. The processing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the heat transfer device (120) comprises a pumping device (126) with at least one pump (142) for conveying the heat transfer medium through at least a part of the heating device (124) and the heat transfer circuit (122).

7. The processing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the processing device (100) comprises an exhaust gas purification device (150), in particular an electrothermal exhaust gas purification device, for purifying exhaust gas that can be supplied from the processing chamber (104) to the exhaust gas purification device (150) via an exhaust gas guide (152), wherein the exhaust gas purification device (150) discharges the purified gas (154) obtained by purification from the processing device (100) via a purified gas guide (155).

8. The processing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each of the one or more heating circuits (160) comprises at least one heating supply flow path (162) and at least one heating return flow path (164), and wherein heating gas can be introduced into and discharged from the at least one processing chamber (104) through the one or more heating circuits (160).

9. The processing device (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one pumping device, in particular a ventilator (166), is arranged in the heating supply flow path (162) and / or the heating return flow path (164), and the heating gas or the heat transfer medium can be conveyed in the heating circuit (160) through the pumping device.

10. The processing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the heating device (124) is arranged spatially separated from the processing chamber (104), and is preferably arranged in an open area or a well-ventilated room or building area.

11. The processing device (100) according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the heat transfer device (120) is designed as a compact unit (172), in which at least the heating mechanism (124), the central heat exchanger (158) and the heat transfer circuit (122) are integrated.

12. The processing device (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that the heat source (132) of the heating mechanism (124) is or comprises an electric heating device (134), in particular an alternating current medium voltage heating device (170).

13. The processing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the processing chamber (104) has an inlet gate (108) and / or an outlet gate (110), and fresh gas (114) can be supplied to the inlet gate (108) and / or the outlet gate (110) via a fresh gas supply (112).

14. The processing device (100) according to claim 13, characterized in that, at least one fresh gas module (116, 118) is arranged in the fresh gas supply section (112), and the supplied fresh gas (114) can be temperature-controlled, in particular heated, by means of the fresh gas module.

15. The processing device (100) according to claim 14, characterized in that, a first fresh gas module (116) is arranged in the fresh gas supply section (112), at least part of the thermal energy of the purified gas (154) can be transferred to the fresh gas (114) by means of the fresh gas module, and a second fresh gas module (118) is arranged downstream of the first fresh gas module (116), and the fresh gas can be heated to a rated temperature by means of the second fresh gas module.

16. The processing device (100) according to claim 15, characterized in that, the second fresh gas module (118) includes an electric heating device and / or is connected to the heat transfer circuit (122).

17. The processing device (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 16, characterized in that, each recirculating air module (106) is associated with at least one control and / or regulation device (148), in particular a three-way regulating valve, to control and / or regulate the temperature of the air flow guided by the recirculating air module (106), wherein preferably the control and / or regulation device (148) is arranged in the supply flow path (128) of the heat transfer circuit (122) and / or the heating supply flow path (162) of the heating circuit (160).

18. A method for processing workpieces, in particular for drying vehicle bodies, wherein, the method comprises the following steps: - causing an air flow guided in a plurality of independent circuits to flow through a plurality of processing chamber sections (105) of one or more processing chambers (104) of a processing device (100), wherein the air flow is guided by independent recirculating air modules (106), and the recirculating air modules are correspondingly associated with the processing chamber sections (105); - heating the air flow by means of a heat transfer circuit (122) of a heat transfer device (120), the heat transfer device including a heating device (124), wherein the thermal energy contained in the heat transfer medium of the heat transfer circuit (122) a) is transferred to the air flow through a heat exchanger (144) of the recirculating air module (106); and / or b) is transferred to one or more heating circuits (160), in particular a heating gas circuit, through a centralized heat exchanger (158), and the heating gas is mixed with the air flow through the recirculating air module (106) by means of the heating circuit.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, the heating device (124) has i) at least one replaceable heat source; and / or ii) at least two different heat sources for heating the heat transfer medium in parallel and / or alternately.

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