Annular Spraying System for Glass Wool Anti-Dust Application
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass wool production methods face challenges in effectively spraying and distributing anti-dust agents, particularly with the use of biobased binders which are more viscous and require additional water, leading to evaporation issues and reduced effectiveness of anti-dust properties.
Innovation Solution
A system with two separate annular spraying elements is used, where a first element sprays the sizing composition and a second element sprays the anti-dust agent, specifically whole oil, downstream of the binder application, ensuring the anti-dust agent is positioned on the fiber surface for improved effectiveness and reducing water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If oil-in-water emulsion is used as anti-dust agent, then the anti-dust properties are provided, but water evaporation occurs and transport costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water component from the anti-dust agent formulation by using pure oil instead of oil-in-water emulsion. This eliminates the water that would otherwise evaporate during fiber processing, while maintaining the dust-retaining properties through the oil component alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex emulsion system with a simpler pure oil formulation. This simpler formulation reduces transport costs by eliminating water content and associated evaporation losses, while still providing effective anti-dust properties through direct oil application to fibers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If biobased binder is used, then environmental friendliness is improved, but viscosity increases and water usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes excess water from the binder system by using biobased oils directly as both binder and anti-dust agent. This extraction of unnecessary water reduces the quantity of substance that needs to be handled, transported, and evaporated, while maintaining environmental friendliness through biobased materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The biobased oil serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the binder holding fibers together, provides anti-dust properties, and eliminates the need for separate water-based emulsion systems. This multi-functionality reduces overall water usage while maintaining environmental benefits.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate spraying elements are used for binder and anti-dust agent, then application precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the binder and anti-dust agent into a single pure oil formulation that is applied through a unified spraying system. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate spraying elements while maintaining application precision, as the single formulation provides both binding and anti-dust functions in one application step.
Solution Approach 2:
The pure oil formulation serves as both binder and anti-dust agent, allowing a single spraying element to perform both functions. This universality reduces device complexity by eliminating redundant spraying mechanisms while maintaining the precision needed for effective fiber coating and dust protection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the anti-dust properties of glass wool by ensuring the anti-dust agent is directly applied to the fiber surface, reducing dust presence, and conserves water and transport costs by eliminating the need for oil emulsions, while maintaining product quality and stability.
Implementation Method 1
a first annular element for spraying a sizing composition... each spray nozzle associated with this first crown is configured to receive on the one hand a quantity of this binder and on the other hand a quantity of compressed air via an independent feed to spray binder
Implementation Method 2
a second annular element for spraying the anti-dust agent... configured so that the annular crown comprises two separate distribution circuits, among which a first distribution circuit makes it possible to convey the anti-dust agent and a second distribution circuit makes it possible to convey compressed air
Implementation Method 3
receive on the one hand a quantity of this binder and on the other hand a quantity of compressed air via an independent feed to spray binder when the glass fibers pass
Implementation Method 4
the mat thus formed is then directed toward an oven forming the crosslinking station, in which the mat is simultaneously dried and subjected to a specific heat treatment which causes polymerization
Implementation Method 5
subjected to a specific heat treatment which causes polymerization (or 'curing') of the binder resin
Data Source
AI summary
A system for spraying products onto glass fibers, designed to spray at least one sizing composition and an anti-dust agent onto the glass fibers includes two separate annular spraying elements which are successively arranged on the path of the glass fibers, the two spraying elements including a first annular element for spraying the sizing composition and a second annular element for spraying the anti-dust agent, each one embodied by at least one specific annular crown surrounding the glass fibers. The second annular element for spraying the anti-dust agent is arranged downstream of the first annular element for spraying the sizing composition in relation to the path of the glass fibers.