Closed-Loop Heating Gas Duct for Energy-Efficient Workpiece Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing treatment systems for drying coated vehicle bodies are not energy-efficient and lack a simple design for effective air circulation and heating.

Innovation Solution

A treatment system with a self-contained heating gas duct that recirculates heated gas through circulating air modules, allowing for efficient heating and energy use, and includes a separate fresh gas supply to maintain desired temperatures and prevent gas release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a conventional heating system is used without a self-contained heating gas duct, then the system design is simpler, but energy efficiency is reduced due to heat loss and inability to maintain constant temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is segmented into a self-contained heating gas duct that is separate from the circulating air modules. This allows the heating gas to be circulated independently in a closed loop, maintaining heat within the heating system rather than mixing with the air circulation, thereby improving energy efficiency while keeping the overall system modular and manageable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heating gas duct acts as an intermediary system that provides thermal energy to the circulating air modules without being directly integrated into the air circulation path. This separation allows for efficient heat transfer to the treatment room sections while maintaining independent control over heating and air circulation, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If heating gas is not recirculated through a closed duct, then the system design is simpler, but temperature constancy and energy efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature constancyVSAvoidduct system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating gas is continuously recirculated through a closed duct system, ensuring that thermal energy is continuously available in the treatment room sections. This continuous circulation maintains constant temperatures without requiring repeated heating cycles, improving temperature stability while the closed-loop design ensures energy is not lost but continuously reused

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The closed heating gas duct system provides a feedback mechanism where the same heating gas is repeatedly circulated through the treatment room sections and back to the heating source. This continuous feedback loop allows for maintaining consistent temperatures by constantly replenishing thermal energy in the treatment zones, resolving the contradiction between temperature constancy and system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of energy

If fresh gas supply is not provided separately, then the system is simpler, but gas release and energy loss increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy lossVSAvoidgas supply system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fresh gas supply is extracted as a separate, independent system from the heating and air circulation systems. This separate fresh gas feed ensures that fresh gas can be supplied to maintain proper gas composition and pressure without interfering with the closed-loop heating gas circulation, preventing energy loss from gas release while maintaining system modularity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The separate fresh gas supply system serves multiple functions: it maintains proper gas composition in the treatment room, prevents energy loss by compensating for any gas release, and works in conjunction with both the heating gas duct and circulating air modules. This multi-functional approach addresses energy conservation needs without requiring complex integration with other system components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The system achieves energy-efficient workpiece treatment by maintaining constant temperatures and preventing gas release, ensuring effective drying of vehicle bodies while minimizing energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

a heating system with a self-contained heating gas duct which is coupled to the circulating air modules, by means of which the gas to be supplied to the treatment room sections can be heated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas circulation and heating: Convection

Implementation Method 2

The heating gas preferably has a higher temperature than the gas flow in the air circulation modules and/or treatment room sections

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3387354B1Treatment plant and process for treating workpieces
Publication Date: 2021.07.07 DUERR SYST AG
  • EP3387354B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3387354B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3387354B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a treatment installation that is simply constructed and enables energy-efficient treatment of workpieces, which treatment installation comprises the following: a treatment space, which comprises a plurality of treatment-space sections, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of separate circulating-air modules of the treatment installation; a heating installation, which comprises a heating gas conduit closed in itself, wherein a plurality of circulating-air modules are coupled to the heating gas conduit, in particular for the heating of the gas conducted through the treatment-space sections.