Concentric Duct System for Printing Dryer Airflow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional duct systems for high-performance dryers in printing systems are inefficient due to heat transfer losses and pressure drops over long distances, occupy significant floor space, and complicate maintenance, as they require a large number of flexible tubes connecting airflow components to air handling units located outside the dryer.
Innovation Solution
A concentric duct system with a central hub featuring stacked supply and return plenums that attaches to the side of the dryer, allowing for closer proximity to air intake/return devices, reducing floor space usage and enhancing efficiency by using easily removable ducts to connect airflow components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional duct system with flexible tubes is used to connect airflow components to air handling units outside the dryer, then air supply and removal can be achieved, but heat transfer losses and pressure drops increase due to long distances
Solution Approach 1:
The air handling unit is repositioned from an external location (separate spatial dimension) to an integrated location within the dryer structure (same spatial dimension), reducing the distance between airflow components and air handling units, thereby minimizing heat transfer losses and pressure drops
2Area of stationary object
If a conventional duct system with multiple flexible tubes and large air handling equipment is used, then airflow components can be connected, but a large amount of floor space is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The air handling unit is merged with the dryer structure, integrating previously separate components into a unified system. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate floor space allocation while reducing overall system complexity by combining air supply and removal functions within the existing dryer footprint
3Ease of repair
If a conventional duct system with numerous flexible tubes is used, then airflow can be distributed to components, but maintenance and servicing become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The air handling unit is extracted from the external environment and repositioned within the dryer structure, eliminating the need for numerous external flexible tube connections. This extraction simplifies the system architecture and improves maintenance accessibility by reducing the number of connection points and components that require servicing
4Productivity
If air handling equipment is placed outside the dryer, then system separation is maintained, but the distance between airflow components and air handling unit increases reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The air handling unit is repositioned from an external location to an internal location within the dryer structure, fundamentally changing the spatial relationship between airflow components and air handling equipment. This dimensional repositioning reduces transmission distances and improves drying efficiency
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 concentric duct system improves airflow efficiency, reduces heat loss and pressure drops, minimizes floor space occupation, and facilitates easier maintenance by consolidating airflow components closer to the dryer, thereby enhancing the overall performance and serviceability of the drying process.
Implementation Method 1
web conditioners configured to heat a web of print media
Implementation Method 2
supply ducts configured to connect the supply nodes and the intake ports of the dryer, and return ducts configured to connect the return nodes and the outlet ports of the dryer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Systems for concentric duct system (700) for a dryer of a printing system. One embodiment includes a dryer of a printing system and a duct system (700). The dryer includes web conditioners sources to condition a web of print media, intake ports (420) to supply air for the web conditioners, and outlet ports (430) to remove air for the web conditioners. The duct system (700) includes a supply hub (550) and a return hub (750). The supply hub (550) includes a tubular body (680) with a lower portion (682) and an upper portion, and supply nodes (690) around the lower portion (682). The return hub (750) includes a body around the upper portion of the supply hub (550), and return nodes (890) around the body. The duct system (700) further includes supply ducts (520) to connect the supply nodes (690) and the intake ports (420), and return ducts (720) to connect the return nodes (890) and the outlet ports (430).