Drying Cabin Infrared Control for Paint Surface Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current painting and drying systems face inefficiencies in controlling interior booth temperatures, leading to potential overheating, quality impairments, and unnecessary energy waste, as they rely on indirect temperature measurements and manual operation modes without real-time object temperature feedback.
Innovation Solution
A system with a non-contact temperature sensor, such as an infrared sensor, is integrated into the drying booth to measure the object's surface temperature directly, coupled with a control and regulation device that adjusts the fan and heating device to achieve a predetermined surface temperature, along with blow-out nozzles for turbulence, enabling precise temperature control and energy optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the booth's air intake temperature is measured and regulated using a temperature sensor located in the supply air duct, then the booth air temperature can be controlled, but the actual object surface temperature cannot be accurately determined, leading to potential overheating or insufficient drying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based temperature sensor (thermocouple or RTD) with a non-contact infrared temperature sensor. This optical sensor measures the object's surface temperature by detecting infrared radiation, eliminating the need for physical contact and complex sensor installation while providing accurate real-time temperature data of the actual drying surface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical system (infrared sensor with aiming device) that mediates between the heating system and the object. The sensor acts as an information intermediary, providing real-time temperature feedback without interfering with the thermal field, while the aiming device serves as a spatial intermediary to ensure precise measurement of the target surface area
2Reliability
If the heating device operates at high power to ensure complete drying, then drying quality improves, but energy consumption increases unnecessarily when the object reaches the target temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback control system where the infrared temperature sensor continuously monitors the object's surface temperature and feeds this information back to the control unit. The controller compares the measured temperature with the target temperature and dynamically adjusts the heating device power accordingly, reducing energy consumption once the target temperature is reached while ensuring complete drying quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static heating process into a dynamic controlled process. The heating power is no longer fixed but varies continuously based on real-time temperature measurements. The system adapts its heating intensity to the object's thermal state, providing high power when needed for drying quality and reducing power when the target is approached, optimizing energy utilization
3Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor has a small opening angle to measure a specific surface area, then measurement precision improves, but the sensor becomes difficult to align with the target object
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical intermediary device (laser aiming beam or alignment light) that projects the measurement field boundaries onto the object surface. This intermediary visual guide makes it easy to align the sensor with the target area, as operators can simply position the sensor until the alignment indicator shows the correct measurement zone, eliminating complex manual alignment procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual indicators (alignment lights or laser beams) that change the visual appearance of the measurement field. The alignment device projects visible light patterns that show operators whether the sensor is correctly positioned and aimed at the target surface area, providing immediate visual feedback for proper alignment without requiring precise mechanical adjustments
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 solution ensures higher quality paint drying, reduces energy consumption by adapting heating to the object's temperature, and automates temperature control, saving time and energy by dynamically adjusting heating and air output based on the object's temperature, while providing operators with essential parameters like remaining drying time.
Implementation Method 1
a non-contact temperature sensor (4), in this case an infrared sensor, is provided, which senses the temperature without contact on the surface of the object (3) to be heated and/or dried
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The system has a contactless working temperature sensor (4) provided in or at a drying and/or painting cabin (1). The sensor senses temperature at a surface of an object (3) i.e. car, to be dried and painted, in a contactless manner. A control- and regulation device is provided to evaluate signals of the temperature sensor. The control- and regulation device controls a blowing- and heating device (2) depending on the sensed surface temperature of the object for achieving a predetermined surface temperature value of the object. The sensor is formed by an infrared sensor and a pyrometer.