Heating Module Surface Cooling for Preforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heating modules for preforms in the production of plastic bottles face inefficiencies due to high energy consumption, leading to premature lamp failures and reduced lamp life, as well as inadequate cooling of preforms and radiators, which affects the quality of the final product.
Innovation Solution
A heating module with a mechanically adjustable adjustment device to control the flow and direction of coolant streams for both preform surface cooling and radiator cooling, combined with an optimized cooling shield that reflects thermal radiation back into the heating path, reducing energy waste and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the heating tunnel is narrowed to improve energy efficiency, then energy consumption is reduced, but lamp bulb temperatures rise too high causing premature lamp failures
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is segmented into multiple targeted zones: mouth area cooling, surface cooling, and radiator cooling. Each zone has dedicated cooling elements that can be independently controlled to protect specific components from overheating while maintaining overall heating efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Cooling air is introduced as an intermediary substance that selectively removes excess heat from critical areas (mouth, surface, radiators) without interfering with the overall heating process. The cooling air acts as a mediator between the heat source and the components that need temperature control.
2Reliability
If multiple separate cooling systems are used for mouth area, surface, and radiators, then each component is adequately cooled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single cooling air supply system serves multiple functions by distributing cooled air to different locations (mouth area, preform surface, and radiators) through strategically positioned cooling elements. This multi-functional approach reduces the number of separate systems while maintaining adequate cooling for all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system utilizes the spatial dimension by positioning cooling elements at different heights and locations within the heating tunnel. Cooling air is introduced at multiple levels to simultaneously cool the mouth area, surface, and radiators, effectively using three-dimensional space to reduce system complexity.
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 enhances energy efficiency by reducing the need for multiple coolant generators, saving costs and space, while ensuring even heating and preventing overheating of preforms and radiators, thereby extending lamp life and improving product quality.
Implementation Method 1
an optimized cooling shield that reflects thermal radiation back into the heating path
Implementation Method 2
heating devices which supply heat to the preform by means of IR radiation
Implementation Method 3
cooling the preforms, the head of the preform and the infrared heating lamps
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a heating module for heating preforms for further processing in a stretch blow molding machine, and to a method for cooling the surface of preforms and/or for cooling the infrared emitters. The heating module comprises at least one means for generating a nozzle coolant flow for cooling the nozzle area of the preforms, at least one means for generating a surface coolant flow for cooling the surface of the preforms, and at least one means for generating an infrared emitter coolant flow for cooling the infrared emitters. The heating module includes at least one mechanically adjustable control device for controlling the quantity and/or direction of the surface coolant flow. Furthermore, the heating module includes a cooling shield arranged above the infrared emitters at the level of the nozzle area of the preforms.The cooling shield has an underside that faces the IR emitters and has particularly good heat-reflecting properties.