Hollow Heating Plate Drying System for Pasty Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying installations for pasty products, such as sewage sludge, face issues with mechanical reliability, frequent maintenance needs, and high energy consumption, while also requiring effective sealing to maintain energy efficiency and prevent odor and health hazards.
Innovation Solution
A thermal installation with a sealed chamber using mechanical vapor compression (MVC) and hollow heating plates with a 'C' shape, featuring lateral heat transfer fluid channels for efficient heat exchange and easy maintenance, along with a steam circuit for vapor recycling and a pressurized introduction device to ensure tightness and purity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional indirect contact dryers with horizontal rotors and heating discs are used, then drying effectiveness is improved through thin layer formation, but mechanical reliability deteriorates due to frequent maintenance needs
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into multiple independent hollow heating plates arranged vertically instead of a single complex horizontal rotor system. Each plate can be independently accessed and maintained, reducing overall system downtime and improving reliability while maintaining effective drying surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft and arm mechanism is extracted from the heating plate structure. The heating plates are now stationary and hollow, eliminating the mechanical wear components (rotating shafts, arms, and scrapers) that caused frequent maintenance issues, while still achieving thin layer drying through the hollow plate design.
2Productivity
If conventional heating systems with complex rotor mechanisms are used, then drying performance is improved, but maintenance complexity increases due to frequent mechanical failures
Solution Approach 1:
The complex rotor, shaft, and arm mechanism is completely extracted from the heating system. Stationary hollow heating plates replace the rotating components, eliminating mechanical wear points and making the system maintenance-free regarding moving parts, while drying performance is maintained through the hollow plate geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating plates are designed as simple, replaceable components without complex mechanisms. If a plate becomes damaged or inefficient, it can be easily removed and replaced without affecting other components, reducing maintenance complexity and downtime.
3Productivity
If conventional energy consumption methods are used, then drying capacity is maintained, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to high operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes phase transition of water (evaporation and condensation) as the core drying mechanism. The hollow heating plates efficiently transfer thermal energy to evaporate moisture from the material, and the phase change process itself provides the driving force for moisture removal, improving energy efficiency while maintaining drying capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow heating plates serve multiple functions: they provide heating surface area for drying, create thin layer geometry for improved heat transfer, and can be arranged in various configurations to handle different material volumes, maintaining drying capacity across different operational scenarios while optimizing energy use.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If sealed chambers are used to prevent odor and heat loss, then environmental safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to sealing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed chamber is segmented into modular sections that can be independently sealed and accessed. The stationary hollow heating plates create natural sealing planes at their interfaces, allowing for simpler gasket and joint designs compared to a fully enclosed rotating system, reducing sealing complexity while maintaining environmental safety.
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 solution enhances mechanical reliability, reduces maintenance complexity, improves energy efficiency by utilizing latent heat, and ensures complete sealing and vapor purity, leading to a more efficient and cost-effective drying process.
Implementation Method 1
energy is transferred via an exchange surface by conduction
Implementation Method 2
a heat transfer fluid circulates
Implementation Method 3
said heat transfer fluid is a phase change fluid condensing at least partially in the plates
Implementation Method 4
improves energy efficiency by utilizing latent heat
Implementation Method 5
mechanical vapor compression (MVC)
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a thermal installation (1) for drying pasty material, comprising a chamber (2) receiving said pasty material, in which is disposed at least one pair of rotors (20a, 20b) arranged side by side each comprising a shaft (22a, 22b) carrying arms (21a, 21b) which rotate between heating plates (23a, 23b) scraping them, at least one heating plate (23a, 23b) being a hollow heat exchanger within which a heat transfer fluid circulates, and having a concave shape defining a substantially radial channel (C) for the transverse passage of a shaft (22a, 22b);the installation (1) being characterized in that said channel (C) extends substantially laterally so as to define within the heating plate (23a, 23b) an upper part (PS) and a lower part (PI) separated by said channel (C), one of which has an inlet of the heat transfer fluid, and the other has an outlet of the heat transfer fluid, said inlet and outlet of heat transfer fluid extending substantially laterally in a manner opposite to the channel (C).;