Internal-Fan Sterilization Chamber for Uniform Web Heating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterilization methods for packaging materials face challenges in achieving homogeneous heating and risk overheating, which can lead to blistering of thermoplastic coatings and constructional damages due to the lack of controlled heat distribution and unexpected process shutdowns.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization chamber with internal fans and heaters that drive a circulating heated gas flow around the packaging material web, ensuring even heating and controlled temperature through thermocouples and a control system, while also using a sterilization bath for initial agent application and squeegee rollers for excess agent removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heating elements are used for evaporation of sterilization agent, then sterilization effect is improved, but homogeneous heating is difficult to achieve and risk of overheating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fan-driven gas circulation system that uses pneumatic flow to distribute heated air uniformly throughout the sterilization chamber. The fan creates a continuous flow of heated gas that contacts the packaging material web from multiple directions, ensuring homogeneous heating without localized hot spots that could cause blistering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses circulating heated gas as an intermediary medium between the heating elements and the packaging material. Instead of direct contact heating that causes uneven temperature distribution, the heated gas acts as a buffer that evenly distributes thermal energy across the material surface, preventing overheating and blistering.
2Productivity
If high temperature heating is applied for sterilization, then sterilization speed is improved, but blistering of thermoplastic coating occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a fan-driven pneumatic system to circulate heated gas uniformly across the packaging material surface. This distributed heat transfer method maintains high overall sterilization temperature while preventing localized hot spots that would cause blistering of the thermoplastic coating, thus achieving both high productivity and coating integrity.
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 provides uniform heating and controlled sterilization, preventing blistering and constructional damages, while maintaining effective sterilization and evaporation of sterilizing agents, ensuring safe and reliable operation with adjustable gas concentration and temperature.
Implementation Method 1
an internal fan with a heater for driving a circulating heated gas flow inside the chamber and towards and around the packaging material web
Implementation Method 2
an internal fan with a heater for driving a circulating heated gas flow inside the chamber
Implementation Method 3
the packaging material web is normally subjected to heat in order to sterilize the web additionally and/or to remove excess sterilizing agent
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a sterilization chamber (1) for sterilizing a web (3) of packaging material passing through the sterilization chamber (1), comprising an air-distribution system and heating elements (13a, 13b) arranged to heat the web (3), and a fan (11a, 11b) is provided at an end of the sterilization chamber (1), for driving a circulating flow therein, and where a heater (13a, 13b) is arranged at the outlet of said fan (11a, 11b). A method of operating the sterilization chamber is also disclosed, comprising the steps of a) feeding a packaging material web (3) through a sterilizing agent bath, and then into a sterilization chamber (1), b) driving a gas flow inside said chamber (1) with a fan (11a; 11b), c) heating the air leaving the outlet of the fan (11a; 11b) with a heater (13a; 13b), and d) directing the flow from the outlet of the fan (11a; 11b) towards the packaging material web (3) and on towards the inlet of the fan (11a; 11b).