IR Reflective Cavity Stacked Heating Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating installations for thermoplastic preforms are inefficient in terms of electrical energy consumption, leading to high operational costs for thermoplastic container manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A heating installation featuring a reflective device with elongated, stacked IR-reflective cavities made of heat-conductive material, designed to optimize infrared radiation distribution and reduce energy losses by minimizing double reflections and allowing for customizable thermal profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional heating installations with multiple separate radiating lamps and optical reflectors are used, then heating coverage is achieved, but electrical energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate radiating lamps and optical reflectors into a single integrated reflective device with multiple cavities. Each cavity houses a lamp and reflects infrared radiation through its aperture, merging previously separate components into one unified structure that reduces energy losses and improves heating efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective device introduces a new spatial dimension by stacking cavities vertically with protrusions separating them. This three-dimensional arrangement allows multiple lamps to be positioned at different heights and angles, enabling optimized radiation distribution across the heating zone without increasing horizontal space requirements
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate radiating lamps with optical reflectors are used, then heating function is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate lamp and reflector assemblies into a single integrated reflective device where all cavities and lamps form one unified structure, simplifying installation and maintenance while reducing the number of separate components that need to be handled individually
3Loss of energy
If conventional heating lamp assemblies are used, then heating is provided, but energy losses occur due to double reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective device is segmented into multiple separate cavities, each with its own lamp and reflector configuration. This segmentation allows each cavity to be optimized independently for minimal double reflections, with protrusions positioned to prevent radiation from one cavity interfering with another, thereby reducing energy losses
Solution Approach 2:
Each cavity in the reflective device has locally optimized geometry and reflector positioning tailored to its specific location in the stack. This local optimization ensures that radiation patterns are customized for each position, minimizing double reflections and energy losses specific to each cavity's orientation and location
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 reduces electrical energy consumption by concentrating radiation efficiently, allowing for precise heating profiles and lower lamp power or fewer lamps, thereby decreasing operational costs and improving energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heating installation for heating by infrared (IR) radiation objects essentially composed of a heat sensitive material
Implementation Method 2
heating by infrared (IR) radiation objects essentially composed of a heat sensitive material
Implementation Method 3
the reflective device is made as at least one integral block of at least one heat-conductive material
Implementation Method 4
a reflective device exhibiting a plurality of elongated and opened IR-reflective cavities
Data Source
AI summary
The installation (10) is adapted for the heat treatment of objects, such as plastic preforms (17), and comprises a reflective device exhibiting a plurality of elongated and opened IR-reflective cavities stacked one onto the other according to a stacking axis and arranged to lodge elongated IR lamps (16) within, where the aperture of each cavity faces generally a main axis parallel to the stacking axis along which the object would be placed. The reflective device (20) further comprises protrusions separating the cavities one to the other and extending generally transversal/transverse to the stacking axis, the reflective device being made as at least one integral block of a heat-conductive material. The cavities may each comprise a curved bottom portion and two opposite side surfaces provided with respective longitudinal breaks of slope at a junction with the curved bottom.