Longitudinal RF Field Drying Polymeric Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plants for drying and solid state polycondensing polymeric materials face issues with non-uniform heating due to transverse electromagnetic fields, leading to low molecular weight polymers and inefficient thermal treatment, which increases treatment time and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A plant with a feed conduit made of dielectric material and radiating means emitting an alternating electromagnetic field in the radio-frequency band, with field lines parallel to the material flow, ensuring uniform heating and efficient drying and polycondensation of polymeric materials in granular form.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If transverse electromagnetic fields are used for heating polymeric material, then thermal treatment can be achieved, but uniform heating cannot be ensured leading to low molecular weight polymers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional transverse electromagnetic field configuration by using longitudinal electromagnetic fields where the field lines are parallel to the material flow direction instead of perpendicular. This inversion enables uniform heating throughout the material while maintaining effective thermal treatment for polycondensation reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of electromagnetic field orientation from transverse to longitudinal configuration. By altering the field direction parameter, the system achieves both effective heating and uniform temperature distribution, resolving the contradiction between thermal treatment effectiveness and heating uniformity.
2Reliability
If electromagnetic flux lines are transverse relative to material feed, then material can be treated, but flow rate must be very low increasing treatment time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional transverse electromagnetic field configuration by using longitudinal electromagnetic fields where the field lines are parallel to the material flow direction instead of perpendicular. This inversion enables uniform heating throughout the material while maintaining effective thermal treatment for polycondensation reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of electromagnetic field orientation from transverse to longitudinal configuration. By altering the field direction parameter, the system achieves both effective heating and uniform temperature distribution, resolving the contradiction between thermal treatment effectiveness and heating uniformity.
3Power
If conventional electromagnetic field configuration is used, then treatment can be performed, but thermal efficiency is very low and energy consumption is very high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of electromagnetic field orientation from transverse to longitudinal configuration. By altering the field direction parameter, the system achieves both effective heating and uniform temperature distribution, resolving the contradiction between thermal treatment effectiveness and heating uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal electromagnetic field configuration creates localized and targeted heating zones along the material flow path, improving energy utilization efficiency. The field energy is concentrated where needed rather than being distributed inefficiently as in transverse configurations, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
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 achieves uniform thermal treatment, significantly reducing moisture content and increasing viscosity of polymers, resulting in high molecular weight polymers with shorter treatment times and improved thermal efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
radiating means for emitting an alternating electromagnetic field in the radio-frequency band, with field lines parallel to the material flow, for thermal treatment of the polymeric material
Implementation Method 2
a feed conduit made of dielectric material and radiating means emitting an alternating electromagnetic field in the radio-frequency band
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A plant (1) for drying and solid state polycondensing a moisture-containing polymeric material (M) in granular form, comprising a conduit (2) for feeding the material to be treated in a longitudinal direction (L), at least one treatment zone (7) for treating the polymeric material, means (6) for blowing an inert gas into the conduit, radiating means (8) for emitting an alternating electromagnetic field in the radio-frequency band and comprising a plurality of applicators (9) located in correspondence of said treatment zone and external to the conduit in longitudinally offset positions; said applicators are connected to the terminals of an electromagnetic wave generator (10) and comprise pairs of opposed radiating elements (11, 11') which are adapted to generate an alternating electromagnetic field in the conduit; the pairs of radiating elements defining magnetic dipoles with opposite polarities along the conduit. Further claimed is a method of drying and solid state polycondensing a polymeric material in granular form obtained by polycondensation using the plant.