Multi-Angle Microwave Drying for Honeycomb Bodies
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Solution Overview
Problem
The microwave drying method for honeycomb formed bodies often results in non-uniform drying, leading to deformation and cracking, particularly in bodies with high water content, large size, thick partition walls, and small opening areas, due to variations in drying speed across the structure.
Innovation Solution
A drying apparatus with adjustable microwave irradiation ports directed in multiple angles within the drying chamber, allowing for uniform microwave distribution and preventing deformation and cracking by ensuring consistent water evaporation across the honeycomb structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If microwave drying is applied to honeycomb formed bodies, then drying speed is improved, but uniformity of drying across the structure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The microwave irradiation system is segmented into multiple independent waveguides positioned at different locations and angles around the drying chamber. Each waveguide can be independently controlled to irradiate specific regions of the honeycomb formed body, allowing differential drying rates to be compensated and uniform drying to be achieved across the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the drying chamber are provided with waveguides having different irradiation characteristics (positions, angles, power levels) tailored to the specific drying needs of each region. This local customization of microwave irradiation quality ensures that areas with slower drying rates receive enhanced irradiation while already-dried areas receive reduced irradiation, achieving uniform overall drying.
2Productivity
If microwave drying is applied to honeycomb formed bodies with high water content, large size, or thick partition walls, then drying capability is improved, but occurrence of drying cracks and deformation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple waveguides are strategically positioned and angled to provide preliminary uniform microwave distribution throughout the honeycomb formed body before significant drying occurs. This preliminary action ensures that water is removed uniformly from all regions including the center and thick partition walls, preventing the development of stress differentials that would lead to cracking and deformation during subsequent drying stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates control mechanisms that monitor drying progress and adjust waveguide power levels in real-time. Based on feedback from drying rate measurements, the control system increases power to regions that are drying slowly (such as the center and thick walls) and decreases power to regions that are drying quickly, thereby maintaining uniform moisture content and preventing crack formation throughout the drying process.
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 apparatus enables uniform drying of honeycomb formed bodies, reducing the occurrence of drying cracks and maintaining the structural integrity of the honeycomb, even in challenging configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a microwave generator (35) generating microwaves to be irradiated to the undried honeycomb formed body
Implementation Method 2
a drying apparatus for a honeycomb formed body which is capable of obtaining a dried honeycomb formed body by irradiating with microwaves and microwave-heating an undried honeycomb formed body
Implementation Method 3
thereby evaporating water from the inside and the outside of the undried honeycomb formed body
Data Source
AI summary
A drying apparatus for honeycomb formed bodies includes: a drying chamber having a drying space to store undried honeycomb formed bodies; a microwave generator that generates microwaves; and a plurality of waveguides for introducing the microwaves into the drying chamber. On side surfaces of the drying chamber, provided is a plurality of microwave introduction ports for introducing the microwaves generated by the microwave generator into the drying space inside the drying chamber, the waveguides are disposed at the microwave introduction ports, and irradiation ports of the waveguides are provided directed to two or more different directions toward the drying space of the drying chamber.