Optical Glass Drying Device with Tangential Air Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying devices for optical glass using infrared emitters face challenges in achieving uniform heating, leading to defects such as incomplete varnish pre-polymerization, white veil formation, and surface irregularities, which degrade the glass's optical properties.
Innovation Solution
A drying device with a support system and diffusers generating a homogeneous, tangential air flow, combined with a recycling air circuit and adjustable temperature control, ensures uniform drying and reduces residue concentration, preventing defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If infrared emitters are used for drying optical glass, then the drying process can be accelerated, but uniform heating temperature over the entire surface of the optical glass cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The drying system is segmented into multiple independent heating zones with separate infrared emitters positioned at different locations within the enclosure. This allows each zone to be controlled independently, ensuring uniform temperature distribution across the entire optical glass surface while maintaining high drying speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines infrared radiation heating with forced convection air circulation. The infrared emitters provide rapid heating while the circulation system with heated air ensures uniform temperature distribution, merging two heating mechanisms to achieve both high productivity and temperature uniformity.
2Productivity
If high temperature is used for drying optical glass, then the drying process is accelerated, but defects such as incomplete varnish pre-polymerization, white veil formation, and surface irregularities may appear
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors are positioned throughout the enclosure to continuously monitor temperature distribution. The control system uses this feedback information to adjust the power output of infrared emitters and the circulation system, maintaining optimal temperature ranges that prevent defects while ensuring rapid drying and consistent quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying process uses dynamic temperature control where the temperature profile changes over time. The system starts with higher temperatures for rapid moisture removal, then transitions to controlled lower temperatures for uniform varnish pre-polymerization, optimizing both drying speed and quality consistency at different stages.
3Temperature
If infrared emitters are used for drying, then heating can be achieved, but less heated zones appear in areas farthest from the infrared emitter
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared emitters are positioned asymmetrically within the enclosure to compensate for the natural attenuation of infrared radiation with distance. The arrangement and intensity of emitters are optimized so that areas farther from any single emitter receive equivalent total energy, achieving uniform temperature distribution across the optical glass surface.
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 provides uniform and rapid drying, preventing defects and maintaining the optical glass's quality by ensuring consistent heating and air flow, thus enhancing the glass's optical properties.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element emitting infrared rays causes an increase in the temperature in the enclosure
Implementation Method 2
each inlet of the enclosure has a diffuser arranged to generate a homogeneous and tangential air flow to the emerging and incident surfaces of each optical glass
Implementation Method 3
The collector and the circulation circuit carry out a partial recycling of the flow of drying air
Implementation Method 4
means for regulating the temperature of the flow of drying air comprise a probe for measuring the temperature and a heating element in contact with the flow of drying air
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (3) for drying at least one optical glass, comprising: a chamber (7), intended to house at least one optical glass, having at least one air inlet (19) and at least one air outlet (29); a circuit (9) for circulating air, arranged to blow a flow of drying air from said at least one inlet (19) to said at least one outlet (29), the drying device has: an evacuation orifice (11), in fluid communication with the chamber (7), in order to evacuate a first portion of the flow of drying air, called the evacuated airflow, out of the drying device (3); and a manifold collecting: an inflow of a second portion of the flow of drying air, called recovered air, in fluid communication with the chamber (7), from said at least one air outlet (29); an inflow of a flow (33) of air from outside the drying device (3); and having an outlet (29) in fluid communication with the circulating circuit (9).