Pin Oven Drying Device with Dynamic Fluid Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pin ovens have high energy consumption and unreliable electronic transmission of information regarding can density and coating type, leading to inefficient drying processes and increased ecological footprint.
Innovation Solution
A drying device with a conveying unit and a fluid flow device that adjusts fluid flow based on container properties, such as density and conveying speed, to optimize energy use and reduce solvent input, allowing for precise control of fluid flow properties and minimizing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high fluid flow rates are used in pin ovens to ensure safe drying and meet solvent emission limits, then drying safety and solvent input control are improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static, fixed fluid flow rates to dynamic, variable fluid flow rates. The control device adjusts the fluid flow device substantially steplessly based on real-time container properties (density, coating type, conveying speed), allowing the system to adapt fluid flow rates to actual drying needs rather than maintaining constant high flow rates, thereby reducing energy consumption while ensuring drying safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the fluid flow rate parameter dynamically. Instead of operating at fixed high flow rates to ensure safety margins, the system continuously adjusts the fluid flow rate parameter based on measured container properties, enabling operation at optimal rather than maximum flow rates, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining drying effectiveness and solvent emission control.
2Reliability
If minimum exhaust air volume is defined to ensure safe drying and control solvent input, then drying safety is improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous high-volume air handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the exhaust air volume dynamic rather than static. The control device adjusts the fluid flow device substantially steplessly based on container properties, allowing the exhaust air volume to vary according to actual drying requirements rather than maintaining a constant minimum volume, thereby reducing energy consumption for air handling while ensuring drying safety through adaptive control.
3Productivity
If electronic transmission of can density and coating type information is used to optimize drying, then drying efficiency can be improved, but reliability decreases due to unreliable information transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the unreliable electronic information transmission system with a mechanical measurement system. Instead of relying on electronic signals to convey can density and coating type information, the system uses physical measurement devices (such as sensors that directly detect container properties) to obtain this information, thereby improving reliability by substituting electronic transmission with direct mechanical/optical measurement and detection.
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 energy consumption and environmental impact by optimizing fluid flow in pin ovens, ensuring efficient drying while meeting legal requirements and minimizing solvent input, resulting in a more sustainable drying process.
Implementation Method 1
pin ovens are used in which the coating is convectively heated, dried, cured and/or baked
Implementation Method 2
a heating unit, such as a gas burner or electric heater, is used to heat the fluid in the oven chamber
Implementation Method 3
The conveying unit may be a chain conveyor having transport pins which are arranged spaced from one another along its main extension direction. The container units are positioned by means of the transport pins
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a drying device for drying container units (1, 1′), in particular cans, comprising a conveying unit (102), in particular having transport pins, the conveying unit (102) being designed to convey the container units (1, 1′) along a drying section, a fluid flow device (108) which is designed to supply a fluid flow to the container units (1, 1′) at least in portions along the drying section, and a control device (122) which is coupled to the fluid flow device (108) for signal transmission and is configured to substantially steplessly adjust the fluid flow device (108) on the basis of a container property 10 of the container units (1, 1′) in order to supply the fluid flow having a predefined fluid flow property to the container unit.