Refrigeration Unit Heat Transfer Printing Machine Dryer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigeration units for printing machines, particularly flexographic printing machines, are not efficient in terms of energy consumption and installation complexity, as they often require outdoor heat exchangers and separate cooling circuits, leading to increased operational costs and space requirements.

Innovation Solution

A refrigeration unit with a single coolant circuit that connects the printing unit and dryer unit heat conductively, utilizing the heat transfer from the printing unit to the dryer unit, eliminating the need for outdoor heat exchangers and optimizing energy consumption by internalizing heat usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If outdoor heat exchangers and separate cooling circuits are used, then reliable cooling is achieved, but device complexity and installation requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the cooling function and heating function into a single integrated refrigeration unit. The heat exchanger serves dual purposes: cooling the printing unit by absorbing heat and providing heated air to the dryer unit. This eliminates the need for separate outdoor heat exchangers and multiple cooling circuits, reducing system complexity while maintaining reliable cooling through the unified thermal management system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The refrigeration unit is designed with multi-functionality, where the same system performs both cooling and heating tasks. The evaporator cools the printing unit while the condenser provides heated air to the dryer unit through the heat exchanger. This universal design reduces the number of components needed and simplifies installation while ensuring reliable operation of both cooling and drying functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of energy

If outdoor heat exchangers are used, then heat dissipation is effective, but installation space and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the waste heat generated during printing into a useful resource for the dryer unit. Instead of dissipating heat outdoors and requiring additional space for heat exchangers, the system redirects the excess heat through the heat exchanger to provide thermal energy for drying the printed material. This eliminates the need for separate outdoor heat exchangers and reduces installation space requirements while maintaining effective heat management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Temperature

If separate cooling circuits are used, then cooling performance is maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures the waste heat that would otherwise be lost during the cooling process and redirects it to the dryer unit through the heat exchanger. This heat recovery mechanism maintains effective cooling performance of the printing unit while simultaneously providing thermal energy for drying, thereby reducing overall energy consumption compared to separate cooling and heating systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The refrigeration unit recovers the waste heat generated during the cooling of the printing unit. Instead of discarding this thermal energy to the outdoor environment, the system recovers it through the heat exchanger and utilizes it for heating the dryer unit. This heat recovery process maintains cooling performance while significantly reducing energy consumption by eliminating the need for separate heating energy input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

This solution reduces overall energy consumption and operational costs by effectively utilizing excessive heat within the printing machine, ensuring reliable and efficient cooling while simplifying installation and eliminating the need for outdoor heat exchangers and associated tubing.

Implementation Method 1

the refrigeration unit is adapted to transfer heat from the print interface to the dryer interface, and wherein the heat transfer from the print interface to the dryer interface is realized by means of a single coolant circuit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4013618B1Refrigation unit for a printing machine and printing machine

Publication Date: 2024.10.09 BOBST BIELEFELD

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AI summary

A refrigeration unit (26) for a printing machine is presented. It comprises a dryer interface (28) connectable to a dryer unit (18) of the printing machine in a heat conductive manner and a print interface (30) connectable to a printing unit (14) of the printing machine in a heat conductive manner, wherein the refrigeration unit (26) is adapted to transfer heat (32, 34) from the print interface (30) to the dryer interface (28). Furthermore, a printing machine is described. It comprises a printing unit (14) adapted for printing on a web of carrier material, a dryer unit (18) being adapted for drying printed web of carrier material, and a refrigeration unit (26) as mentioned above.