RF Vacuum Drying Chamber for Dielectric Products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current machines for thermic drying of dielectric products, such as animal hides and foodstuffs, either use vacuum drying or radio frequency drying, but not both simultaneously, leading to suboptimal performance, high resource consumption, and risks of electrical discharges.
Innovation Solution
A combined machine that integrates a radio frequency electric generator and vacuum pumping means within a process chamber, using a configuration of opposing polarity electrodes to generate an electromagnetic field for efficient heating and drying, while minimizing energy consumption and reducing electrical discharge risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If vacuum drying is used, then drying temperature can be reduced, but drying efficiency is insufficient and requires high resource consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines vacuum drying technology with radio frequency heating technology into a single integrated system. The vacuum pump creates a vacuum environment while the radio frequency generator applies electromagnetic fields to heat the material, achieving both low-temperature operation and high drying efficiency simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts multiple parameters including vacuum degree, radio frequency power, and heating temperature to optimize the drying process. By changing these parameters in coordination, the system achieves efficient drying at reduced temperatures while maintaining high productivity.
2Productivity
If radio frequency drying is used, then drying efficiency is improved, but risks of electrical discharges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a vacuum environment that acts as an inert atmosphere, preventing electrical discharges by removing oxygen and other gases that could support arc formation. This allows safe operation of the radio frequency heating system while maintaining high drying efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum pump operates beforehand to establish a safe vacuum environment before the radio frequency generator is activated. This preparatory step cushions against potential electrical discharge risks by ensuring the protective vacuum atmosphere is already in place.
3Reliability
If separate vacuum drying and radio frequency drying machines are used, then each technology can be optimized, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the vacuum pump, radio frequency generator, electrode system, and control unit into a single unified machine. This consolidation maintains the functional optimization of both vacuum drying and radio frequency heating while reducing overall system complexity and space requirements compared to separate machines.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system performs multiple drying functions within a single device structure. The vacuum pump serves both material handling and atmospheric control functions, while the radio frequency system provides both heating and drying functions, achieving multi-functionality without proportionally increasing complexity.
4Volume of moving object
If traditional vacuum drying is used, then equipment dimensions can be reduced, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radio frequency heating system provides self-heating to the material being dried, eliminating or reducing the need for external hot water or steam sources required by traditional vacuum drying systems. This self-service heating mechanism reduces resource consumption while maintaining compact equipment dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical thermal conduction heating (hot water/steam) with electromagnetic field-based radio frequency heating. This substitution reduces resource consumption by eliminating the need for large volumes of hot water while maintaining the compact structure enabled by vacuum drying.
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 combined machine achieves higher efficiency, reduced resource consumption, and smaller dimensions compared to existing technologies, effectively meeting stringent customer demands and improving production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
heating the dielectric product placed on the support means by applying to it an oscillating radio frequency electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
Vacuum drying uses the principle according to which evaporation is achieved at lower temperatures (e.g. at 40°C and 7.4 kPa) than atmospheric pressure (100°C and 101.3 kPa) by reducing the pressure of the water contained in the dielectric product to be treated to dry it
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A combined machine (1) for the thermic drying treatment of dielectric products (D) comprising: a box-like casing (2) which defines a process chamber or cavity (3) adapted to receive a dielectric product (D) placed on support means and to be thermally treated to obtain the drying thereof, and pumping means (4) operatively connected to the box-like casing (2) and adapted to be operated to create vacuum conditions inside the process chamber or cavity (3) in the presence of the dielectric product (D). In particular, the combined machine (1) comprises an electric generator (5) adapted to generate a radio frequency output signal, at the desired output power, and applicator means (6), contained in the process chamber or cavity (3) and electrically connected with the electric generator (5), adapted to develop an electromagnetic field at a treatment zone (7) of the dielectric product (D) defined in the process chamber or cavity (3) for heating the dielectric product (D) itself.