Sintering furnace
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sintering furnaces for dental workpieces are inefficient in achieving rapid high-temperature sintering, leading to longer heating times and higher energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The heating element is configured as a slotted tube with a helical slot in the heating region, surrounded by thermally insulating material, allowing for uniform high-temperature distribution and rapid heating of dental workpieces to up to 1600°C, using a resistive heating element made of silicon carbide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a wire coil heating element is used, then the heating element can be simply constructed, but the temperature distribution in the receiving space is non-uniform and heating efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is segmented into a tubular structure with multiple slots along its length, allowing different regions (webs) of the tube to independently contribute to heating. This segmentation creates multiple heat emission zones that collectively provide uniform temperature distribution throughout the receiving space, resolving the contradiction between simple construction and uniform temperature distribution.
2Ease of operation
If conventional heating elements are used, then the furnace can be simply operated, but the heating time is long and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element operates at significantly higher temperatures (up to 1600°C) compared to conventional elements, achieved through the slotted tube design that enables more efficient energy transfer. This parameter change in operating temperature dramatically reduces heating time from conventional extended periods to just a few minutes, thereby increasing productivity while maintaining ease of operation.
3Productivity
If higher heating power is used to reduce heating time, then heating speed increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slotted tube design converts what would be heat loss through the tube walls into beneficial heating of the receiving space. The slots allow controlled heat emission from the tube surface, transforming potential energy waste into useful heating that achieves rapid temperature rise with improved energy efficiency.
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 configuration enables quick and efficient high-temperature sintering of dental workpieces with reduced energy consumption, achieving heating rates of 5°C/min to 350°C/min and ensuring uniform temperature distribution within the receiving space.
Implementation Method 1
The heating element is preferably an active heat generator or an active heating device which generates heat from electric energy. It is preferably a resistive heating element, i.e. a heating element which generates heat when an electric current is passed through.
Implementation Method 2
preferred variants of the invention provide for the interior space in the interior of the heating element apart from the receiving space to be filled at least partly with thermally insulating material, preferably with chamotte.
Data Source
AI summary
A sintering furnace (1) for sintering dental workpieces (2), wherein the sintering furnace (1) has a heating element (3) with a receiving space (4) for receiving the workpiece (2) during sintering. The receiving space (4) is a portion of an interior space (5) within the heating element (3), and the heating element (3) comprises or consists of silicon carbide, wherein the heating element (3) is designed, at least in parts, as a slotted tube, and the slot (6) in the tube forming the heating element (3) has a helical configuration in a heating region (7), in which the heating element (3) encloses the receiving space (4).