Stacked Conveyor Airflow Layout for Uniform Heat Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conveyor systems using stacked belts face inefficiencies in temperature alteration due to pressure loss in vertical airflow and uneven distribution of horizontal airflow, leading to suboptimal cooling or heating performance, especially in large systems.

Innovation Solution

A heat transfer system with a conveyor belt forming a stack having air permeable outer and inner walls, positioned in a chamber with sub-chambers to generate and direct horizontal and radial airflow across the tiers, ensuring even airflow distribution and pressure retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If vertical airflow is used to cool or heat product in stacked conveyor belts, then the airflow can travel through the tiers of the conveyor stack, but pressure is lost as the airflow travels through the different tiers, resulting in less efficient cooling or heating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling or heating efficiencyVSAvoidairflow pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor stack is divided into multiple tiers with air permeable inner and outer side walls, allowing horizontal airflow to pass through each tier independently. This segmentation enables airflow distribution across multiple levels without significant pressure loss, as air enters and exits each tier laterally rather than traveling vertically through all tiers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from vertical airflow (one-dimensional) to horizontal airflow (another dimension). By directing airflow horizontally across the tiers rather than vertically through them, the system maintains pressure while achieving temperature alteration across multiple levels of the conveyor stack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Temperature

If horizontal airflow is generated on only one side of the conveyor stack, then the airflow can be produced more simply, but the side of the conveyor stack proximate the horizontal airflow generator receives more airflow than the other side, resulting in lower performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature uniformityVSAvoidairflow generation system

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor belt is designed with air permeable properties in specific locations (inner and outer side walls), allowing airflow to enter and exit at different locations. This local quality modification enables balanced airflow distribution across both sides of the conveyor stack, with each side receiving adequate airflow for effective temperature alteration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If stacked conveyor belts are used to extend travel path with minimal floor space, then space utilization is improved, but adequate horizontal airflow is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidairflow efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor belt incorporates air permeable inner and outer side walls that allow horizontal airflow to pass through the stacked tiers. This porous design enables effective cooling or heating while maintaining the compact stacked configuration, resolving the conflict between space utilization and airflow efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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 enhances the efficiency of temperature alteration by maintaining airflow pressure and ensuring even airflow distribution across the conveyor stack, improving cooling or heating performance.

Implementation Method 1

produce, in the second sub-chamber, the airflow in a horizontal direction towards the conveyor stack, such that the airflow flows in a horizontal and radial direction across the second plurality of tiers to enter the second portion of the volume of the central space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHorizontal airflow:

Implementation Method 2

draw, in the first sub-chamber, the airflow in a horizontal direction away from the conveyor stack, such that the airflow flows in a horizontal and radial direction to exit the first portion of the volume of the central space across the first plurality of tiers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHorizontal airflow:

Implementation Method 3

a conveyor belt for carrying the product. The conveyor belt has an air permeable outer side wall and an air permeable inner side wall

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer:

Data Source

PatentUS20230354827A1Horizontal and radial airflow heat transfer system

Publication Date: 2023.11.09 FPS FOOD PROCESS SOLUTIONS CORP

AI summary

A heat transfer system includes a conveyor belt having air permeable outer and inner side walls and forming a conveyor stack having a plurality of tiers and a central space with a volume. A first portion of the volume and a first plurality of tiers are in a first sub-chamber and a second portion of the volume and a second plurality of tiers are in a second sub-chamber. The system further includes generating means which: produces, in the second sub-chamber, airflow in a horizontal direction towards the conveyor stack and in a horizontal and radial direction across the second plurality of tiers to enter the second portion of the volume; and draws, in the first sub-chamber, the airflow in a horizontal direction away from the conveyor stack and in a horizontal and radial direction to exit the first portion of the volume across the first plurality of tiers.